You will learn
- Say what a caption is.
- Say what an illustration shows.
- Use captions and pictures to find information.
- Connect pictures to text.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- An illustration is a picture or drawing.
- A caption explains a picture.
- Pictures can add information.
- Look at pictures and read captions.
Words to know
a picture or drawing
words that explain a picture
a picture taken with a camera
a word pointing to a part
1. Discover: The butterfly
A butterfly sits on a flower. The picture shows two large wings with bright orange and black patterns. The caption says: A monarch butterfly drinks nectar from a flower. A label points to the long tongue: proboscis.
Think: What did the caption tell you that you could not see?
2. Understand: Pictures and captions
Idea 1: Illustrations
An illustration is a picture or drawing. A photograph is taken with a camera. Both show information.
Idea 2: Captions
A caption explains a picture: A monarch butterfly drinks nectar. It tells what we see and more.
Idea 3: Labels
A label points to parts, like proboscis. Use pictures and text together.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Caption
What does the caption say?
- Read the words under.
Answer: A monarch butterfly drinks nectar.
Example 2 (We do it together): Label
What is the label?
- Word pointing.
Answer: proboscis
Example 3 (You try): Add
What does the picture add?
Show the steps and answer
- Colours and shape.
Answer: bright orange and black wings
Did you know?
The monarch butterfly travels thousands of kilometres each year.
Why this matters
Pictures and captions help you understand a text better.
4. Explore: Picture detective
Use pictures and captions.
- Look at the picture.
- Read the caption.
- Read the label.
- Say what you learned.
Think about it: what did you notice?
You can use pictures and captions.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- The picture shows ___.
- The caption says ___.
- The label is ___.
- I learned ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. What is a caption?
words explaining a picture
Question 2. What is a label?
a word pointing to a part
Question 3. What is an illustration?
a picture
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- A picture or drawing is an ___.
- Words explaining a picture are a ___.
- A word pointing to a part is a ___.
- A picture taken by a camera is a ___.
- The butterfly drinks ___.
Level 2: Grow
- What does the caption say?
- What is the label?
- Write a caption for a picture of a dog.
Level 3: Stretch
- Why read captions?
- Can pictures add information?
- What is a label for?
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: English in everyday life
Find a picture with a caption in a book.
Show a sample answer
a caption
Another one. Draw a picture and write a caption and label.
Show a sample answer
picture, caption, label
7. Common mistakes
Fix: Read them.
Fix: Use both.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can say what a caption is.
- I can say what an illustration shows.
- I can use captions and pictures.
- I can connect pictures to text.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- Illustrations show information.
- Captions explain pictures.
- Labels name parts.
- Use pictures and text together.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Tables of contents. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- What is a caption? [1 mark]
- What is a label? [1 mark]
- What does the butterfly picture show? [2 marks]
- Write a caption for a dog picture. [1 mark]
- Explain how pictures and captions help. [3 marks]
Total: 8 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- words that explain a picture [1]
- a word pointing to a part [1]
- a butterfly [1]; on a flower [1]
- valid caption [1]
- pictures show [1]; captions explain [1]; labels name parts [1]
Score guide: 7 to 8 = secure. 5 to 6 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 5 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- A picture or drawing is an ___.
- Words explaining a picture are a ___.
- A word pointing to a part is a ___.
- A camera picture is a ___.
- The butterfly drinks ___.
- True or false: captions explain pictures.
- True or false: ignore captions.
- Write a caption.
- Label a flower.
- Draw and caption.
Homework
Make a picture with a caption and label.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. A picture or drawing is an ___. | illustration | 1 |
| 2. Words explaining a picture are a ___. | caption | 1 |
| 3. A word pointing to a part is a ___. | label | 1 |
| 4. A camera picture is a ___. | photograph | 1 |
| 5. The butterfly drinks ___. | nectar | 1 |
| 6. True or false: captions explain pictures. | true | 1 |
| 7. True or false: ignore captions. | false | 1 |
| 8. Write a caption. | A dog plays. | 1 |
| 9. Label a flower. | petal | 1 |
| 10. Draw and caption. | a picture and caption | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 illustration; 2 caption; 3 label; 4 photograph; 5 nectar. Level 2: 1 A monarch butterfly drinks nectar from a flower.; 2 proboscis; 3 A dog plays in the park.. Level 3: 1 explain the picture; 2 yes; 3 name a part.
Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Say what a caption is | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Say what an illustration shows | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Use captions and pictures to find information | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Connect pictures to text | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: Ignoring captions. Read them.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Use picture cards.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child uses pictures and captions. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Look at books together.
- Read captions.
- Praise noticing.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: say what a caption is; say what an illustration shows; use captions and pictures to find information; connect pictures to text.
Prerequisite knowledge. Titles and headings.
Materials. Chart paper or board, pencils, picture or word cards, a reading book if available. Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Write the key words and examples on the board or on cards before the lesson.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Show pictures with captions.
Explanation (10 min). Teach captions/labels.
Guided activity (10 min). Practise.
Independent activity (10 min). Share.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. What does the picture show? What does the caption say?
Teacher explanation notes. Move from the spoken word to pictures and then to print. Read aloud often, point to the words, and let learners hear and say before they read and write.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use pictures. Extension. Make a diagram.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. Ignoring captions. Read them.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 8-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Use picture cards. Enrichment. Make a labelled diagram. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts, Cambridge Primary and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Official standards for this topic area. Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (official site): Grade 2 » Writing; Grade 2 » Reading: Informational Text; Grade 2 » Speaking & Listening. These pages list the standards that cover this topic area; read them alongside the lesson.
Research used to shape this lesson. Common Core RI.2.7 (explain how specific images contribute to and clarify a text); Cambridge Primary English Stage 2 (reading and non-fiction). These sources informed the lesson.