Text Features Worksheet & Anchor Chart: Free Templates for Teachers
Free printable text features worksheets and anchor charts for K-8 classrooms. Scavenger hunts, matching activities, purpose charts, and more - organized by category with teaching tips and answer keys.
Worksheets Included
Complete, ready-to-use text features worksheets with answer keys for your classroom.
Text Features Covered
Print, graphic, organizational, and digital features - every nonfiction text feature in one resource.
Grade Levels
Activities and anchor charts adaptable from kindergarten through middle school.
What Are Text Features?
Text features are elements of a written text that are separate from the main body of writing but help readers navigate, understand, and locate information more effectively. They are most commonly found in nonfiction and informational texts such as textbooks, encyclopedias, magazines, websites, and reference books.
Text features include visual elements like headings, subheadings, bold and italic text, captions, diagrams, charts, graphs, photographs, maps, timelines, and organizational tools like glossaries, indexes, tables of contents, appendices, sidebars, bullet points, and labels. Digital texts also include features such as hyperlinks, pop-ups, navigation bars, and search bars.
Teaching students to recognize and use text features is a critical component of reading instruction. When students know how to preview headings, read captions, interpret diagrams, and use a glossary, they become more strategic, independent readers of informational text.
Text Features Anchor Chart
A complete visual reference of all nonfiction text features organized by category. Print this anchor chart for your classroom wall or use it as a student handout.
Print Features
9 featuresGraphic Features
8 featuresOrganizational Features
8 featuresDigital Text Features
6 featuresText Features Worksheets
Six complete, ready-to-use worksheets with answer keys. Click "Copy" on any worksheet to copy the full text to your clipboard, then paste into your word processor to format and print.
Text Feature Scavenger Hunt
Grades 2-5Students search through a nonfiction book to find real examples of each text feature. A hands-on activity that builds familiarity with informational texts.
TEXT FEATURE SCAVENGER HUNT
Name: _________________________ Date: _____________
Book Title: _________________________________________
Directions: Search through your nonfiction book and find an example of each text feature listed below. Write the page number where you found it and describe what information it gives the reader.
1. Title
Page #: _____ What does it tell you? _______________________________
2. Table of Contents
Page #: _____ How many chapters/sections? _________________________
3. Heading
Page #: _____ Write the heading: __________________________________
4. Subheading
Page #: _____ Write the subheading: _______________________________
5. Bold Word
Page #: _____ Write the bold word: _________ What does it mean? ___
6. Photograph
Page #: _____ What does it show? __________________________________
7. Caption
Page #: _____ Write the caption: __________________________________
8. Diagram / Illustration
Page #: _____ What does it explain? _______________________________
9. Map
Page #: _____ What location does it show? _________________________
10. Chart or Graph
Page #: _____ What data does it display? __________________________
11. Glossary
Page #: _____ Write one word and its definition: __________________
12. Index
Page #: _____ Write one topic and its page number: ________________
REFLECTION:
Which text feature helped you understand the book the most? Why?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________Match the Text Feature
Grades 2-4A matching activity where students draw lines or write letters to connect each text feature to its correct definition and purpose.
MATCH THE TEXT FEATURE
Name: _________________________ Date: _____________
Directions: Draw a line from each text feature in Column A to its correct purpose in Column B.
COLUMN A (Text Feature) COLUMN B (Purpose)
1. Table of Contents a. Shows real pictures related to the topic
2. Glossary b. Lists topics alphabetically with page
numbers at the end of the book
3. Bold Words c. Lists chapters and page numbers at
the beginning of the book
4. Captions d. Displays events in the order they
happened
5. Diagram e. Highlights important vocabulary words
6. Index f. Defines key words used in the text
7. Map g. Describes what is happening in a
photo or picture
8. Photograph h. Shows the parts of something or how
it works
9. Heading i. Shows a specific place or location
10. Timeline j. Tells the reader what a section is
about
ANSWER KEY:
1-c, 2-f, 3-e, 4-g, 5-h, 6-b, 7-i, 8-a, 9-j, 10-d
BONUS: Write one sentence explaining why authors use text features in nonfiction books.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________Text Feature Purpose Chart
Grades 3-6Students complete a three-column chart identifying each text feature, explaining its purpose, and providing a real example from their reading.
