Pictures, words and sounds — Media, 4–6 years
Media can communicate with pictures, spoken or written words, and sounds. Each way can show part of an idea, and they can work together.
One idea, different ways
A picture, a word or a sound can all help us understand a message. A picture may show what something looks like, words may name it, and a sound may tell us what it does or how it feels.
Why use more than one?
One way of communicating can leave something out. A road sign uses a picture and sometimes words so people can recognise it quickly, even if they do not speak the same language or cannot hear a spoken message.
A three-part message
Imagine a picture of a dog beside a bowl. First, the picture shows the dog and the bowl. Next, the words “Water for Sam” tell us what is needed. Then a bowl-clinking sound makes the scene feel like Sam is thirsty and waiting.
The picture is not everything
It is easy to think a picture tells the whole story because we can see it straight away. But a smiling face might hide a worry, and a quiet picture cannot tell us what happened before; words or sounds may add that missing part.
Books, films and signs
You meet this idea in a picture book, where drawings and words tell the story together. You also meet it in films, songs with pictures, menus and signs: each part gives information, feeling or a clue about what to do.
Keep exploring
Other languages
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