Reading to Learn

Read and See!

Created By: Jessica Gray

Rationale: Reading comprehension is a complex process for students to go through as they read. In order to achieve full comprehension, students must enlist the help of many strategies while reading. One of these strategies is visualization. Through visualization students create mental images of what they are reading. This particular lesson will help teach students how to implement the strategy of visualization while they read. 


  • The Trumpet of the Swan E.D. White
  • crayons, markers, colored pencils
  • drawing paper


  1. When you are reading a book, have you ever felt like you the story was playing like a movie in your head? When this happens you are using a strategy called visualization. Visualization helps us to comprehend what we read while we are reading. Today we are going to practice visualizing while we read. 
  2. In our reading today we have a few new vocabulary words. Let's review these words before we start reading. the first word is Trumpeter Swan. A trumpeter swan is a large white bird that is a species of waterfowl. Our next word is cob. What do you think a cob is? A cob is a male swan.For instance, the cob flapped his ginormous wings.  Our final word is treacherous. If I say, I don't like to walk in swamps because they are treacherous, what do you think treacherous means. Treacherous means that somethings is hazardous or dangerous because of things unknown. Tell me something that might be treacherous.
  3. When we visualize a text, what do you think we are doing? When we visualize our text, we create mental pictures of what is happening in the text. We do this especially when we are having a hard time figuring out what is happening. When we come to a part of the text that does not make sense, we stop and try to visualize what is happening.
  4. Everyone turn to page twelve. I am going to read this chapter and demonstrate how I would visualize what I am reading. "The cob watched his beautiful wife sitting there on the tiny island." When I read that, I envision a large male swan watching his beautiful wife sitting on a small piece of land. When I continue reading I start to see that the wife is making a nest. The cob is very happy to see this. He sees her twisting around and patting down the ground to make a firm place to start making the nest.  Can anyone add something else that they are envisioning after reading that paragraph. 
  5. Now, I want you to continue reading on page thirteen. After you read, I want you to turn to your partner and discuss what you visualized while you were reading. Then some of you can share what you and your partner are visualizing. 
  6. Now, I want each of you to read chapter three in your books. After you read, you are going to illustrate what you envisioned as you read. But before you read, I am h=going to tell you about what is coming up in the story. We meet a young Trumpeter Swan named Louis. He is very eager to learn and wants to go to school. His father tells him that he is different, but this only worries Louis. Until, a young boy named Sam comes along. We are going to have to keep reading to find out if Sam helps Louis! Once you finish reading chapter three, I want you to draw a picture that shows all the things you were visualizing while you read. Keep in mind who was there, where the events take place, and all other details that could help someone understand what is happening in the story. After you draw your picture write a few sentences describing what is happening in your illustration. 
  7. Assessment:

Comprehension Question



Does this picture depict a scene from the book?

Is the illustration easily recognizable?

Does the illustration contain details from the text?

Did the student provide an accurate description of the illustration?

Does the description match the illustration?


“This I Gotta See!” Lusher, Emily. Awakenings Spring 2012.

White, E.D. The Trumpet of the Swan. Scholastic, 1970.


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