TEXT FEATURE PURPOSE CHART Name: _________________________ Date: _____________ Book Title: _________________________________________ Directions: For each text feature listed below, explain its purpose (why an author uses it) and give a specific example from your book. | Text Feature | Purpose (Why does the | Example from Your Book | | | author use this?) | (page # and description) | |----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------------| | Title | | | |----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------------| | Headings | | | |----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------------| | Bold Words | | | |----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------------| | Photographs | | | |----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------------| | Captions | | | |----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------------| | Diagrams | | | |----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------------| | Maps | | | |----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------------| | Charts / Graphs | | | |----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------------| | Table of Contents | | | |----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------------| | Index | | | |----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------------| | Glossary | | | |----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------------| | Sidebar | | | |----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------------| REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. Which text feature helped you learn the most? Explain why. ________________________________________________________________ 2. If you could add one text feature to this book, what would it be and why? ________________________________________________________________ 3. How would this book be different without ANY text features? ________________________________________________________________
Identify the Text Feature
Grades 2-5Students read short excerpts and descriptions, then identify which text feature is being described or shown. Great for assessment preparation.
IDENTIFY THE TEXT FEATURE
Name: _________________________ Date: _____________
Directions: Read each description below. Identify which text feature is being described. Write the name of the text feature on the line.
Word Bank: heading, caption, glossary, index, bold word, diagram, map, table of contents, photograph, timeline, sidebar, chart
1. At the back of the book, you find an alphabetical list of words with their definitions.
Text Feature: _______________________
2. Under a picture of a polar bear, it says "A polar bear hunts for seals on the Arctic ice."
Text Feature: _______________________
3. At the front of the book, you see a list that says "Chapter 1: The Water Cycle ... page 4, Chapter 2: Types of Clouds ... page 12."
Text Feature: _______________________
4. In the middle of a paragraph, the word "photosynthesis" is printed in darker, thicker letters than the other words.
Text Feature: _______________________
5. A picture shows the inside of a volcano with arrows pointing to the magma chamber, vent, and crater, each with a label.
Text Feature: _______________________
6. At the top of a page, in large text, it reads "Habitats of the Rainforest."
Text Feature: _______________________
7. A colored image shows the location of ancient Egypt, with the Nile River, Mediterranean Sea, and surrounding deserts labeled.
Text Feature: _______________________
8. A horizontal line shows dates from 1900 to 2000 with important events marked at each decade.
Text Feature: _______________________
9. At the back of the book, you find a long alphabetical list of topics with page numbers: "climate 14, 27, 45; erosion 8, 22."
Text Feature: _______________________
10. Next to the main text, there is a box with a blue background that says "Fun Fact: A cheetah can run up to 70 miles per hour!"
Text Feature: _______________________
11. A real picture shows a scientist looking through a microscope in a laboratory.
Text Feature: _______________________
12. A bar graph displays the average rainfall in five different cities.
Text Feature: _______________________
ANSWER KEY:
1. glossary 2. caption 3. table of contents 4. bold word
5. diagram 6. heading 7. map 8. timeline
9. index 10. sidebar 11. photograph 12. chartText Features in Context
Grades 3-6Students read a short nonfiction passage that includes multiple text features, then answer comprehension questions about how those features support understanding.
TEXT FEATURES IN CONTEXT
Name: _________________________ Date: _____________
Directions: Read the nonfiction passage below. Then answer the questions about the text features used.
─────────────────────────────────────────────────
THE AMAZING WORLD OF HONEYBEES
─────────────────────────────────────────────────
Chapter 2: Life Inside the Hive
ROLES IN THE COLONY
Every honeybee in a hive has an important job. The three types of bees in a colony are the queen, workers, and drones. Each plays a critical role in keeping the hive alive and productive.
The queen bee is the only bee that lays eggs. She can lay up to 2,000 eggs per day! Worker bees are all female. They build the honeycomb, collect nectar, guard the hive, and feed the larvae. Drones are male bees whose only job is to mate with a new queen.
