Describing & Inferring Details with Picture of the Day: Reading Photos "Closely"

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Picture of the Day now available in Volume 2.

Picture of the Day now available in Volume 3 (Google Slides compatible) posted 8/24/2020.

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This Picture of the Day product is a great way for students to practice three very important reading skills - observing details by being able to describe them and making inferences about what you notice and observe based on what you see and what you already know. Observing, describing and making inferences are what good readers do. This product uses pictures to give students an opportunity to practice these important skills & strategies without text, but helps them transfer the same line of thinking when reading text.

This product includes:

190 Picture Presentation - pdf (38 weeks worth of pictures)

38 K-2 Assessments - (one assessment per week for the year)

38 3-6 Assessments - (one assessment per week for the year)

1 Assessment Rubric

13 Page "How-To" Handbook (with pictures, student samples and directions)

(the K-2 & 3-6 assessments are the same pictures but the assessment formats are different)

This product is aligned to the following Common Core Standards:

RL.1 & RIT.1 - ask & answer questions about key details, make logical inferences, & draw conclusions based on evidence

RIT.7 - Use information gained from illustrations (or photographs) to demonstrate understanding

SL.2 - Integrate & evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually…

SL.4 - present information, findings & supporting evidence so others can follow your line of reasoning

W.8 - Gather information from digital sources; take brief notes and sort evidence into provided categories.

L.3 - Use knowledge of language when speaking and writing

L.6 - Acquire and use accurate and specific words and phrases when expressing ideas.

I used this all last year with my reading groups and students LOVE it! They become such "close" observers and inference makers based on details and evidence in the picture. Pictures have recently become popular for teaching inferences and Picture of the Day has become a regular column in the New York Times Education section. Pictures used in this product are generously donated from friends and family of Hello Literacy. Pictures represent populations and cultures from all over the world. Please note: Pictures in the slideshow are not meant to be printed out, just projected on an LCD projector or computer screen. Only the assessments are meant to be printed (38 pages).

This activity is appropriate for all elementary grades, K-6. Writing adaption for Kindergarten is explained. This activity can also be done whole group, small group with scaffolding or small group with peer scaffolding (cooperative) as a cooperative literacy center. This activity can be done with any subject that you teach, any specialist or intervention area. Due the nature of the higher level thinking involved in this activity, it is appropriate for all students at all levels, even Kindergarten. In Kindergarten, it is used as a whole class or small group discussion starter to have conversations around answers to these two questions, "What do we see?" and "What do we think?"

Be sure to check out the product preview above and if you have any questions, read by blog post about POTD, and if you have any questions, please utilize the "Ask a Question" tab at the top of this product.

If you're looking for another high quality cooperative, collaborative, 21st century (critical thinking and communication) center, check out my product: Shades of Meaning - Vocabulary and Word Work Center.

Are your students ready to do Picture of the Day independently? Check out

Picture of the Day Plus.

Thank You!

Jen Jones-Hello Literacy

© 2013, Hello Literacy, Inc., Describing & Inferring Details with Picture of the Day: Reading Photos "Closely" - for single classroom use, please purchase multiple licenses (at 50% off the regular price) at check-out for whole-grade or school-wide use.

Keywords: Observing, Describing, Inferring, Making Inferences, Drawing Conclusions, Key Details, Inference Assessment, ESL, ELL, Vocabulary, Discussion, Language Skills, Communication