Text Features Worksheets

About These 15 Worksheets

The series of worksheets focuses on building students’ understanding of text features, a key literacy skill that enhances reading comprehension and information processing. These worksheets collectively guide students through identifying, categorizing, and applying various text features commonly found in both fiction and nonfiction texts.

The tasks within the worksheets challenge students to recognize visual and structural elements such as headings, indexes, captions, diagrams, charts, timelines, and maps. By doing so, they learn to distinguish between different types of information presentation, and this helps them navigate texts more effectively. Some exercises involve cutting and gluing to match images with their corresponding text feature descriptions, encouraging students to visualize how these elements are integrated into texts. This hands-on component strengthens the cognitive association between the visual feature and its function within a text, improving retention.

In addition to focusing on visual aids like graphs, concept maps, and infographics, other tasks ask students to define key text features by matching names like “glossary,” “index,” or “table of contents” with their proper definitions. This exercise strengthens students’ vocabulary and ensures they understand the purpose of each feature in aiding navigation and comprehension of different texts. Students are also prompted to reflect on the purpose of each text feature within a book, further helping them grasp how these elements function in both fiction and nonfiction.

Some worksheets encourage deeper engagement by prompting students to predict the contents or structure of a book based on the title page, table of contents, or chapter headings. This kind of analysis fosters critical thinking, as students must infer information about the text before reading. The worksheets also introduce students to the different purposes of texts (informational, narrative, persuasive) and the features most commonly associated with each type, giving them a broader understanding of how structure aligns with an author’s purpose.

Together, these worksheets foster a holistic approach to reading by ensuring that students not only engage with the main content of a text but also develop an appreciation for the organizational features that can guide their understanding. They promote active reading strategies, like skimming and scanning, and equip students with the skills to navigate texts in a structured, methodical way. This blend of activities helps students become more proficient readers who can quickly locate information, understand its context, and critically engage with different types of literature and informational texts.

What are Text Features?

Text features are an often overlooked but essential aspect of reading comprehension, whether in fiction or nonfiction. These features go beyond the words of the narrative to provide additional context, clarity, and understanding, which can significantly enhance a reader’s grasp of the material. While we often associate text features with nonfiction works, such as captions, glossaries, and indexes, it’s equally important to recognize their presence in fiction. Chapter headings, book titles, and images also serve as crucial tools for guiding the reader through the story. Understanding and teaching these features is critical for students to develop a deeper and more nuanced approach to reading.

Text features are the backbone of how information is organized in a text. They act as a roadmap for the reader, giving subtle but powerful cues about what is most important and how to navigate through the content. For educators, helping students recognize and interpret these features is one of the most impactful ways to improve their comprehension skills, particularly when it comes to nonfiction.

1. Encouraging Students to Identify and Appreciate Text Features

The first step in teaching text features is to help students learn to discern them as they encounter them. Too often, readers gloss over these helpful aids, missing out on the valuable information they provide. Features like charts, labels, graphs, maps, and diagrams are placed in nonfiction texts precisely to assist with comprehension, yet many students zero in on the main text while bypassing these essential elements. As educators, it’s crucial to emphasize that these are not just decorative additions—they are there to enhance understanding.

Begin by introducing the concept of text features in simple terms. Give students a brief definition and explain their significance with examples. For instance, you might start by showing them a nonfiction book that has multiple features like graphs or captions, pointing out that these elements offer critical insights that may not be included in the main narrative. Without delving too deeply into the content of the text features at first, the aim is to familiarize students with their presence and function. Show them how these components work in conjunction with the main text to provide a fuller, richer understanding.

The Power of a Text Feature Scavenger Hunt

A great way to solidify this understanding is through an interactive activity, such as a “text feature scavenger hunt.” This not only engages students actively but also makes them conscious of the many ways text features are used across various nonfiction books. In this activity, divide the class into small groups and provide them with a collection of nonfiction books that showcase a wide array of text features. The task for each group is to identify specific features, such as captions, indexes, or maps, and mark them with sticky notes. This hands-on exploration helps students develop the habit of pausing to acknowledge the textual details, encouraging them to become more observant readers.

Through this exercise, students not only learn to recognize text features, but they also begin to appreciate their purpose. They come to see that these elements aren’t merely supplementary but are integral to understanding the material. Some students may struggle at first to interpret these features, but giving them the time to grapple with the material builds their analytical skills and encourages critical thinking.

2. Teaching Students How to Interpret Text Features

Once students are comfortable identifying text features, the next step is teaching them how to interpret these elements effectively. It’s not enough for them to merely notice a glossary or a diagram—they must understand what these features are telling them and how to use that information to deepen their comprehension. Each type of text feature serves a unique function. A caption may explain what a picture depicts, a diagram could visually break down a process described in the text, and an index helps locate specific information quickly.

To introduce students to the interpretation of text features, begin by providing clear definitions of the most common ones. Show a variety of examples that illustrate how each feature works. You might also consider using multimedia tools, such as a short animated video, to visually demonstrate the importance of these features. This could be followed by a discussion of how features like glossaries, tables of contents, or even sidebars provide additional layers of meaning to the text.

For example, when showing a chart in a nonfiction book, take the time to explain what the chart is depicting and how it relates to the surrounding text. The goal here is to ensure that students understand that these elements are not isolated but are directly linked to the overall message or information being conveyed in the book.

3. Empowering Students to Use Text Features Independently

The final step in this process is helping students move from recognizing and interpreting text features to using them independently in their reading. At this stage, students should be able to not only identify a text feature but also explain its significance and use it to enhance their understanding of the material. They have now developed the habit of pausing when they encounter a text feature and considering its role in shaping their comprehension of the content.

To reinforce this skill, incorporate multiple read-aloud sessions where you model the use of text features in real time. As you read through a nonfiction text, take deliberate pauses to point out and discuss the text features as they appear. This will help students see these features in action and understand how to apply them to their own reading.

Encourage students to take notes on the text features they observe and reflect on how these features contributed to their understanding. This practice helps solidify the connection between the main text and its supplementary elements, making the reading experience more holistic and complete.

To deepen their learning, expose students to a variety of nonfiction texts. This will allow them to see how different authors use text features in unique ways to present information. For instance, one book might rely heavily on graphs and charts, while another might use sidebars and diagrams to provide additional context. This comparative approach helps students appreciate the diversity of ways text features can be employed to communicate ideas.