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Sakaasa/Getty Images (flimsy umbrella); GrigoritaKo/Shutterstock.com (goat)

Wanted: An Umbrella We Can Love!

It leaks. It breaks. And it’s just plain annoying. Our whimsical infographic explains why the world needs a better umbrella.

From the September 2017 Issue

Learning Objective: Students will select details from an infographic to support an idea.

Topics: Technology, Science,
Activities (2)
Answer Key (2)
Answer Key (2)
Activities (2) Download All Activities
Answer Key (2)
Answer Key (2)

More About the Story

Skills

Main ideas and supporting details, reading for information, evaluating

Complexity Factors

Purpose

The infographic describes problems with the umbrella that should be fixed.

Structure

The infographic provides information through text, text boxes, images, and statistics.

Language

The language is mainly conversational.

Knowledge Demands 

The text refers to the Eiffel Tower.

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan

1. Reading and Discussing 

Project the infographic as students follow along in their magazines.

Prompt students to use the headline, subhead, and central image to identify the topic of the infographic.

Ask: Is the purpose of the infographic to

  • explain something to you?
  • convince you of something?
  • tell you how to do something?

Have students look over the labels and images surrounding the central image. Ask:

  • How are they related to the central image? (They provide details about the main idea.)

Break students into groups to read each section of the infographic and discuss what they find interesting, surprising, or convincing.

Come back together as a class and ask volunteers to summarize the main idea and supporting details from the infographic.

2. Writing

Preview the writing prompt in the “Write to Win” box.

Download and distribute the guided-writing activity that goes along with the infographic.

Have students respond to the writing prompt. If you wish, send their responses to our infographic contest. 

Have students create their own infographics! Download our “Make Your Own Infographic” activity from Storyworks Online.

Text-to-Speech