Library Skills

Teacher Guidelines ▶ pages 1 – 4

Activity Page ▶ pages 5 - 8
Homework Page ▶ page 9
Quiz ▶ page 10
Grade Level: 1–3 Answer Key ▶ page 11
 Classroom Procedure:
1. For this lesson, you will need a computer or laptop (a
picture will do), a smartphone or image of one, several
nonfiction books (try to include some on health household
or car repair, or how to types of books), a dictionary, and
an almanac and atlas if you have them. Cover them with
a large blanket in the center of your gathering area.
2. Call students together and say “What if you want to visit
someone in a town that’s far away and you don’t know
how to get there? Or you need to know how to take care of
your pet when it’s sick? Or you need to find out a meaning
of a word you don’t know? What can you do to find the
answers?” Let students respond. They might suggest look
it up on the internet, call someone, call a vet, ask someone/
ask a parent. State that those are valid ideas.
3. Say, “Part of school is helping you learn things that you
need to know in a classroom, and part is helping you learn
how to solve problems and answer questions that you need
to know outside of school, in your everyday lives. A lot of
times when your parents need to find out information, they
might use these-” (at this point pull back blanket to reveal
computer and phone), “but you may not always have those
tools. It is important for you to learn to use these-” at this
point uncover all the books, “to find information and answers
to help yourselves solve problems. Sometimes when you
use a computer or make a phone call to find help, you’ll
get some information and then you’ll need to use another
resource to find out more information.”
4. Introduce the dictionary, almanac, atlas, and nonfiction
books of various types. As you hold up each one and read
the title aloud, ask the students what they know about the
book from the type or the title. Ask them “What do you
think this book can help you find out? Where can you find
this type of book?”
5. After introducing all books, state “You can find all these
resources and more, as well as computers, videos,
audiobooks, and CDs at libraries. Classroom libraries,
Approximate Grade Level: 1-3
Objectives:Students will define, explore, and
synthesize text features and reference sources.
Students will be able to explain the purpose and
use of library skills introduced in this lesson.
Common Core State Standards:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.2.5, RI 3.5, and RI 1.5
Know and use various text features (e.g., captions,
bold print, subheadings, glossaries, indexes,
electronic menus, icons) to locate key facts or
information in a text efficiently.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI. 1.7, 2.7, 3.7
Use information gained from illustrations (e.g.,
maps, photographs) and the words in a text to
demonstrate understanding of the text (e.g., where,
when, why, and how key events occur).
Class Sessions (45 minutes):4.
Teaching Materials/Worksheets: Copies of included
activity, practice, homework, and quiz pages,
markers, nonfiction texts and reference books,
dictionaries, large blanket or towel, chart paper,
computer to complete text feature walkthrough.
Student Supplies: Handouts, paper, writing
utensils, nonfiction texts, dictionaries,
Prepare Ahead of Time: Gather texts for warm
up, make sure you have sufficient amounts of
dictionaries and nonfiction texts, look through
suggested text feature online activity if you decide
to use it, prepare copies of handouts, preview
videos, print additional resources printables if
desired, and ensure students will have access to
computers for lesson. Ensure access to materials
or print out materials for the homework, this will be
dependent on student choice of topics. .
Options for Lesson: Day one: Students will set
purpose for skill, discuss essential elements on
anchor chart, and complete activity page one. Day
two: Students complete text feature hunt. (practice
page) . Assign homework and meet with students
regarding topic and access to materials. Day three
, review dictionary information, complete dictionary
assignment (activity page 2) Day four: Share
homework in small groups and take quiz.
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 school libraries, and public libraries have different types of materials available. For this lesson, we’ll be
using our classroom library to get familiar with different materials you can use to find information and get
answers to questions. When you can use text resources to find information and you learn how to use
different texts, we call that library skills. We are going to build basic library skills this week.”
6. Create an anchor chart for using resource materials as shown below. If you are not planning to use an
almanac, you can either remove the third column, or add a different resource instead.

