Understanding Text Features and Their Purposes
Understanding Text Features and Their Purposes Objective: Students will be able to identify various text features in informational texts and explain how these features help them locate key information.
Learning Objectives
- Identify common text features in informational texts.
- Explain how text features help find important information quickly.
- Use text features to answer questions about the text.
Materials Needed
- A nonfiction book or article appropriate for Grade 3
- Printed copies of a short informational text with clear text features (headings, captions, glossary, etc.)
- Paper and pencils
Key Vocabulary
- Text Features
- Parts of a text that help organize information and guide the reader, such as headings, captions, and glossaries.
- Heading
- A title or subtitle that tells what the section or page is about.
- Caption
- A sentence or phrase that explains a picture or diagram.
Detailed Activities
Exploring Text Features
- Begin by discussing what text features are and why authors use them.
- Show examples of text features such as headings, captions, and glossaries using the nonfiction book or printed text.
- Read a short passage together and point out the text features present.
- Ask the student how these features help them understand or find information faster.
- Give the student a worksheet or printed article with text features and ask them to identify and label these features.
- Finally, ask simple questions that require using the text features to find answers.
Parent & Instructor Notes
- Encourage your child to look for text features in books you read together at home or in everyday materials like magazines.
- You do not need to be an expert; just explore and discuss how these features help in understanding the information.
- Keep the session interactive and praise your child for their observations.
Assessment Questions
- Can you find a heading in the text? What does it tell you about that section?
- Look at the picture and its caption. What extra information does the caption give?
- How can a glossary help you when reading a new book?
Extension Ideas
- Create a simple informational booklet together on a topic your child likes, including text features such as headings and captions.
- Visit a local library or website to find different types of nonfiction books and explore their text features.
- Play a scavenger hunt game where your child finds specific information using text features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Start with one or two features at a time, like headings and captions, and use lots of examples. Make the activity fun and supportive to build confidence.
Short, regular sessions of 15-20 minutes a few times a week can help reinforce understanding without overwhelming your child.
Teacher’s Guide
Common Misconceptions:
- Students may think text features are decorations rather than helpful tools.
- They might confuse captions with the main text or overlook glossaries as useful resources.
Scaffolding Ideas:
For Struggling Students:
- Focus on identifying just one or two text features per session.
- Use highly visual materials and repeated examples for reinforcement.
For Advanced Students:
- Introduce more complex text features like indexes or tables of contents.
- Encourage them to create their own informational text using multiple text features.
Pacing Recommendations:
- Spend about 10-15 minutes reviewing and discussing text features.
- Use 20-25 minutes on guided practice with reading and identifying features.
- Finish with 5-10 minutes of assessment and review.
Standards
- 3.RI.7 — Use information gained from illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs) and the words in a text to demonstrate understanding of the text.
Printable Worksheet
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