A textbook shows a picture of the water cycle with arrows pointing from clouds to rain, then to rivers and lakes, and back to clouds. The diagram also has labels like evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

It explains the water cycle in a clear way.

It shows how to build a rain gauge.

It makes the page look more colorful.

A history book includes a timeline that lists important events in Maya civilization with dates and short notes under each event.

To help the reader see the order that events happened.

To include colorful drawings of tools.

To help the reader see the order that events happened.

To show recipes from the time period.

A science packet shows a bar graph comparing the number of bird species found in three city parks.

It quickly shows which park has the most species.

It gives a full written history of the parks.

It tells the exact temperature each day.

A classroom survey is shown with a pie chart that displays students' favorite after-school activities: sports, reading, and art.

It shows parts of the whole so readers can compare which activities are most popular.

It lists the exact meeting times for each activity.

It shows parts of the whole so readers can compare which activities are most popular.

It gives step-by-step instructions for each activity.

An article about ocean life includes a photograph of a coral reef next to a paragraph describing reef animals and colors.

It shows real details that support and clarify the text description.

It explains how to build a reef tank.

It proves the author visited the reef.

It shows real details that support and clarify the text description.

A weather report includes a table showing average monthly rainfall for City A, City B, and City C.

It helps compare numbers across months and cities easily.

It tells a story about a family living in the city.

It shows drawings of each city.

A school guide shows a flowchart with boxes and arrows that explain the steps to publish a school newspaper: idea, draft, edit, print.

To show the correct order of steps from idea to printing.

To add colorful art to the page.

To show the correct order of steps from idea to printing.

To replace the articles in the paper.

A short article about recycling includes an infographic with icons, short facts, and arrows that group ideas like reduce, reuse, and recycle.

To combine images and short facts so the main ideas are quick and easy to remember.

To give a long essay about recycling.

To include a cooking recipe using recycled materials.

To combine images and short facts so the main ideas are quick and easy to remember.

A map in a student safety brochure shows routes to school with a scale bar and a legend marking crosswalks and signals.

It helps students measure distances and find safe routes.

It shows character feelings in a story.

It lists the names of every street without labels.

A reading passage compares two students, Aisha and Miguel, about their after-school projects. A Venn diagram shows Aisha's interests in art, Miguel's interests in coding, and shared interests in teamwork.

It highlights the similarities and differences between Aisha and Miguel.

It shows a timeline of when the students started school.

It highlights the similarities and differences between Aisha and Miguel.

It displays a map of where each student lives.

A short story includes a comic panel that shows a character, Maya, choosing to help a friend and then showing how the friend feels happy in the next panel.

It shows action and dialogue that help the reader infer Maya's feelings.

It gives the author's biography.

It lists vocabulary words for the chapter.

It shows action and dialogue that help the reader infer Maya's feelings.

A science book shows a labeled diagram of a flower with parts like petal, stamen, and pistil.

It labels parts so readers can identify each part and its role.

It provides a poem about flowers instead of facts.

It hides important vocabulary words from readers.

A science journal shows a line graph of temperature measured every hour during a school field trip.

It shows how temperature changed across the day and where the highest and lowest points are.

It shows how a character changed over time in a story.

It shows how temperature changed across the day and where the highest and lowest points are.

It compares favorite ice cream flavors.

A health poster displays a bold title and a short caption: "Wash hands to stay healthy." It shows three simple steps with small illustrations.

It uses a clear caption and short steps so readers know what action to take.

It includes long paragraphs about germs.

It uses a clear caption and short steps so readers know what action to take.

Fifth Grade ELA Reading Strategies | Visual Elements

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What are visual elements in reading?

Visual elements are parts of a text that use images, charts, diagrams, or other visuals to help the reader understand the information better.

Examples:

A map in a history article shows where events took place.
A diagram in a science book explains how the water cycle works.
A chart in a newspaper shows the results of a survey.

Note

Visual elements are not extra—they are part of the text. They give information that words alone may not fully explain.

Why are visual elements important?

Visual elements make information clearer, easier to understand, and more memorable. They help you connect what you read with what you see.

Examples:

A timeline helps readers follow events in order.
Illustrations show what a story setting or character looks like.
Graphs help compare numbers quickly without reading long paragraphs.

Note

Always ask yourself: What does this visual add to my understanding of the text?

How do readers use visual elements?

Good readers look carefully at charts, maps, and pictures while they read. They connect the information in the visual to the words in the text.

Steps:

Look at the title or label of the visual.
Check the details (numbers, captions, symbols, or parts of the picture).
Think: How does this support what I just read?

Note

Never skip visuals. They are included to guide your thinking and strengthen comprehension.

Common types of visual elements in texts

Writers and publishers use many different visuals to support their ideas. Knowing the common types helps you read more effectively.

Types:

Photographs and illustrations
Charts and graphs
Maps and timelines
Diagrams and tables

Note

Different texts may use different visuals. Always look for captions, titles, or labels that explain what the visual shows.

Using reading strategies with visuals

To fully understand a text, combine reading strategies with attention to visual elements. Strategies like predicting, questioning, and summarizing work with both words and images.

Examples:

Predict: Look at a diagram before reading and guess what it will explain.
Question: Ask, “What does this chart show that the text does not?”
Summarize: Combine details from the words and visuals into one short statement.

Note

Good readers use both the text and the visuals together to build meaning.

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D.1 Learn how to use visual elements

What are visual elements in reading?

Why are visual elements important?

How do readers use visual elements?

Common types of visual elements in texts

Using reading strategies with visuals