The first time students come across informational textbooks and nonfiction texts, they can feel overwhelmed. Anchor chart text feature!
The informational text is full of concepts and vocabulary. There’s also a lot of data, making it a difficult read for students in second and intermediate grades who have been used to simple passages. Charts that highlight text features, like the many anchor chart teachers use in their classrooms every day can be used to help students understand something new or complex. They also serve as a quick reference in the class as children begin to learn how informational texts work.
Are you stuck on how to create a text anchor chart for your classroom? To help you start, we asked some teachers to share their favourite text feature anchor charts ideas.
Table of Contents
Text Anchor Charts
Text Feature Vocabulary
Text feature anchor charts can provide the students with all of the vocabulary needed to recognize text features. This chart was created by Lexi Holmes, a teacher at @lexiloveslearning. She added pops of colour to the text to help it stand out. Holmes shows students what they can look for by cutting real texts from non-fiction.
Learn How to use Text Features
Second grade teacher Monique LaBarre (@goingfarwithmisslabarre on Instagram) shared this text feature anchor chart with us, and we love how it very simply lays out the ways students can use each of the features in a text to find information they need.
The chart, for example, reminds the students to consult the glossary to get the meaning of words in the text. Or to look at the table of content to see what’s in the book.
Text Features Activities
After you have set up your anchor chart let’s discuss text features activities to make it more enjoyable and easier for students to remember these key parts.
Take part in a Scavenger hunt using Text Features
Teach Starter loves a good treasure hunt (try a library scavenger searchfor K-3, or a library huntfor upper elementary).
Ask your local or school library for extra magazines. Also, give them scissors, glue sticks, and paper. Poster board or whiteboard on the wall of your classroom with each feature that you would like your students to locate. You can also provide a list.
Students can be challenged to go through magazines to find different features. They should then cut them out, and glue them on the appropriate poster boards. Each board must be filled with as many features that the students can find.
Install Text Features Surgery
This hands-on exercise is similar to the text feature hunt. Students “surgically” remove old magazines using scissors. The items can be stuck on the paper and students can label them with the new words, or they can paste the pieces on the poster board at the front.
For the students to add to the theme of “surgery”, gather surgical masks and caps to be used by each class member while performing text surgery.
Bonus If you still have masks lying around, use them to get your students into the “surgeon mode”!
Completing a text feature match-up
You can print a matching game with cards that include both cards that explain each feature and cards that show the features themselves! The fun match-up game is a great way to challenge students. It can be played in groups or individually. See who can remember to use the anchor chart on the wall.
Text features Anchor Chart and Cards
You can use these free anchor charts to review the features of an informational text.
This set includes anchor charts, cards and text to enhance your classroom non-fiction.
Another free resource from The Curriculum corner for homeschoolers and teachers.
Work on the informational text
When you’re working on an informational text, be sure to give your students a variety of options.
Students need to be able to engage with the subject matter they are studying.
Text Anchor Charts
You can use this download to show your students examples of text features.
Printing is a great way to spread the word or use it in a classroom and show on your Smart Board.
Posters include a description, an example and a definition of what the students would see in the book.
Charts can be used in a group setting. The students can then find examples in your book collection.
Card Text Sort
The download includes a collection of sorting cards that students can utilize.
The following will allow children to practice the text-features:
- Table of Contents
- Descriptions
- Graphs
- Diagrams and labels
- Timeline
- Fonts stylized
- Glossary
- Headings and subheadings
- Map
- Illustrations
- Index
Each card will have a name, an example and a description.
These cards can be used in a literacy centre for review by students. The students will match and discuss the cards.
Both of these downloads can be found here:
Anchor Charts Cards
FAQs
1. Why use anchor charts instead of text features?
The anchor charts are a great visual aid that can help students to remember text elements and use them effectively. These charts encourage discussion and engagement in order to improve reading comprehension.
2. What is the frequency of updating my anchor charts?
You should update your anchor charts when you introduce new concepts. By rotating or adding fresh examples, you can keep them engaging and relevant for your students.
3. Anchor charts can be created using digital tools.
Yes! You can create interactive anchor charts online using digital tools such as Google Slides or Canva.
4. What is the best way to make my anchor charts interactive?
You can make them more interactive by having students add sticky notes or highlight specific examples. They may also contribute their findings. QR codes can be used to link online resources.
5. How can I reinforce the text?
Text features can be reinforced quickly with activities like text-feature bingo, scavenger searches, or labeling exercises.
