What Are Nonfiction Text Features? 

Nonfiction text features include text boxes, graphs, timelines, headings, bold words, bullet points, pictures, captions, and a variety of others. Text features make it easier to locate and comprehend information in nonfiction texts. Students need to be provided with multiple opportunities to explore these nonfiction text features and how to use them.

That’s why the expert teachers in the Teach Starter team have created this complete text features lesson to help your students learn how to identify and use nonfiction text features. The students will undertake a text features project based on the theme of “All About Me.”

The students use the instructions and templates provided in the resource to create an “All About Me” poster that includes all of the major nonfiction text features. The students’ posters must contain the following nonfiction text features:

• Headings
• Subheadings 
• Bold Words
• Bullet Points
• Text Boxes
• Photograph
• Illustration
• Diagram
• Timeline
• Graph 
• Table

This nonfiction text features project provides the perfect culminating activity for any unit about informational text features.

Multiple Options for This Text Features Project

This text features project comes in two versions: a paper-based PDF version and a Google Slides digital version. The two variations are explained below:

• Printable Version – This version includes black-and-white printable templates. Each template has been designed to support the students in adding all the major text features to their posters. Once the completion portion is complete, students will cut out their templates and create a large poster on chart paper or butcher’s paper. 
• Digital Version – This version has students creating a digital slide show. It contains nine slides, with each slide focusing on one nonfiction text feature. Students will type their responses into preformatted slides and insert images and diagrams using the Google image search feature.

Whether you choose the traditional paper option or the technology-based option, your students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of nonfiction texts and their features through this lesson on text features.

Download This Informational Text Features Resource

As mentioned above, this informational text features resource downloads as either an easy-print PDF or an editable Google Slides version. Use the download button to access your preferred file format. (Note: You will be prompted to make a copy of the Google Slides template on your personal drive before accessing it.)

More Resources on Nonfiction Text Features

Teach Starter has more great resources to save you time when teaching nonfiction text features to your class. Click below for some more curriculum-aligned, teacher-created activities!

teaching resource

Text Features Worksheet

Download this nonfiction text features worksheet so students can practice locating different types of text features found in a nonfiction text.

teaching resource

Text Features Flashcards

Teach students the definitions of text features such as headings, sidebars, captions and many more with this set of flashcards for elementary students.

teaching resource

Nonfiction Text Features: Match It Up!

Download this nonfiction text features game to teach elementary school students about the common text features of informational texts.