Maps, Photographs and Where, When and Why
A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on using illustrations and words together to show where, when, why and how events happen.
Maps, Photographs and Where, When and Why is a free 40-minute Grade 3 English lesson plan for Common Core standard RI.3.7 — use maps and photographs with the words to explain what happened. 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 3
- Length:
- 40 minutes
- Standard:
- RI.3.7
Grade 3 · Reading: Informational Text
RI.3.7
Use information gained from illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs) and the words in a text to demonstrate understanding of the text (e.g., where, when, why, and how key events occur).
Objective
Students will be able to answer a where, when, why or how question using both an image and the words.
Students are successful when they can
- Uses the image for what it is best at.
- Uses the words for the rest.
- Combines both in one answer.
What you need
- A text with a map, a timeline and a photograph
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — which image answers this?
5 min- Give four questions. For each, say which of the three images would help.
- Where goes to the map; when goes to the timeline.
Teach — image plus words
13 min- Take a 'where' question. Answer it from the map.
- Ask why that answer is incomplete. The map shows where but not why there.
- Add the words to complete it.
- Do a 'when' question with the timeline the same way.
- Say the pattern: images answer where and when well, and why almost never.
“The map tells you where. Only the words tell you why there.”
Guided practice — four questions
12 min- Pairs answer four questions, naming the image and the words used for each.
- One question will need words only — they must notice.
Independent practice
8 min- Students complete the images page.
- The passage and described images are on the sheet.
Close
2 min- Ask one 'why' question. Take the answer and its sources.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Tries to answer 'why' from a map.
Why: The map is right there and full of information.
Fix: Name what each image type answers. Maps do location, not causation.
Ignores the timeline because it is not prose.
Why: It does not look like reading.
Fix: Read three entries aloud. A timeline is a text in a different shape.
Answers from the image alone when the words were needed.
Why: The image gave a plausible answer quickly.
Fix: Require both sources named. The requirement catches the shortcut.
If they are not there yet
- One image type rather than three.
- Give the image to use.
If they finish early
- Answer a question needing two images.
- Say what a fourth image would add.
- Find a question none of the images can help with.
Exit ticket
Why did they settle there? Use the map and the words.
What to look for: Both sources. A map-only answer means the images-do-not-do-why point needs restating.
Printable practice for RI.3.7
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- Maps, Photographs and WordsRead the text, then answer the questions.
Questions about Maps, Photographs and Where, When and Why
How long does the Maps, Photographs and Where, When and Why 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 Maps, Photographs and Where, When and Why teach?
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.7 — RI.3.7, Reading: Informational Text for Grade 3: “Use information gained from illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs) and the words in a text to demonstrate understanding of the text (e.g., where, when, why, and how key events occur).” In plain terms, use maps and photographs with the words to explain what happened.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
A text with a map, a timeline and a photograph 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: tries to answer 'why' from a map; ignores the timeline because it is not prose and answers from the image alone when the words were needed. 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: “Why did they settle there? Use the map and the words.” Both sources. A map-only answer means the images-do-not-do-why point 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 Maps, Photographs and Where, When and Why?
Yes — 1 printable RI.3.7 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 Maps, Photographs and Where, When and Why 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 RI.3.7 of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts.