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Know and use various text features (e.g., captions, bold print, subheadings, glossaries, indexes, electronic menus, icons) to locate key facts or information in a text efficiently

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Identify text features

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Practice Assessment

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Interactive Quiz

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Find quizzes on any topic and practice or compete with friends.

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Learning to identify the text features is an important building block of a reading and writing curriculum, especially for students in the second and third grade. In this game, students gain lots of practice by identifying text features in a silly newspaper article. Headlines, captions, photos, and bolded text are some of the features of nonfiction text that students will learn to spot.

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Identify the Text Features | Game | Education.com

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Learning to identify the text features is an important building block of a reading and writing curriculum, especially for students in the second and third grade. In this game, students gain lots of practice by identifying text features in a silly newspaper article.

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(Format to 2nd Grade)

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A Creative Classroom Activity for Teaching Text Features: Surgery!

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We are so inspired by third grade teacher-adviser, Beth Orticelli, from Illinois, who uses Storyworks to draw students into studying "text features" in such a creative way. Her decidedly precise approach to helping students make meaning from text, "Surgery Day," as she calls it, has children scan nonfiction stories for text features, and they love every minute of it.

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Going on a text features scavenger hunt is an engaging way to have students practice looking for and analyzing text features. There are several ways to set up a scavenger hunt, depending on the needs of your classroom. Below you'll find 3 possible ways to set up a text features scavenger hunt in your classroom, as well as a free text features scavenger hunt printable!

Interactive Bulletin Board

After teaching students about the different text features (see my Text Features Slideshow or Text Features Charts), have students cut out the different text features they find in old newspapers or magazines and glue/tape them to an interactive bulletin board.

This activity not only reinforces student understanding of text features, but it also gives you a student created poster that students can refer to all year long. And it makes a great anchor chart! (See more text feature anchor chart ideas here.)

You can do this text features scavenger hunt as a one time whole group activity or set it up as a recurring center activity.

Students will easily be able to find the more common text features: headings, photographs, captions, bold words, etc. Encourage them to be on the hunt for less common, but very important text features like diagrams, tables, and labels.

Small Group Poster Project

For a fun small group activity, have students go on a scavenger hunt and create their own text feature poster. Give each group a page from a magazine and have them create a poster that shows all of the text features found on the page, and how the text features help the reader. (Make sure the magazine page has plenty of text features for them to write about.) Groups can present their poster to the class. After all groups have presented, compare the posters, looking for similarities and differences in text features!

These posters can also be posted around the room as student created anchor charts.

For an engaging partner or independent text feature activity, use this free text features scavenger hunt. It is reusable, so you can use it over and over again with different nonfiction books. Students are asked to find and answer questions about different text features in a book.
You can download this printable for free on theText Features Page in my Members Area. Just look for the red "free" next to the resource "Text features Scavenger Hunt #1."
While you are in my Members Area, download some of the other free resources! Anything that has a red "free" next to it can be downloaded for free.

This text features scavenger hunt can also be used as a literacy connection for other subjects like social studies or science. If students are going to be reading a passage from a book or textbook, have them complete the scavenger hunt before reading the text as a fun and meaningful pre-reading activity.

This text features scavenger hunt asks a few higher order thinking questions so that students can think more deeply about text features.

free printable reusable text features

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Text Features Scavenger Hunt - Teaching Made Practical

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Going on a text features scavenger hunt is an engaging way to have students practice looking for and analyzing text features. There are several ways to set up a scavenger hunt, depending on the needs of your classroom.

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When it comes to teaching nonfiction reading and writing, anchor charts are a valuable tool to solidify the what, when, why and how in learners' minds. Not the artistic type? No worries-we've collected some of our favorite nonfiction anchor charts for you to recreate in your classroom.

What exactly is nonfiction?

Nonfiction is informational text that uses facts to teach learners about something.

SOURCE: The Designer Teacher

What are some examples of nonfiction?

Nonfiction texts can be found in a variety of forms. Brainstorm with your students about where they may find this type of writing.

SOURCE: Julie Ballew

Drive your point home with pictures and samples of nonfiction sources.

SOURCE: Hello Learning

What's the difference between fiction and nonfiction?

Good question. Many young learners get hung up on the "non" portion of the word nonfiction, reasoning that nonfiction must mean not real. So spend lots of time sorting through examples of different types of writing to help your students memorize the difference.

