Second Grade · Reading · week 31

A Tour of Nonfiction Text Features

Identify common nonfiction text features -- table of contents, headings, captions, bold words, and diagrams -- and explain the purpose of each.

Nonfiction books use special tools called text features to help readers find and understand information faster than a story would.

A table of contents lists chapters or sections with page numbers. A heading titles a section. A caption explains a nearby photo. A bold word marks an important word to know. A diagram is a labeled picture that shows how something works.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Go on an actual text-feature tour through one nonfiction book together, naming each feature you find.
  • Ask what each feature is FOR, not just what it is called -- the purpose is the real skill.
  • Point out that these features let you find information without reading the whole book start to finish.
  • Let your child use the table of contents to jump straight to a section that interests them.
Talk about it:
  • Which text feature helps you find information the fastest?
  • What did you learn from a caption or diagram today?
  • What is the difference between a heading and a caption?

Mastery looks like: They name at least four nonfiction text features and correctly explain the purpose of each one.

Common stumbles: Confusing a heading with a caption, or skipping text features entirely while reading straight through.

See it visually

Interactive, spoken-aloud tools that show this idea in motion.

Text StructureSpot how a text is built: sequence, cause/effect, compare, problem/solution.try →
Homework for this lessonType it, write it with a stylus, or print it for pencil & paper.open →
Records attendance + 15 min of Reading for this learner.
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