Almanac Nonfiction Texts Dictionary

What information can I find What information can I find What information can I find
here? here? Information about any here? The spelling, meaning,
Information about the world, includ- factual topic you choose! You and origins of words. Sometimes
ing political, geographical, and pop can learn how to make, fix, or you can find charts, tables, and
culture figures updated each year. build something from books that images that provide information
How do I use it? Use this tool to provide instruction. You can learn about rules of language and
look up current information that about scientific and historical words.
may change on a regular and topics, people, and places. How do I use it?
recent basis, like populations of The dictionary is arranged in
countries, presidents and kings, How do I use them? alphabetical order. Use the
award-winning books and movies, Read the book guided by TEXT guide words at the top of each
and weather patterns. FEATURES. Text features page to let you know the range
include table of contents, of words on the page (first word
photographs, captions, charts, to last word). Skim down the list
tables, and graphs, bold words, of words on the page in order to
glossary, and index. These find the word you need!
features will help you find specific
answers and information you
need about the topic.
7. Lead students through the first activity- text feature identification. You will need any nonfiction text that
has a variety of text features. If you are unable to find an example you really like, please use this https://
www.azed.gov/english-language-learners/files/2014/03/examples-of-text-features.pdf . It is very clear
and explicit with colorful visuals. As you walk through the text features, explain the purpose and typical
location of each one if applicable. Here is a list of suggested verbiage:
a. Table of contents: Typically found in the front. It tells you the titles of chapters or sections of the text.
It can give you a clue about what section you will find the information you need.
b. Chapter titles/Section headings: Found at the beginning of chapters and sections. These tell you
what the chapter or section will be about.

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 c. Subheadings- Found within a chapter at the beginning of smaller sections. In the chapter, there may
be several related topics. Each topic will be introduced with a subheading within a chapter or section.
d. Photographs: Found throughout the text. They show you visual examples that go with the text.
e. Captions: These go beside or underneath photographs and illustrations. They explain who is in the
photo, or what is happening in the photo.
f. Special types of print: Bold or italicized words are found through the text, these words are either
unfamiliar, or super important to the material in the text, so they stand out from regular print.
g. Graphs, Tables, and Charts: These are found throughout the text. Charts, tables, and graphs shows
you how information and data are organized and presented in an easy to read format, not just in words.
h. Maps: Found when the text wants to show the location of something. The map shows where a place
or object is located.
i. Glossary: This is typically found near the end of the book. It contains definitions of important and
unfamiliar words from the text.
j. Index: Found at the end of the book, it is an alphabetical list of topics and subjects the book covers.
It tells you the place where the subject is covered in the book. Unlike the table of contents, which
only tells you titles of chapters, this tells you where many more items in the book are located.
8. Once you are done walking through the text features, assign your students the first activity page to
complete with a partner. When they are done completing that, go over answers as a whole class.
9. Have students complete the practice page with a nonfiction text from the classroom library. They will
complete a text feature scavenger hunt. If you do not have a large amount of texts, or you need to pair
a weaker reader with a stronger reader, this can be done in partners. When completed, have students
come to you with the sheet and text they used so you can ensure they completed it correctly and can
identify the text features.
10. Assign homework- to make your own text feature booklet using a topic of student choice. It may take
several days to complete, so assign it on this day to get students started. Go over student directions and
take any questions. Before students leave for the day, make sure everyone tells you their topic.
11. Explain to the entire class that they have worked with nonfiction texts and used text features to find
information. Today, they will be using the dictionary to make sure they have a variety of library skills.
Review the anchor chart from day one and review the purpose and use of dictionary. Have students
complete activity page 2, a dictionary definition hunt using classroom dictionaries. They may work on this
as an independent center activity if you have a limited number of dictionaries to share.
12. Go over answers as a whole class once all have completed.
13. Have students share text feature booklets in small groups, or set up as a gallery walk so that all text
feature booklets are viewed by students.
14. Have students complete quiz.

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Teacher Notes
At the 1st-3rd grade level, students are just beginning to learn about nonfiction text features, information
resources, and reference books. Students may be used to relying on internet search engines and smart
phones, but even those sources may be incomplete and send students to other sources for further reading.
Knowing how to use print resources will assist students throughout life and in higher academic settings.

Additional Resources:
Content:
https://betterlesson.com/lesson/517464/introduction-of-text-features
https://www.lernerbooks.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/TextFeatures/Grade-2-Text-Features-Social-Studies.pdf
https://www.education.com/lesson-plan/searching-for-text-features/
http://lessons.atozteacherstuff.com/340/dictionary-skills/
http://www.readingrockets.org/article/guiding-students-through-expository-text-text-feature-walks
Worksheets:
http://www.cpalms.org/Public/PreviewResourceLesson/Preview/50765 (lesson and worksheets)
https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plans/teaching-content/learning-read-nonfiction-and-its-text-features/ (plan and
sheets)
http://www.k12reader.com/subject/vocabulary/dictionary-skills/ (many sheets to use with dicitonary lesson, see which one
suits your readers)
Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANXZpJTaozA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wyI_n20-SU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivWVs8-Cd1U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYTdJcA4_vk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo2cSioY6wI

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 Activity Name __________________________ Date _________

Directions: Use the word bank to fill in the blanks that describe each text feature.
Word Bank:

Index Bold print Caption Maps

Table of Contents Heading Glossary

1.___________________ show the location of important places mentioned in the text.
2. In the _______________________ at the beginning of the book, you can find out the titles of chapters
and where the chapters are located.
3. Special or important words in the text are written in _____________________ so they stand out to the
reader.
4. While reading a chapter or section, the _______________tells you what the section is about.
5.The __________________ is like a miniature dictionary that gives meanings of words found in the book.
6. Photographs and illustrations have a ___________________ next to them to explain what is happening
in the picture.
7. The _________________ is in the back of the book and is an alphabetical list of topics and where you
can find them.