[DIAGRAM: Cross-section of a beehive showing honeycomb cells, brood cells, honey storage, and the location of the queen]
Caption: This diagram shows the inside of a beehive. Different cells are used for raising baby bees (brood), storing honey, and storing pollen.
SIDEBAR - Fun Fact!
A single honeybee visits between 50 and 1,000 flowers in one trip and produces only 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey in its entire lifetime.
| Bee Type | Number in Hive | Main Job |
|----------|---------------|-----------------------|
| Queen | 1 | Lays eggs |
| Workers | 20,000-80,000 | Build, forage, guard |
| Drones | 300-3,000 | Mate with new queen |
Glossary:
colony - a group of bees living together in a hive
larvae - baby bees in the earliest stage of development
nectar - a sweet liquid collected from flowers
honeycomb - wax structures with hexagonal cells
─────────────────────────────────────────────────
QUESTIONS:
1. What text feature tells you this passage is from Chapter 2?
_____________________________________________________________
2. What is the purpose of the heading "ROLES IN THE COLONY"?
_____________________________________________________________
3. Look at the chart (table). How many worker bees can be in a hive?
_____________________________________________________________
4. What does the diagram show the reader?
_____________________________________________________________
5. Read the caption. What three things are stored in the honeycomb cells?
_____________________________________________________________
6. What information does the sidebar give you that is NOT in the main text?
_____________________________________________________________
7. Use the glossary. What does "larvae" mean?
_____________________________________________________________
8. Why did the author use bold words in the passage?
_____________________________________________________________
9. How does the chart help you understand the information better than the paragraph alone?
_____________________________________________________________
10. If this passage were in a full book, where would you look to find OTHER sections about bees?
_____________________________________________________________
ANSWER KEY:
1. The heading "Chapter 2: Life Inside the Hive"
2. It tells the reader the section is about the different jobs bees have in the colony
3. 20,000-80,000 worker bees
4. The inside of a beehive with different types of cells
5. Baby bees (brood), honey, and pollen
6. How many flowers a bee visits per trip and how much honey one bee makes in its lifetime
7. Baby bees in the earliest stage of development
8. To highlight important vocabulary words (queen, workers, drones)
9. It organizes the data so you can quickly compare bee types, numbers, and jobs
10. The table of contentsCreate Your Own Text Features Page
Grades 3-8Students become the author and design their own nonfiction page on a topic of their choice, incorporating at least 8 different text features.
CREATE YOUR OWN TEXT FEATURES PAGE Name: _________________________ Date: _____________ YOUR MISSION: You are a nonfiction author! Design a one-page spread about a topic you choose. Your page MUST include at least 8 different text features from the checklist below. STEP 1: Choose your topic My topic: _________________________________________________ STEP 2: Plan your text features (check off at least 8) PRINT FEATURES: [ ] Title [ ] Heading(s) [ ] Subheading(s) [ ] Bold words (at least 3) [ ] Italic words [ ] Bullet points or numbered list GRAPHIC FEATURES: [ ] Photograph or illustration (draw it!) [ ] Diagram with labels [ ] Chart, graph, or table [ ] Map [ ] Timeline ORGANIZATIONAL FEATURES: [ ] Caption (under your picture or diagram) [ ] Sidebar or text box with a fun fact [ ] Glossary (at least 4 words) [ ] Labels on a diagram or map STEP 3: Create your page! Use the space below (or a separate sheet of paper) to create your nonfiction page. Include your title at the top, at least one paragraph of informational text, and all the text features you checked above. [LARGE BLANK SPACE FOR STUDENT WORK] STEP 4: Self-Assessment Rate yourself on each item (1 = Needs Work, 2 = Good, 3 = Excellent): ___ My page has a clear title about my topic ___ I included at least 8 different text features ___ My text features help the reader understand the topic ___ My diagram or illustration has labels and/or a caption ___ My bold words highlight important vocabulary ___ My informational text is accurate and interesting ___ My page is neat and organized Total Score: _____ / 21 REFLECTION: Which text feature was the most helpful for explaining your topic? Why? ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ What is one text feature you would add if you had more space? ________________________________________________________________
Why Teach Text Features?
