Reading Lesson: Text Features Grade Level: 2

Lesson Summary: Students will learn how to identify and use text features. Students will read the
selection and note text features. Each student will then create a short newsletter using the features he
or she observed, and the class will combine newsletters to create a class newspaper. Advanced learners
will rewrite an article using their own text features. Struggling learners will identify text features in a
book, newspaper, or magazine page.

Lesson Objectives:

The students will know…

 that passages can include text features such as headings, captions, and charts.

The students will be able to…

 identify text features and know when and why they are used.

Learning Styles Targeted:

Visual Auditory Kinesthetic/Tactile

Pre-Assessment:
1) Display a newspaper or Web page to the class.

2) Ask students to identify the text features they see on the page. List the features on the board.

Whole-Class Instruction

Materials Needed: “Binkley Bulletin” passage*, index cards and markers

Procedure:
Presentation
1) Explain that text features help readers identify and understand content, and that features make
texts easier to read and understand.

2) Distribute copies of “Binkley Bulletin” to the class.

Guided Practice
3) Read “Binkley Bulletin” aloud or have students read it aloud.

4) Ask students to identify all the text features in “Binkley Bulletin” and how they are used. Post
their answers on the board.

Independent Practice
5) Have students write a short newsletter including events that happened in their class, school, or
neighborhood. Be sure the newsletters include text features such as headings, captions, and
charts.

Closing Activity
6) Have students share their newsletters with the class.

7) Combine the newsletters to create a class newspaper or class Web page.

Advanced Learner

Materials Needed: magazine and newspaper articles or Web pages, paper and pencils

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Procedure:
1) Have students choose an article from a newspaper, magazine, or Web page.

2) Have students rewrite the article and include their own text features.

3) Allow time for students to share their work with the class.

Struggling Learner

Materials Needed: page from a newspaper, book, or magazine

Procedure:
1) Ask students to bring in a page from a newspaper, magazine, or book and show the class the
text features it contains.
*see supplemental resources

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