Pictures and photos are visual representations that can be painted, drawn, photographed, or otherwise rendered on a flat surface. They are a concrete medium that is relatively inexpensive, easy to create and use in the classroom to support learning. While pictures only engage the visual sense, they can authentically depict objects and events simply and at a proportional size to help students envision the real world, as long as the images are not too complex. Effective pictures consider beauty, compatibility with lessons, and support for educational goals and plans.