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 Activity Name __________________________ Date _________

Directions: You are going to read a nonfiction text and complete a text feature hunt. Complete the table below
with the type of text feature, the page number of the text feature, and what information you learned from
the text feature. There is an example completed from another nonfiction text to show you the expectation.
Book title: _________________________________________________________
Author:____________________________________________________________
Example using The Book of London by the Publications Division of The Automobile Association

Text Feature Page Number What Did You Learn?

Example: Map Pg. 60 I learned from this map about
and area of London called
Hampstead, and also learned
about a walking route to see
cool landmarks.

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 Activity Name __________________________ Date _________

Directions: Use a classroom dictionary to complete the dictionary word hunt. Make sure you follow the
directions carefully and spell all words correctly!
What version of the dictionary are you using (there are many for different levels of readers)?
Write the title and publishing information:

Word Page Number Definition

First word in the dictionary
for letter A

Third word in the dictionary

for letter B

Second word in the

dictionary for letter C

First word in the dictionary

for letter D

Fifth word in the dictionary

for letter E

First word in the dictionary

for letter F

First word in the dictionary

for letter G

Third word in the dictionary

for letter H

Fourth word in the dictionary

for letter I

Second word in the

dictionary for letter J

First word in the dictionary

for letter K

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 Activity Name __________________________ Date _________

Fourth word in the dictionary

for letter L

First word in the dictionary

for letter M

First word in the dictionary

for letter N

Third word in the dictionary

for letter O

Second word in the

dictionary for letter P

Third word in the dictionary

for letter Q

Third word in the dictionary

for letter R
First word in the dictionary
for letter S
Second word in the
dictionary for letter T

First word in the dictionary

for letter U
Fifth word in the dictionary
for letter V
Fourth word in the dictionary
for letter W

Second word in the

dictionary for letter X

First word in the dictionary

for letter Y

Third word in the dictionary

for letter Z

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 Homework Name __________________________ Date _________

Create your own text feature booklet! You get to chose the topic and create the booklet! You may use books
and websites for photos and information, or illustrate your book by hand.
Directions: Use four or more pages of paper folded longways to make your booklet. Do not staple the book
until you are finished!
Your booklet must contain at least ten facts, explained in complete sentences and paragraphs to inform about
your topic and go with the text features you must use. You have to use the following text features, and may
use others if you choose:
Picture Caption (2 or more)
Photo/Illustration (2 or more)
Chart, table, or graph
Bold print
Glossary
Headings
Your topic: ________________________________________________________
Brainstorming space- Think about what facts you want to discuss and how you can tie text features to those
facts.

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 Quiz Name __________________________ Date _________

Directions:
Draw a line from the word on the left to match it with its definition on the right.
1. Index A. Used next to a picture to explain what it shows
2. Caption B. Provides meanings for the words used in the text
3. Chart C. Provides a visual to go with the facts in the text.
4. Glossary D. Shows information or data organized in a visual way
5.Photograph E.List of topics in the alphabetical order, found in the back of a text
Use complete sentences to answer the following questions:
1. Why is it important to have library skills such as knowing how to use text features and reference books
like dictionaries and almanacs?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. What information does a dictionary provide?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

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 Answer Key
Name __________________________ Date _________

Answer Key (answers in bold)

Activity Page one: Map, table of contents, bold print, headings, glossary, captions, index
Activity Page two: Answers will vary based on version of dictionary used
Practice: Answers will vary based on text used.
Homework: Answers will vary based on topic. Ensure that the student met the criteria of using
Picture Caption (2 or more),Photo/Illustration (2 or more)
Chart, table, or graph
Bold print
Glossary
Headings
Quiz:
Index is matched with letter E
Caption is matched with A
Chart is matched with D
Glossary is matched with B
Photograph is matched with C
Wording may vary but show contain some of this key information.
1. Why is it important to have library skills such as knowing how to use text features and reference books
like dictionaries and almanacs?
It is important to have library skills in order to use resources and know where to find needed information.
It can help you find information needed for school assignments, but also helps to solve problems and find
information needed for daily life.
2. What information does a dictionary provide?
A dictionary provides a list of words in alphabetical order with correct spellings and meanings.

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