SOURCE: Mrs. Denson's Adventures

This anchor chart explains the difference in pictograph form:

SOURCE: A Teacher and Technology

A Venn diagram is another great way to show the similarities and differences between nonfiction and fiction:

SOURCE: Elementary Shenanigans

How do we read nonfiction?

As opposed to reading stories for pleasure, the main purpose for reading nonfiction is to learn facts about something. Understanding this helps readers set a purpose for reading in a more focused, attentive way.

Here's a simple version:

SOURCE: Creating Readers and Writers

And one that's a little more detailed:

SOURCE: One Stop Teacher Stop

What are nonfiction text features?

Nonfiction texts are organized differently than fiction. Usually the writing is more clear, concise and to the point. The most distinctive characteristic of nonfiction is the use of graphic features that supplement the learning.

Use anchor charts to show examples of some of different text features readers may encounter. For example, photographs, charts, graphs, captions, etc.

This chart addresses why text features are an important part of nonfiction texts:

SOURCE: Second Grade Style

And this one, for upper elementary students, goes into greater detail about each feature.

SOURCE: Learning Adventures with Mrs. Gerlach

Additionally, this chart uses real life examples to point out different text features:

SOURCE: Amy Groesbeck

What are some of the ways nonfiction writing is organized?

Nonfiction writing can follow a number of predictable formats, called text structures. Understanding the way a piece of nonfiction is organized ahead of time will help students better understanding what they're reading.

Here is an example from an upper elementary teacher:

SOURCE: Book Units Teacher

And here is one from a primary teacher:

SOURCE: Mrs. Braun's Second Grade Class

What are some ways to respond to nonfiction?

Once students have read a nonfiction passage, it is important for them to show what they have learned. This anchor chart lays out four different ways for students to take notes and organize their thinking around a nonfiction text.

SOURCE: JBallew

What is the difference between fact and opinion?

Nonfiction writing is based on facts. But sometimes opinions can masquerade as truths. Teaching students to recognize the difference between facts and opinions will help them distinguish between fiction and nonfiction writing.

This anchor chart shows students vocabulary words that will help them distinguish between fact and opinion:

SOURCE: The Designer Teacher

How do we summarize nonfiction?

Pulling out the most important information from expository texts is a critical literacy skill for students. This anchor chart encourages students to use the five finger questioning strategy:

SOURCE: Upper Elementary Snapshots

Is nonfiction the same thing as expository text?

Yes. This anchor chart shows that expository text is another name for informational text written for the purpose of informing or explaining something to a reader:

SOURCE: Miss Klohn's Classroom

What is narrative nonfiction?

Narrative nonfiction is a different structure of nonfiction. Basically, it tells a story, includes facts and examples about a topic, and can include text features.

SOURCE: McElhinney's Center Stage
What are your favorite nonfiction anchor charts? Share your ideas in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.
Also, check out 36 Awesome Anchor Charts for Teaching Writing.

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Get Your Facts Straight With These 18 Nonfiction Anchor Charts

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When it comes to teaching nonfiction reading and writing, anchor charts are a valuable tool to solidify the what, when, why and how in learners' minds. Not the artistic type? No worries-we've collected some of our favorite nonfiction anchor charts for you to recreate in your classroom.

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Activity

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I really think teaching nonfiction text features is a lot of fun! It's not as abstract of a concept as many reading skills may be and it gives my students the same kind of feeling that my own kids had when we took long road trips and played the license plate ABC game. The fun is in the search!

Like anything else, there are lots of ways to teach nonfiction text features, but I'll share what I like to do in this post.

1. To start this unit, we discuss the differences between fiction and nonfiction.

Before you can directly teach nonfiction text features, the kids need to be able to distinguish between fiction and nonfiction.

I like to start by having the kids help me brainstorm as we create an anchor chart listing the characteristics of each. Of course, I have the key characteristics I want them to mention and prod them along where needed.

A good second-day review is to give your students a Venn diagram and have them work in pairs to review this information. All of this prep work is to lead kids to the conclusion that nonfiction (real life, "not fake") is very different from fiction (creative story, "fake" - starts with an F like fiction...) and has a number of different features which are used to help the reader understand and visualize the concepts more fully.

2. Introduce One or Two Text Features Each Day

Now that students understand what nonfiction is, it's time to examine each text feature together.

The day before the lesson, I search through my classroom library and add in books from the school library and tag good examples of text features with sticky notes, so I'm ready for the next day's lesson.

