Understanding Setting From Illustrations and Words

"The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, Zayd isn't here, wait, Zayd isn't here! Where could he have gone? Wait, there's a note! Catch me if you can! Use these selfies to find out where I am. But where did he take this selfie?" Let's use the images from selfies to help Ari find Zayd by learning about understanding setting from illustrations. You might already know that a setting is when, where and even what time a story takes place and that a setting can change during a story. When reading a story, we get a lot of information from the author, but did you know that we also get a lot of information from the illustrator? The illustrator can give us additional information that isn’t mentioned in the story through drawing detailed pictures. How do the pictures help us to understand the story better and learn more information? Pictures can tell us about the setting of a story! When trying to identify, or find the setting of a story, look for the environment, the time or even the season in the picture. Let's take a look at the first selfie Zayd took to help Ari. "Up and down, left and right, will I be in your sight? Hm, where could Zayd be hiding?" Can you work out the setting of the first selfie? First, take a look at the picture. Then, try to find when, where, the time or even season that the picture shows. What do you notice about the setting in this selfie? It shows a sink, an oven and apples in a bowl. These are things we would find in a kitchen which means this selfie is in the kitchen! "Another selfie with a note! You're warm but not hot, so come and find me in a comfy spot!" Take a look at the setting in the next selfie from Zayd. We can see Zayd next to a bed and a chest of drawers, there is also a clock on the wall that says quarter to four. Can you tell what the setting of this selfie is? There are two clues in this selfie that show the setting! The setting here is Zayd's bedroom and it's also the time, quarter to four. I wonder if Ari has found Zayd yet, let's find out! "Not in the bedroom either a-ha! Another selfie with a note! Not here, not there, can you find me anywhere?" What is the setting in this selfie that Zayd took? We can see Zayd in front of a window, and through the window we see a tree with orange leaves. That means that the setting in this selfie is during autumn! Whilst Ari tries to find Zayd one last time, let's remember. Today we learnt about understanding setting from illustrations. A setting can be the place, season or even time that a story takes place and a setting can change during a story. We also learnt that you can identify, or find the setting by looking at the pictures and using the clues that illustrators give you. Now, did Ari ever find Zayd? "Where could Zayd be? Wait a second, you were behind me all this time!" "Bingo!"