ALEX Learning Activity

  

Informational Text Features Part 1

A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.

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  This learning activity provided by:  
Author: Pamela Otto
System:Houston County
School:Ashford Elementary School
  General Activity Information  
Activity ID: 2856
Title:
Informational Text Features Part 1
Digital Tool/Resource:
YouTube Learning Video: Nonfiction Text Features
Web Address – URL:
Overview:

In this learning activity, the students will watch a video to introduce them to basic nonfiction text features including photographs with captions, an index, glossary, bold print, maps, and labels. After watching the video, the students will complete a scavenger hunt to identify specific text features. Finally, the students will share their scavenger hunts with the class.

This activity was created as a result of the ALEX Resource Development Summit.
  Associated Standards and Objectives  
Content Standard(s):
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 3
23. Identify and use text features in informational passages to locate information.

Examples: headings, photographs, illustrations, labels, charts, graphs, legends

a. Explain how text features support details in the text.

b. Explain how illustrations contribute to meaning in a story.

c. Interpret text features used in written and digital formats.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
23.
  • Text features
  • Locate
  • Informational passage
  • Identify
23a.
  • Explain
  • Text features
  • Supporting details
  • Text
23b.
  • Explain
  • Illustrations
  • Contribute
  • Meaning in a story
23c.
  • Interpret
  • Text features
  • Written formats
  • Digital formats
Knowledge:
23. Students know:
  • Informational passages often include text features that can be used to locate information within the text.
23a.
  • Text features can provide additional or clarifying information about details in a text.
23b.
  • Illustrations included with a story can contribute to the story's meaning.
23c.
  • Text features can be used in printed (written) and digital text.
Skills:
23. Students are able to:
  • Identify text features in informational passages, such as headings, photographs, illustrations, labels, charts, graphs, legends.
  • Use text features to locate information within an informational passage.
23a.
  • Identify text features and explain how the text features supports details in a text.
23b.
  • Identify an illustration and explain how it contributes to the meaning of the story.
23c.
  • Interpret text features presented in a digital format.
  • Interpret text features presented in a written format.
Understanding:
23. Students understand that:
  • Informational passages have predictable features that can be used to locate important information within the text.
  • Text features that are often used in informational text include headings, photographs, illustrations, labels, charts, graphs, and legends.
  • Using text features helps support their overall comprehension.
23a.
  • An author chooses to include text features to provide additional information, clarify information, or enhance ideas with in a text.
  • Using text features supports their comprehension of details in a text.
23b.
  • Authors and illustrators choose to include illustrations to enhance the meaning of the story provided in the text.
23c.
  • Text features are often included in written (printed) text and digital text.
  • In either format, text features can be used to locate information or enhance overall comprehension.
Learning Objectives:

Students will be able to identify and use text features in informational passages to locate information. 
  Strategies, Preparations and Variations  
Phase:
Before/Engage
Activity:

  1. Show students the video Nonfiction Text Features.

  2. Pass out the Text Feature Scavenger Hunt

  3. After students complete the scavenger hunt, have students share their answers with the class. Students need to be prepared to share the book where they found at least one text feature from the scavenger hunt. 
Assessment Strategies:

The Text Feature Scavenger Hunt will be used as the assessment. The teacher will specifically look for the student's ability to identify bold print and illustrations (captions, photographs, and maps).
Advanced Preparation:

  • The teacher will need to collect either textbooks, articles, newspapers, or informational library books before the lesson.

  • The teacher will need to preview the video ahead of time.

  • The teacher will need to have enough copies of the Text Feature Scavenger Hunt. 

 
Variation Tips (optional):

  • Students can complete the scavenger hunt individually or with a partner.
Notes or Recommendations (optional):

What to do next? This learning activity can be used with the following activities: 
  Keywords and Search Tags  
Keywords and Search Tags: captions, glossary, illustrations, informational, maps, nonfiction, photographs, text features