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Grade PreK ELA Units

Unit Plan 30 (Grade PreK ELA): Reading Science/Social Studies with Visuals

PreK informational visuals unit: students read diagrams, maps, and charts, using domain words like label, key, route, and graph. Through mapping and charting, they build comprehension, vocabulary, and questioning skills for early science and social studies learning.

Dr. Michael Kester-Haynes

• 6 min read
Unit Plan 30 (Grade PreK ELA): Reading Science/Social Studies with Visuals

Focus: Diagrams/maps/charts; domain vocabulary in context

Grade Level: PreK

Subject Area: English Language Arts (Informational Visuals • Early Social Studies/Science • Oral Language)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 30–45 minutes per session (use two short blocks if needed)

I. Introduction

This week children learn to read visuals in informational texts—diagrams, simple maps, and charts—and use domain words (e.g., map, key, route, label, graph, more/less). Through picture walks, hands-on maps, and kid-made charts, students connect what they see to what the author is teaching, and practice asking/answering questions to confirm understanding.

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to…

  1. Use diagrams, maps, and charts to tell one key idea from an informational page (RI.PK.7).
  2. Ask/answer about unknown words (e.g., diagram, label, key, graph) using the visual for support (RI.PK.4).
  3. Confirm understanding by asking/answering a question during read-alouds and picture talks (SL.PK.2).
  4. Point to specific parts/symbols (arrows, labels, map key icons) and explain what they show (RI.PK.7).
  5. Use domain vocabulary in a complete sentence when sharing (supports RI.PK.4; SL.PK.2).

Standards Alignment — PreK

  • RI.PK.7 With prompting and support, use information gained from the illustrations and the words in a text to describe its key ideas.
  • RI.PK.4 With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.
  • SL.PK.2 Confirm understanding of a text read aloud or information presented orally by asking/answering questions.

Success Criteria — student language

  • “The diagram shows ___.” (RI.PK.7)
  • “On the map key, this symbol means ___.” (RI.PK.7)
  • “Graph means a picture that shows how many.” (RI.PK.4)
  • “I asked ___ to make sure I understood.” (SL.PK.2)