The picture shows us a butterfly, but the caption tells us so much more! From the caption, we learn:
- The type of butterfly (monarch)
- What plant it's on (milkweed)
- An amazing fact about migration
Captions and Diagrams
Pictures and diagrams help us understand what we read! Learning to read captions, labels, maps, and charts will make you a stronger reader who can find information quickly.
What Are Captions?
A Caption Tells You About a Picture!
A caption is a sentence or two written below or next to a picture. It explains what the picture shows and gives you extra information.
🦋
A monarch butterfly rests on a milkweed plant. Monarch butterflies travel over 2,000 miles during migration!
Reader's Tip: Always read captions when you see pictures in a book or article. Captions often contain important facts that aren't in the main text!
Understanding Diagrams
Diagrams Show How Things Work!
A diagram is a special kind of picture that uses labels to point out the parts of something. Diagrams help us understand how things are put together or how they work.
🌱 Parts of a Plant Diagram
Look at this diagram. Notice how each label points to a different part of the plant:
Flower
Stem
Leaf
Roots
Caption:
This diagram shows the four main parts of a flowering plant. Each part has an important job to help the plant grow.
🏷️
Labels
Words that name the parts of a diagram. Lines connect labels to the parts they describe.
➡️
Arrows
Arrows or lines point from the label to the exact part being named.
📝
Title
The title tells you what the whole diagram is showing.
How Visuals Support Text
🔍 Pictures and Words Work Together
When you read, pictures, diagrams, and captions work with the words to help you understand better. Here's how:
Pictures show you what something looks like.
Captions explain what the picture shows.
Diagrams break things into parts so you can understand them.
Labels name each part clearly.
Captions explain what the picture shows.
Diagrams break things into parts so you can understand them.
Labels name each part clearly.
Example: Reading About Bicycles
Handlebars
Seat
Wheel
Pedal
From the text: "A bicycle has two wheels that help it roll along the ground."
From the diagram: We can SEE where the wheels are and how the other parts connect!
The text tells us facts, and the diagram shows us how everything fits together. Together, they give us the complete picture!
Maps and Charts
Maps and Charts Are Special Diagrams!
Maps show places, and charts organize information. Both use labels and keys to help you understand what you're looking at.
🗺️ Reading a Map
Maps have special features that help you understand them:
Our School Neighborhood
School
Road
Road
Park
Road
Library
Pond
Road
Park
Road
Road
Store
Trees
Trees
Road
Trees
Park/Trees
Roads
Buildings
Water
Map Key (or Legend): The map key tells you what the colors and symbols mean. Always check the key first!
📊 Reading a Chart
Charts organize information so it's easy to compare. Look at this bar chart:
Favorite Pets in Our Class
From this chart, we can quickly see that dogs are the most popular pet in the class. The taller the bar, the more students chose that pet!
Matching Activity
Match each text feature with what it does! Click one item from each column to make a match.
Match the Text Feature to Its Purpose
Text Feature
Caption
Diagram
Label
Map Key
What It Does
Names a part of a picture
Explains what a picture shows
Tells what colors and symbols mean
Shows parts of something with labels
Matches: 0 / 4
Label the Diagram
Click on a word, then click on the correct blank to label the plant parts!
Click a word, then click where it belongs:
?
?
?
?
Correct Labels: 0 / 4
Practice Questions
Test your understanding of captions, diagrams, and visual features!
Question 1
Where would you look to learn what a picture in a book is showing?
Question 2
What do labels in a diagram do?
Question 3
You're looking at a map and see different colors. Where should you look to find out what the colors mean?
Question 4
Why are diagrams helpful when reading about how things work?
Question 5
Look at a bar chart showing favorite fruits. The bar for "apples" is the tallest. What does this tell you?
Check Your Understanding
What is a caption?
What makes a diagram different from a regular picture?
How do pictures and text work together?
What We Learned
📸
Captions
Text that explains what a picture shows and gives extra information.
📐
Diagrams
Pictures with labels that show the parts of something.
🗺️
Maps
Show places using colors and symbols explained in a key.
📊
Charts
Organize information so it's easy to compare and understand.
Remember: Good readers look at ALL parts of a page - the words, the pictures, the captions, and the diagrams. They all work together to help you understand!
Next Steps
- When you read, stop to look at pictures and read their captions
- Practice finding labels on diagrams in your textbooks
- Look for maps and charts in books and magazines
- Try drawing your own diagram with labels!