Name ________________________________

NONFICTION SCAVENGER HUNTTopic: ________________________________________________________

Text Feature

Page #

Purpose What did you learn?

caption

bolded word

heading

diagram

index

table of contents

glossary

captions index

glossary table of contents

bold words diagrams

headings maps

photographs A picture that helps the reader identify all of the parts of

something with labels.

Helps the reader know what the section will be about.

Helps the reader better understand a picture or

photograph.

Helps the reader by signaling, “Look at me! I’m important!” May also signal words in the

glossary.

Helps the reader identify main ideas in the book in the order

they are presented.

An alphabetical list of almost all topics in the text, with page

numbers.Helps the reader know the

meanings of words in the text.

Helps the reader understand where things are in the world

Helps the reader see exactly what something looks like

Label

Definition Example

Understanding Text and Text Features

Electricity is our most important form of energy. Most of the electricity we sue is made by large generators. These complex machines have two main parts: magnets and large coils of wire. In a generator, magnetic energy makes electrons flow through coils of wire. This flow creates a current of electricity. 1.

We use many sources of energy to power our generators, to fuel transportation, and to keep all of our power-hungry gadgets working. These energy sources can be classified as either nonrenewable or renewable. Nonrenewable resources are fuels that cannot be replaced. Renewable resources are those that never run out. 3.

The main nonrenewable energy resources are fossil fuels. They were formed over millions of years ago. Layers of rock formed over the dead materials and forced them down. The pressure and heat within the Earth compressed and changed the materials. These materials became coal, oil, or natural gas. 2.

Natural gas is often found with oil deposits. When natural gas comes from the ground, it usually has other gases mixed in. Once those gases get removed, the mostly pure methane is delivered to users through pipes. Natural gas is used mainly in industry and home to generate electricity. 4.

Wind is another unlimited energy resource. Wind can be converted into electricity by wind turbines. These devices come in many designs, but most look like a huge airplane propeller on a pole. In many areas of the world, dozens of turbines are grouped together to create “wind farms.” Wind energy is a growing energy resource around the world. 5.

Moving water has a lot of power. People can control water by building dams to stop the flow of a river and create a lake. The water flows and spins turbines which power generators. Electricity created by moving water is called hydroelectric power. About 19 percent of the world’s electricity comes from hydroelectric dams. 6.

1. What information did the author share in the text?___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

2. What is the text feature (s)? caption diagram bold word index heading glossary table of contents labels graphs photographs chart map

3. What information was shared in the text feature?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Why did the author include this text feature? How do they support each other?___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

Developing Criteriafor Determining Important Ideas

When reading nonfiction, there are basically five generalities that all information may be placed under. They are: living things, people, places, events, and topics.

Many times when students are reading nonfiction, it is difficult for them to discern the difference between ideas that are important and ideas that are interesting. Good readers are more successful with this because they have the internal schema needed to separate information into important and interesting.

Understanding criteria before reading therefore, is critical if we want our students to be able to determine important information they should remember.

Developing Criteria with Students

Select one of the generalities to begin with students. Ask students to develop a list of questions they would want answered if

they were learning for example, about any living thing. Record their ideas on a chart.

Display teacher poster. Eliminate any items or designate them as interesting versus important.

Read a piece of text, stopping at predetermined points to model teacher think-aloud.

Record important information based on the list of criteria questions. Record any information that was determined to be interesting. Continue reading text, stopping to allow students to practice

identifying important information.

Note: Students should have multiple opportunities to read text on their independent level to identify important and interesting information.

PEOPLE1. What did this person do to help others? Invent Lead Create Discover Contribute Overcome

2. When and where did this person live? 3. What events happened to this person before becoming famous?

Determine Importance in Text: PEOPLE

1.What did this person contribute, invent, lead, create, overcome, or discover?

2.When and where did this person live?

3.What key events in this person’s life made him/her who they are today?

4.Not really important information.

Cesar Chavezwas born in

Arizona in 1927.

1.

Cesar was good at picking grapes.

2.

Chavez and his family were migrant farm workers who

did not make much money.

3.

Cesar hadbrothers

and sisters.

4.

Cesar spent his lifetrying to makelife better forfarm workers.

5.

Cesar’s familyworked together.

6.

People like tobuy grapes

from California.

7.

His family movedfrom place toplace picking

crops.

8.

Cesar organized a union to help

improve the workingconditions for farm

workers.

9.

Cesar organizeda strike that lasted

for five years. Inthe end the farm

workers won.

10.

1994 Cesar Chavez receives the

Presidential Medalof Freedom.

11.

Cesar Chavezwas a Mexican-

American.

12.

Determining Important Information: PeopleCriteria Information

1. What did this person do that helped others?

Invent Lead Create Discover

2. When andwhere did this person live?

3. What events made this person who they are today?

A full moon occurs aboutonce every 28 days.

A half-moon appearswhen the moon is a quarter

way around Earth.

When the moon iswaxing, it begins to

show a crescent.The moon is considered a

satellite of Earth.

When a full moon appears twice in one month it is called

a “Blue Moon.”The moon is dry and lifeless.

There are mountains and valleys on the surface of the moon.

Craters form deep pits on the surface of the moon.

4th: Sorting Details to Write a Main Idea Stateme

Topic Main Idea/ Heading:

Main Idea/ Summery Statement:

Topic Main Idea/ Heading:

Main Idea/ Summery Statement:

Writing the Main Idea

TOPIC: __________________________1. Main Idea: The landscape of the moon is bare and

desolate.

2. Main Idea: The Moon is always in motion.

3. Main Idea: As the Moon moves around Earth, its gravity pulls the water in our oceans and causes tides.

Almost everything on the surface of the Moon is a dull, grayish brown color.

The Moon revolves around or orbits the Earth.

There are high tides and low tides every day on every beach in the world.

A layer of powdery dust or soil covers most of the surface.

High tides are about 12 hours apart.

The dust on the moon is made up of tiny pieces of rock.

While it is orbiting Earth, The Moon also rotates, or spins like a top.

It takes about 27 days for the Moon to make a complete trip around the Earth.