There seems to be an explosion of infographics these days! If you’re not familiar with that term, an infographic is a visual representation of information or data. A lot of information can be displayed visually, both quickly and clearly (at least most times). As someone who has always been drawn to the visual display of information, I love a well done infographic. And I think they have potential value for the elementary classroom too, although most are designed for older students.

For an infographic to be fully appreciated, teachers will have to help students “read” the graphic. Just as they do when they read a nonfiction text, students will first need to pull back and determine what information is presented. Then they’ll need to figure out how to navigate the graphic. Some use very simple lines to help the reader understand the flow; others use block structures or flow chart designs.

I created a Reading Rockets Pinterest board full of examples for young kids. Take a look! Which one is your favorite?

Infographics for Young Kids

If you’re interested in reading and learning more about teaching with infographics, this article from the NY Times is a great place to start!

About the Author

Joanne Meier has more than 20 years of experience in the field of education, including serving on the faculty at the University of Virginia for six years where she trained reading specialists and future classroom teachers. Dr. Meier was Reading Rockets’ research-to-practice consultant from 2002 to 2014, where she wrote the Page by Page blog — sharing best practices in supporting young readers at home and in the classroom.

Publication Date
December 5, 2011

Related Topics

Comprehension, Content Area Literacy, Struggling Readers, Ed Tech and Digital Media
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