Grade 3 › ELA/Reading › Text Features & Structure

Text Features & Structure

Help students understand how authors use headings, diagrams, captions, and other features to organize information

FL B.E.S.T. Standard: ELA.3.R.2.1

Florida B.E.S.T. Standard

ELA.3.R.2.1

Explain how text features—including titles, headings, captions, graphs, maps, glossaries, and/or illustrations—contribute to the meaning of texts.

Print Features

  • Titles and headings
  • Bold and italic text
  • Captions and labels

Graphic Features

  • Diagrams and charts
  • Maps and graphs
  • Photos and illustrations

Organizational Features

  • Table of contents
  • Glossary and index
  • Sidebars and bullets

Purpose & Contribution

  • WHY authors use features
  • HOW features help readers
  • What features ADD to meaning

Printable Resources

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Teacher Guide

5-day lesson plan, feature categories, question stems, and teaching strategies

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Student Concept Worksheet

Introduction to text features with butterflies passage and visual examples

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Practice Worksheet

3 passages (Volcanoes, Habitats, Solar System) with 14 practice questions

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FAST Practice Quiz

10 test-format questions with Water Cycle passage - mirrors actual FAST assessment

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Parent Activity Guide

Home activities with feature hunts and real-world practice (includes Spanish)

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Answer Keys

Complete answers for all worksheets with explanations and scoring guide

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Teaching Tips for Text Features

Feature Walk: Before reading, preview text features only. Ask: "What will this text be about? What will we learn?"
Purpose Over Identification: Don't just ask "What is this?" Ask "How does this help the reader understand?"
What Would Be Missing? Cover a feature and ask what would be harder to understand without it.
Graphics Contain Information: Teach students that diagrams, charts, and maps often have information NOT in the main text.

FAST Success Kit | Grade 3 ELA | FL B.E.S.T. Standard: ELA.3.R.2.1

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