Understanding Text Features in Informational Texts
Understanding Text Features in Informational Texts Objective: Students will be able to explain how an author uses text features (such as headings, tables of contents, glossaries, and captions) to organize information and aid comprehension in informational texts.
Learning Objectives
- Identify common text features in an informational text.
- Explain how these text features help organize information.
- Use text features to locate information quickly in a passage.
Materials Needed
- Informational text passage (age-appropriate, about animals or a science topic)
- Printed copies of the passage for each student
- Highlighters or colored pencils
- Notebook or paper for notes
- Chart paper or whiteboard
Key Vocabulary
- Text Features
- Parts of a text like headings, captions, and glossaries that help organize information and make it easier to understand.
- Heading
- A title at the beginning of a section that tells what that part is about.
- Caption
- A small description or explanation under a picture or diagram.
Detailed Activities
Explore and Identify Text Features
- Read the provided informational text aloud with your child.
- Together, find and list the text features such as headings, captions, and glossary.
- Discuss what each text feature tells the reader about the information.
Highlight and Explain
- Have your child use highlighters or colored pencils to mark each text feature in the passage.
- Ask your child to explain how each text feature helps them understand the information better.
- Write these explanations on chart paper or a whiteboard for reference.
Practice Using Text Features
- Give your child questions that require using text features to find answers quickly.
- Work together to locate answers by using the headings, captions, or glossary.
- Discuss how the text features made finding information easier.
Parent & Instructor Notes
- This lesson focuses on helping your child see how authors organize information to make reading easier and more interesting.
- Encourage your child to use text features whenever they read nonfiction texts, as this will improve their understanding and reading skills.
- You do not need to be an expert; just guide your child through identifying and discussing these features.
Assessment Questions
- What is a heading and how does it help you when reading?
- Can you find a caption in the text? What information does it give?
- How can a glossary be useful when reading a new topic?
Extension Ideas
- Create a mini-book with your child using text features like headings and captions about a topic they like.
- Look for text features in other nonfiction books at home or the library and discuss their purpose.
- Practice using an index and table of contents in a larger book to find information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Start with one or two text features at a time, like headings and captions, and use simple texts. Praise small successes and gradually add more features as your child becomes comfortable.
Try to practice with different texts at least once a week. Frequent, short sessions work best for young learners.
Teacher’s Guide
Common Misconceptions:
- Students may think text features are decorations rather than tools to help understand the text.
- Some children may confuse headings with titles or think captions are just extra text without purpose.
Scaffolding Ideas:
For Struggling Students:
- Use shorter texts with very clear and bold text features.
- Provide one-on-one support while reading and point out text features explicitly.
For Advanced Students:
- Have them compare how different authors use text features in various texts.
- Encourage them to create their own informational text using multiple text features.
Pacing Recommendations:
- Spend about 15 minutes exploring and identifying text features together.
- Use 15 minutes for highlighting and explaining the features.
- Reserve the last 15 minutes for practicing locating information and answering questions.
Standards
- 5.RI.6 — Analyze multiple accounts of the same event or topic, noting important similarities and differences in the point of view they represent.
Printable Worksheet
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