Lesson plan
Searching for Text Features
Learning Objectives
- Students will be able to identify informational text features and explain how the features contribute to a better understanding of the text.
The adjustment to the whole group lesson is a modification to differentiate for children who are English learners.
Introduction
(10 minutes)
- Walk students through one of your informational texts.
- Ask students to describe what makes this book different than an ordinary fiction picture book. (It is expected that students will point out charts, graphs, and other examples of text features.)
- Review with students the purpose of text features. Text features add important details and information to the story. Authors use text structures to further explain their topic. Good readers use text structures to deepen their understanding.
- Give some examples of text features: graph, diagram, map, index, glossary, chart, table, and picture.
Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling
(15 minutes)- Make sure to review each type of text feature and its purpose with the book you used during the introduction.
- Bring out your chart paper and display it.
- Emphasize that the purpose of text features is to deepen the readers' understanding of the text. As you model analyzing each feature, explain how it helps you better understand the text.
Guided Practice
(15 minutes)- Explain to students that today they will be going on a scavenger hunt to look for different examples of text features.
- They will need to find all of the text features on their list and record page numbers next to each text feature.
- Students may work with a partner to find the text features. Provide each pair of students with an informational text.
- Early finishers may repeat the scavenger hunt with a second book.
Independent working time
(15 minutes)- Briefly go over the text features students found in their books.
- Have students label a blank bingo card with text features of their choice.
- Read aloud your second informational text. Students will play bingo while looking for text features as you read.
Differentiation
Enrichment:
- Challenge advanced students to find text features in their independent reading. You may also have them look for text features in a local newspaper.
Support:
- Have students in need of additional support focus on finding only one or two text structures at a time. For example, you may have each of them look through several books to find all the informational graphs.
Assessment
(10 minutes)- Walk around the room during Guided Practice. Focus on asking students what the author is trying to explain with each text feature.
- Ask students how particular text features enhance their understanding.
- Collect the scavenger hunts and review them later to assess student comprehension.
Review and closing
(10 minutes)- Review with students the importance of text features.
- Ask students to describe examples of text features.
- Remind students that whenever they read informational texts, they should take time to examine the features on the pages.
Related learning resources
Nonfiction Text Features: Wild, Wild Weather
Worksheet
Nonfiction Text Features: Wild, Wild Weather
Children will practice using nonfiction text features as they read and interpret a passage about extreme weather.
3rd grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Searching for Text Features
Lesson plan
Searching for Text Features
Not only will your students increase their knowledge of text features, they'll also enjoy a selection of engaging games.
4th grade
Reading & Writing
Lesson plan
Reading Charts, Graphs, and Diagrams From Nonfiction Texts
Worksheet
Reading Charts, Graphs, and Diagrams From Nonfiction Texts
Learners will read and interpret three types of nonfiction text features in this three-page practice worksheet.
4th grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Introduction to Charts and Diagrams
Lesson plan
Introduction to Charts and Diagrams
Charts, graphs, and diagrams are complex text features for students to decipher. Use this lesson to familiarize students with these features.
4th grade
Reading & Writing
Lesson plan
