Pictures and Words Together
A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on using illustrations and words together to understand characters, setting and plot.
Pictures and Words Together is a free 40-minute Grade 2 English lesson plan for Common Core standard RL.2.7 — put the pictures and the words together to explain the story. It is timed across 5 sections, gives the exact wording to use where the wording carries the mathematics, names 3 misconceptions with the teaching move that addresses each, and ends with an exit ticket and a printable worksheet with its answer key.
- Grade:
- Grade 2
- Length:
- 40 minutes
- Standard:
- RL.2.7
Grade 2 · Reading: Literature
RL.2.7
Use information gained from the illustrations and words in a print or digital text to demonstrate understanding of its characters, setting, or plot.
Objective
Students will be able to use an illustration together with the text to say something about a character, setting or plot.
Students are successful when they can
- Uses the picture for something the words leave out.
- Uses the words for something the picture cannot show.
- Combines both into one statement.
What you need
- An illustrated story
- A three-column chart: character, setting, plot
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — what does the picture add?
5 min- Show one illustration with the text covered. Collect what it tells you.
- Uncover the text. Ask what the words added.
Teach — the combined sentence
13 min- Read a page. Put one fact from the words into the character column.
- Put one from the picture into the same column.
- Say them as one sentence: 'She is nervous — the text says she waited, and in the picture her hands are behind her back.'
- Do the same for setting.
- Say why the combination is stronger: two sources agreeing is better evidence than either alone.
“One sentence, two pieces of evidence. Words and picture together.”
Guided practice — three combined statements
12 min- Pairs write one combined statement for each column.
- Each must name both sources.
- Take feedback on the plot one, which is hardest.
Independent practice
8 min- Students complete the pictures-and-words page.
- The passage and a described illustration are on the sheet.
Close
2 min- Take one combined statement about the setting.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Describes the picture instead of using it.
Why: Describing is the question usually asked about pictures.
Fix: Name the claim first — about the character, setting or plot. The picture then serves the claim.
Uses only the words.
Why: The words are what reading means.
Fix: Require both sources in the sentence. The requirement is what makes them look at the picture properly.
Cannot get a plot point from a picture.
Why: A single picture rarely shows a sequence.
Fix: Compare two illustrations. What changed between them is plot.
If they are not there yet
- One column rather than three.
- Give the claim and collect the two supports.
If they finish early
- Find a place where the picture and the words disagree.
- Say what the illustrator decided that the author did not.
- Use three illustrations to describe the plot.
Exit ticket
Say one thing about the character, using the words and the picture.
What to look for: Both sources in one sentence. A description of the picture means the claim-first order needs restating.
Printable practice for RL.2.7
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- What the Picture AddsRead the story, then answer the questions.
Questions about Pictures and Words Together
How long does the Pictures and Words Together lesson take?
40 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 5 min, teach 13 min, guided practice 12 min, independent practice 8 min, close 2 min. The minutes are stated per section and add up to the stated length, so the plan can be cut or extended at a section boundary rather than abandoned halfway.
Which standard does Pictures and Words Together teach?
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.7 — RL.2.7, Reading: Literature for Grade 2: “Use information gained from the illustrations and words in a print or digital text to demonstrate understanding of its characters, setting, or plot.” In plain terms, put the pictures and the words together to explain the story.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
An illustrated story, a three-column chart: character, setting, plot and the printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan. Everything listed is either ordinary classroom equipment or a free printable from this site — there is nothing to buy and nothing to prepare beyond photocopying.
What mistakes should I expect in this lesson?
Three, each a reasoning error rather than carelessness: describes the picture instead of using it; uses only the words and cannot get a plot point from a picture. The plan gives the thinking behind each one and the teaching move that addresses the thinking rather than the symptom.
How do I know whether the lesson worked?
The exit ticket asks: “Say one thing about the character, using the words and the picture.” Both sources in one sentence. A description of the picture means the claim-first order needs restating. That tells you whether the class needs a reteach or a thirty-second conversation before you plan tomorrow.
Is there a worksheet to go with Pictures and Words Together?
Yes — 1 printable RL.2.7 worksheet, linked at the end of the plan and free like the rest of the site. Each one comes with an answer key and 25 versions, so the practice after the lesson can be a different paper on every desk.
Is Pictures and Words Together free to use?
Yes. The plan, its printables and their answer keys are free to read, print and photocopy for your own class, with no account and no email capture. It was last reviewed on 7 September 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.
Last reviewed 2026-09-07. Aligned to RL.2.7 of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts.