📖

Using Text Features

Informational Text Study

Day 153of 180
Week 31of 36
30Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Identify and use various text features in nonfiction texts

2

Locate specific information using headings, subheadings, and indexes

3

Understand how text features help readers comprehend information

📖 Scripture Connection

Proverbs 2:2

“So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;”

— Proverbs 2:2 (WEB)

Just as we use text features to understand written information, we can use wisdom to understand God's teachings

📦 Materials Needed

  • Multiple nonfiction texts
  • Colored sticky notes
  • Highlighters
  • Text feature scavenger hunt worksheet
  • Pencils
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather students and show a nonfiction book. Ask students to identify different features they see on the pages.

💭 Review Question: What special features help you understand a book better?
2Teaching (10 min)

Explain the purpose of text features: helping readers quickly find and understand information. Demonstrate how headings, subheadings, bold words, captions, and indexes work.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Headings tell you what a section is about
  • Subheadings provide more specific details
  • Bold words highlight important terms
  • Captions explain pictures or diagrams
  • Indexes help you find specific information quickly
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • How do text features make reading easier?
  • When might text features be most helpful?
  • Can you think of a time when a text feature helped you understand something?
3Activity: Text Feature Scavenger Hunt (10 min)
Hands-on

Students work in pairs to find and mark different text features in nonfiction books.

📝 Instructions:
  1. Give each pair a variety of nonfiction texts
  2. Provide a scavenger hunt worksheet
  3. Students locate and mark different text features
  4. Share findings as a class
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Use fewer text features to identify

Challenge: Create a presentation about how text features help readers

4Closing (5 min)

Review what we learned about text features and their importance in understanding information.

📝 Review Questions:
  • What are three text features we discussed today?
  • How do text features help readers?
  • Which text feature do you find most helpful?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for giving us minds that can learn and understand. Help us to be curious and eager to learn about the world you created.

Coming up: Tomorrow, we'll learn about finding main ideas in nonfiction texts!

💎 Memory Verse

Proverbs 2:2

“So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;”

— Proverbs 2:2 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Text Feature Memory Match - Connect text feature terms with their definitions

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Text features are critical tools for comprehending nonfiction writing

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Encourage children to look closely at book layouts
  • Practice using text features during home reading time
  • Ask children to explain text features they notice
🤔 Common Struggles:

Some children may find text features overwhelming or confusing

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Child's ability to explain how a specific text feature helps understanding

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a personal nonfiction text feature guide
  • Design a page with multiple text features
  • Compare text features in different types of books

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

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