The relationship between the text and the image in the second and the sixth grades of elementary science textbooks in Iran

Illustrated textbooks have a highly significant influence on providing new prospects for students. Thus، this study was conducted to identify the relationship between the text and the image in elementary school science textbook in Iran. Communicative and descriptive content analysis was used in this study. The second and the sixth grade science textbooks were selected as the statistical population. In descriptive content analysis، written part of the textbooks were analyzed based on Merils model، believing on four main elements of any textbook as facts، concepts، procedures، and principles. In communicative content analysis، the relationship between the text and the image was examined based on the researcher- made model. The results showed that، «Concepts» in the second grade science textbook and «principles» in the sixth grade science textbook had the highest attendance. Moreover، 59. 5% of the total written part of science textbook of the second grade، and 56. 6% of the total written part of science textbook of the sixth grade had been covered by illustrations. More detailed illustrations than text، in both books، had been utilized. Furthermore، in both books، most of the images were illustrated allegorically.