Understanding text features is one of the most impactful reading skills you can teach. Here are six research-backed reasons to make text features a priority in your classroom.
Improves Reading Comprehension
Students who actively use text features show significantly higher comprehension scores on informational texts. Features provide visual cues, context clues, and organizational support that help readers process and retain information.
Builds Information Literacy
Knowing how to use a table of contents, index, and glossary teaches students to locate information efficiently. These skills transfer to digital research, library use, and real-world reading tasks beyond the classroom.
Supports Visual Learners
Diagrams, charts, maps, photographs, and timelines give visual learners alternative ways to understand content. Text features transform abstract concepts into concrete, visual representations that are easier to grasp.
Prepares for Standardized Tests
State assessments frequently test students' ability to interpret text features. Questions about headings, diagrams, charts, and captions appear regularly on ELA reading tests from grade 2 through grade 8.
Develops Critical Thinking
When students analyze why an author chose a particular text feature, they develop higher-order thinking skills. Evaluating the effectiveness of a diagram versus a chart requires analytical reasoning.
Encourages Active Reading
Teaching students to preview text features before reading transforms passive readers into active ones. Scanning headings, images, and bold words builds predictions and activates prior knowledge, leading to deeper engagement with text.
Text Features by Grade Level
Not all text features should be taught at once. Here is a developmentally appropriate progression for introducing text features from kindergarten through middle school.
Kindergarten through 2nd Grade
Key Text Features to Teach
Teaching Tips
Focus on visual features first. Use picture walks and read-alouds to point out titles, pictures, and labels. Let students practice finding bold words and talking about why they are bold. Use anchor charts with lots of images.
3rd through 5th Grade
Key Text Features to Teach
Teaching Tips
Have students use text features to make predictions before reading. Teach them to read charts and diagrams independently. Use scavenger hunts with nonfiction books. Practice using the index and glossary to answer questions. Create anchor charts as a class.
6th through 8th Grade
Key Text Features to Teach
Teaching Tips
Challenge students to analyze WHY authors chose specific features and how features support the author's purpose. Have students create their own nonfiction texts with intentional feature choices. Discuss digital text features and how they differ from print. Use cross-curricular texts from science and social studies.
How to Use Text Features Anchor Charts
An anchor chart is only useful if students actually reference it. Here are proven strategies to make your text features anchor chart a living part of your classroom instruction.
Build It Together with Students
Instead of presenting a finished anchor chart, co-create it with your class over several days. Introduce one category of text features at a time (print features on Monday, graphic features on Tuesday, etc.). Have students suggest definitions and examples. When students help build the chart, they take ownership of the content and remember it better.
Place It Where Students Can See and Reach It
Hang the anchor chart at student eye level near your reading area or nonfiction book collection. If you use multiple charts (one per category), group them together as a 'Text Features Wall.' For digital classrooms, create a digital version students can access on their devices.
Reference It Daily During Instruction
Actively point to the anchor chart during read-alouds, guided reading, and content-area lessons. Say things like, 'Let me check our anchor chart - what kind of text feature is this diagram?' When students see you use the chart, they learn to use it independently.
Use It as a Pre-Reading Strategy
Before reading a nonfiction text, have students do a 'text feature walk.' Using the anchor chart as a reference, they flip through the text and identify which features the author included. This activates prior knowledge and helps students make predictions about the content.
Connect It to Writing
When students write their own informational texts, have them use the anchor chart to decide which text features to include. Ask: 'Would a diagram help explain this? Should you add a glossary for your bold words?' This deepens understanding by applying text features as an author, not just a reader.
Give Students Personal Mini-Versions
Print a smaller version of the anchor chart for students to glue in their reading notebooks or keep in a folder. This personal reference tool ensures every student has access to the information during independent reading, homework, and assessments.
Need Custom Text Features Worksheets?
These templates are a great starting point, but every classroom is different. Our AI Worksheet Generator creates custom worksheets tailored to your grade level, reading passages, and specific text features you want to assess.
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