Level 1 • Lesson 57 — Reading signs and labels

Objective

Read simple signs and labels and use them to know what to do, where to go, or what something is.

Materials

Pictures of simple signs (STOP, EXIT, BUS, PARK, arrows, bathroom signs)
Food boxes or containers with labels (milk, cereal, pasta, rice)
Paper with two columns: “What it says” and “What it means”
Marker and sticky notes for making your own signs

Mini-lesson — Signs and labels give us information

Words are not only in books. We see words all around us on walls, doors, streets, and packages. These little bits of print are called signs and labels.

Signs and labels are there to help us. They:

Use just a few words, numbers, or symbols
Sometimes have pictures or arrows
Tell us what to do, where to go, or what something is

We see them in many places:

On streets: STOP, BUS, SCHOOL
In buildings: EXIT, BATHROOM, LIBRARY
On boxes and containers: MILK, PASTA, TOYS

Good readers are like sign detectives. When they see a sign or label, they ask:

“What does it say?” (Read the word or words.)
“What does it mean?” (What should I do? Where should I go? What is inside?)

We do not guess only from the color. We use:

The words
Any pictures or symbols
Where the sign is (on a door, on a road, on a box)

You can use this frame when you read a sign or label:

“It says _____. It means I should _____.”

Today, you will read tiny signs and labels and practice saying both what they say and what they mean.

Picture strip: Four simple signs and labels

Guided Practice — Mini-book: My sign walk

How to use this mini-book:

Read each page and pretend you see the sign or label.
Ask: “What does it say?” and “What does it mean?”
Have your child point with their finger and say the sign out loud.

On the “What it says / What it means” chart, write one example from the mini-book together.

Useful words

STOP EXIT BUS PARK MILK TOYS

Frames: “It says ____. It means I should ____.”

Mini-Book: My sign walk

1

On the street

I walk with my dad. We see a big red sign that says STOP.

Cars have to stop. We look both ways before we cross.

2

At the school door

At school, we see a sign that says EXIT over the door.

It shows us the way out if we need to leave.

3

In the kitchen

At home, I see a label on a box. It says PASTA.

Now I know what is inside without opening it.

4

In my room

On my toy bin, I tape a label that says TOYS.

When I clean up, I know exactly where my toys go.

What other signs or labels can you read at home?

Reading Practice — What does the sign or label mean?

Read each sign or label description. Choose what it means. Then press “Check answers”.

1) You see a big red sign that says STOP at a corner. What does it mean?

2) Above a school door there is a sign that says EXIT. What does it tell you?

3) On a door at a shop, you see a picture of a toilet and the word BATHROOM. What does this sign show?

4) You see a sign with the word BUS and a picture of a bus. What does this show?

5) On a tall carton in the fridge, the label says MILK. What does this label tell you?

6) On a box in your room, a label says TOYS. What should you put in this box?

7) On a door, there is a sign that says PULL. What should you do?

8) How can you figure out what a sign or label means?

Quick Check (10 questions)

1) What is a sign or label for?

To tell a long story To give quick information with a few words or pictures To decorate the page only

2) Which one is an example of a sign?

A whole chapter in a book A long poem about rain A red octagon that says STOP

3) A label on a jar says SUGAR. What does this tell you?

The jar has sugar inside The jar has milk inside The jar is empty

4) A sign shows a person walking and the word CROSSWALK. What does this sign help you do?

Find the bathroom Know where it is safe to cross the street Know where to buy toys

5) Which question helps you understand a sign or label?

“What is my favorite color?” “How heavy is this sign?” “What does it say and what does it mean?”

6) A classroom has a sign that says LIBRARY on one door and MUSIC on another. What are these signs doing?

Showing what is in each room Telling a story about music Counting how many rooms there are

7) Why is it helpful to read signs and labels?

So you can skip all books So you can stay safe and know what to do in places like streets and schools So you never have to ask questions

8) Which sentence is a good way to talk about a sign?

“The sign is green.” “This sign is on page 5.” “The sign says STOP, so cars must stop.”

9) If you are not sure what a sign means, you should…

read the words again and ask an adult if you need help ignore it walk away without looking

10) To practice at home, you can…

only read books and never look at signs point to signs and labels you see and say what they mean cover all the labels with tape

Assessment (parent/teacher)

Reads or recognizes common signs (STOP, EXIT, BUS, BATHROOM) with support Can say what a simple label means (MILK, TOYS, SUGAR) Uses both words and pictures/symbols to figure out the meaning of signs Begins to notice and talk about signs and labels in real places (home, school, street)

Exit ticket (student)

😀 I can read signs and labels and tell what they mean 🙂 I need more practice with some signs 😅 It still feels tricky

I will practice…

Reading signs and labels I see at home or outside Saying “It says ____. It means ____.” Looking at words and pictures on packages before opening them

Lesson 57: Reading signs and labels