On the lesson day, I teach one or two specific text features by using the real nonfiction books that I have tagged, as well as the posters (see below). As I describe each text feature, I like to project the examples from real books/magazines on my document projector, so everyone can see them well.

Once the kids understand the concepts, we do a mini-scavenger hunt as they take out their science books and browse through them in search of the specific example we are targeting. They are usually pretty excited to find so many examples of the nonfiction text features and the little competitive souls (you know who they are) really get into this!

To finish the lesson, the kids fill out the page or two in their flipbooks (either a simple copy paper folded and stapled booklet or the fancier flip booklet I use today) and kids draw examples of the text feature in these booklets. I allow them to make up their own examples for these pages or to use ones that they've found in their science book or from a real nonfiction book.

Besides the flipbook, I have a set of posters with pictures of each text feature that I like to have on display in the classroom. You could put them up one at a time as you teach each one but I usually just have them all on a bulletin board and then refer to them as we go along.

3. Task Cards

Once we have introduced all of the text features, I take out my set of task cards for this unit. I think by now I have task cards for just about each standard that I teach because they give kids so much focused practice and students still see them as a "game", so they really enjoy using them.

If you run reading centers, task cards are great for this of course, or you can place them around the room and give kids clipboards and a buddy to record their answers on the record sheet as they walk around finding the cards.

Since I usually have 4th/5th graders, we correct these together when they're finished and they get instant feedback on how well they did.

A great way to make extra task cards is to use examples from science magazines or Weekly Readers, which are full of text features.

4. Bingo

Another way I reinforce text features is to play a Nonfiction Text Features Bingo as a class. I pass out cardstock (laminated) Bingo cards, as well as buttons for markers (you could also use mini-erasers, beans, math cubes, plastic disks, or even small pieces of paper) and we play the game several times together.

I have a prize box of random treasures (aka junk) for the winners and I do include a few simple no-cost coupons in the prize box, that I printed with prizes like a homework pass, choose a class game, sit with a friend, wear socks in the classroom, 15 minutes of computer time during morning work, and so on.

Another way I like to use my Bingo cards is to set these aside for a parent volunteer (or a trusty student helper) to use one on one with any students who need extra help. They're really a great way to provide a quick review.

5. Follow Up or for Fast Finishers

I love to have a few easy but effective ideas on hand for a whole class review and for the few fast finishers who need some enrichment.

One easy project is to take old science magazines like National Geographics (I would pre-screen these for iffy pictures), Ranger Ricks, Scholastic Magazines, or Weekly Readers and have kids cut out examples of each nonfiction text feature that they find. The kids then glue on their examples to large pieces of construction paper, anchor chart posters, or a sectioned off bulletin board, with nonfiction text feature headings.

Another idea I really love and the kids enjoy is to have a Scavenger Hunt with small teams of 3 - 4 kids. I give each group sticky notes and a basket of nonfiction books and let them place sticky notes with the text feature's name on each text feature example they find, with a point for each one they find.

The game's goal is to see who can find the most text features in a set number of minutes. Before we announce the winner, I have groups exchange baskets and "check" the other team's answers for accuracy, which also gives them one more opportunity to practice this skill (sneaky, I know!)

Finally, if you're looking for a ready to go, complete resource to teach nonfiction text features for 2nd - 5th grade, I did create a unit that I love using in my classroom. It comes with the flipbook, task cards, Bingo game, and all of the posters too!

Also, if you teach 4th/5th grade, you might enjoy this Reading with Charts and Graphs , which features lots of engaging passages, and comprehension questions, as well as a set of 32 task cards with charts and graphs (text features!).

If you have 2nd or 3rd grade students, you might be interested in the charts and graphs task cards by themselves:

Hope this unit goes smoothly for you! Happy teaching!

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common core standards english language arts

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I really think teaching nonfiction text features is a lot of fun! It's not as abstract of a concept as many reading skills may be and it gives my students the same kind of feeling that my own kids had when we took long road trips and played the license plate ABC game.

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Reading Worksheets, Spelling, Grammar, Comprehension, Lesson Plans

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Nonfiction Text Features Poster:

(Click on Get Worksheet below) What are text features? All types of publishing use graphic and organizational features to increase comprehension, separate content, and add visual interest to the text. These enhancements are particularly present in nonfiction works. Knowing how each of these features work helps students locate information quickly and better understand what they are reading.

For example, if a student is reading about ancient Rome, a detailed map can be very helpful. Not only will it provide clarification, but some students are more visual and this type of text feature can help them to comprehend, and put into context, what they are reading.

