Learning Activity

Informational Text Features Part 2

Subject Area

English Language Arts

Grade(s)

3

Overview

The teacher will use a YouTube video to help students understand text features as it will explain each one. After each text feature is explained, the teacher will ask a follow-up question to determine if the students are comprehending the new information. The students will then play a game to interactively identify text features through the game.

This activity was created as a result of the ALEX Resource Development Summit.

English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 3

ELA21.3.23

Identify and use text features in informational passages to locate information.

Unpacked Content

UP:ELA21.3.23

Vocabulary

  • Text features
  • Locate
  • Informational passage
  • Identify

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Informational passages often include text features that can be used to locate information within the text.

Skills

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.

Understanding

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.

Phase

During/Explore/Explain
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

The students will be able to identify text features in informational passages to locate information.

Activity Details

  1. The teacher will explain that today the students will watch a video to help them identify and use text features in informational passages to locate information. 
  2. Present the Text Features Slideshow.
  3. Stop at slide 3 to ask the students to discuss the following question: "Where would a reader find information about where an animal lives?" 
  4. Continue to present the slideshow.
  5. Stop at slide 4 to ask the students to discuss the following question: "Where would a reader find information in the text about acid rain?"
  6. Continue to present the slideshow.
  7. Glossary: Stop at slide 5 to ask the students to discuss the following question: "How would the glossary help the reader understand text about animal adaptations?"
  8. Continue to present the slideshow.
  9. Titles: Stop at slide 6 to ask the students to discuss the following question: "What do the titles of these articles in these newspapers tell you?"
  10. Continue to present the slideshow.
  11. Subheadings: Stop at slide 7 to ask the students to discuss the following question: "Where would the leader look to find out about a fire ant?"
  12. Continue to present the slideshow.
  13. Text: Stop at slide 8 to ask the students to discuss the following question: "How do the words in italics help the reader understand the text?"
  14. Continue to present the slideshow.
  15. Photographs/Illustrations: Stop at slide 9 to ask the students to discuss the following question: "How might these photos help the reader understand the text?"
  16. Continue to present the slideshow.
  17. Captions: Stop at slide 10 to ask the students to discuss the following question: "How does this caption help the reader understand the picture?"
  18. Continue to present the slideshow. 
  19. Textbox: Stop at slide 11 to ask the students to discuss the following question: "What is the purpose of a textbox?"
  20. Continue to present the slideshow.
  21. Maps: Stop at slide 12 to ask the students to discuss the following question: "How do the words in italics help the reader understand the text?"
  22. Continue to present the slideshow. 
  23. Diagrams: Stop at slide 13 to ask the students to discuss the following question: "How could this diagram help the reader understand volcanoes?"
  24. Continue to present the slideshow.
  25. Tables: Stop at slide 14 to ask the students to discuss the following question: "How would a table about volcano eruptions help the reader understand volcanoes?"
  26. Continue to present the slideshow.
  27. Timelines: Stop at slide 15 to ask the students to discuss the following question: "How would a timeline help a reader understand an article about why older people aren't knowledgeable about computers?"
  28. Continue to present the slideshow.
  29. Afterward, have the students log in to their devices and access the Text Features Game. The students will play this game to practice and/or reinforce identifying text features in a silly newspaper article.
Assessment Strategies

Assessment Strategies

The teacher will take anecdotal notes of how the students perform in the game.

Related Learning Activities

Learning Activity (Before)

Informational Text Features Part 1

Learning Activity (During)

Informational Text Features Part 2

Learning Activity (After)

Informational Text Features Part 3

Background and Preparation

Background / Preparation

  • The teacher will need a clipboard with paper to take anecdotal notes.
  • The teacher will want to review the Text Features Slideshow before delivering the content.
  • Prior to assigning the game for the activity, the teacher needs to sign up for an account on education.com and add their students so they can assign the game and see their reports. 
  • If the teacher wants the students to individually complete the activities they need to make sure the game is uploaded properly for each student. 

Digital Tools / Resources

Text Features Slideshow
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1PgWIr4VQ8JJb6aEQgUAdiqffwSE_sGmidQo89pM…
Education.com: Identify the Text Features
https://www.education.com/game/text-features/

Approved Date

Owner (Author)

potto
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