Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS):
5.11.D*
Use multiple text features and graphics to gain an overview of the contents of text and to locate information.
Georgia Math and ELA Standards:
5.T.SS.1.a
Describe how text features (e.g., chapter titles, diagrams) and organizational structure (e.g., chapters, problem/solution) function in conjunction to represent ideas and information coherently in texts. (I)
5th Grade Reading - Text Features and Graphics Lesson
Text Features and Search Tools
Text features and search tools help the reader find information in the text.
Some common text features and search tools are:
Picture – an image or illustration used in a text
Caption – a title or brief explanation included underneath an image or picture, usually to add more information or to describe the image
Chart – a diagram, table, or graph that displays information
Sidebar – a text box that contains extra information about a passage, usually included on the left or right of the text
Heading – the title of a section of a text, usually shown in bold
Bold – when important words in a text are shown in dark, thick letters (e.g., the Earth’s atmosphere)
Italics – when important words in a text are shown in slanted letters (e.g., the characters in the play)
Table of Contents – a list of the chapters or sections in a text and their titles
Glossary – a list of important terms from the text and their definitions
Hyperlink – a link to the address of a Web site (e.g., www.learningfarm.com)
Guide Words
Guide words are printed words at the top of a page. They help the reader anticipate what the text is about. The guide words are often in bold to be easily seen.
Example: Dictionaries have guide words on top of the page that show, alphabetically, the first and last words on a page.
5th Grade Reading - Text Features and Graphics Lesson