The PDF below includes 20 printable PDFs (all in one file) that you may use to place on the bulletin board, covert to PowerPoint, or hand out to students. The following text feature elements are included:

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Nonfiction Text Features | Free, Printable Posters for Classrooms

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(Click on Get Worksheet below) What are text features? All types of publishing use graphic and organizational features to increase comprehension, separate content, and add visual interest to the text. These enhancements are particularly present in nonfiction works. Knowing how each of these features work helps students locate information quickly and better understand what they are reading.

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In the classrooms that I've visited over the past few years, I found that many ELs, even those ready to exit ESL, were still having difficulties comprehending their science and social studies textbooks. It is important that both ESL and classroom educators teach a unit on the features or conventions of nonfiction text to ELs as early as first grade. I suggest that teachers use multiple copies of paperback theme sets from National Geographic or Millmark Education, because both of these publishers feature social studies and science books that include all of the features that need to be taught.

Here are some of the books that I've used to teach the conventions of nonfiction text:
Introducing Conventions of Nonfiction Text
Here are some of the conventions of nonfiction text that teachers can introduce to their ELs.

Teachers should first discuss the title of the book and have students make predictions about the content. Students then brainstorm and list questions that they have about the topic. This helps students determine a purpose for reading and keeps them focused. From a book entitled Bones: Cells at Work, students generate questions such as "Why are cells important?" and "What can cells do?"

Table of Contents
The class then looks at the titles of chapters in the table of contents. Teachers should demonstrate to ELs how they can read the titles and find the page where the chapter begins. Have students practice looking up chapters from the table of contents.

Key Concepts
ELs need practice identifying the key concept, which is usually identified at the beginning of the book or chapter. A key concept of one of the chapters in the Bones: Cells at Work book is "Sometimes cells get a disease or become damaged and don't work as they should." This provokes questions such as "What happens when bones break?" or " What kind of sickness do bones get?"

Headings and Subheadings
Next have ELs look at the headings and subheadings. In my classroom, this was always a favorite activity because I would bring out the Wikki Stix. These are twistable pieces of yarn covered with wax that students can use to highlight text right in the book. It doesn't hurt the book and can be removed when the lesson is done. Have students highlight the headings with one color and the subheadings with another. Students should also practice making questions from the headings. "Diagrams are pictures that show information" becomes "What are diagrams?"

Stimulate your students' natural curiosity and pique their interest in a chapter or book by taking your ELs on a picture walk. I find this is helpful for students of all ages. Encourage students to discuss each picture, photograph, drawing, or diagram and ask them questions about the pictures they see. When you hear students exclaim, "Look at this!" and "I didn't know that!" from the pictures and other visuals, you know that they are learning something new. Introduce features of nonfiction text that are appropriate for the grade level that you are teaching. After your picture walk, point out features in the book such as captions, labels, maps, timelines, table of contents, glossary, index, and text features.

Text Features
Have ELs look at the text and ask them how they know which vocabulary words are important. Guide them to identify the words that are in color, italics, or bold print. Have students work in small groups to identify words that have each of these features. List text features on a chart and ask students to find and mark examples in the book with brightly colored Post-It notes. There is something magical about Post-Its because students are always excited when they get to use them.

Glossary and Index
Check the glossary to see if the important words are included in the glossary. Look for the important words in the index. Students should learn that the important vocabulary will usually appear in both the glossary and index.

Now students are ready to read the book. When this book is finished, they have not only learned about the conventions of nonfiction text but the content information presented in the book.

What's next? They'll write their own nonfiction book, of course!

About Judie Haynes

Judie Haynes taught elementary ESL for 28 years and is the author and coauthor of eight books for teachers of ELs , the most recent being "Teaching to Strengths: Supporting Students Living with Trauma, Violence and Chronic Stress" with Debbie Zacarian and Lourdes Alvarez-Ortiz. She was a columnist for the TESOL publication "Essential Teacher" and is also cofounder and comoderator of the Twitter Chat for teachers of English learners #ELLCHAT.

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| Teaching ELs the Features of Nonfiction Text

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In the classrooms that I've visited over the past few years, I found that many ELs, even those ready to exit ESL, were still having difficulties comprehending their science and social studies textbooks. It is important that both ESL and classroom educators teach a unit on the features or conventions of nonfiction text to ELs as early as first grade.

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ELL can find specific definitions for each text feature