Teach the Features of Non-Fiction Texts

Can you imagine reading a non-fiction book with no text features? Lines and lines of text, no headings or subheadings to indicate the main idea, no visuals to portray information in new and interesting ways… it would be a very boring reading experience, indeed!

Non-fiction text features are all the extra elements (excluding the words) that are added to a non-fiction text. Each text feature serves its own purpose. Some make it easier for the reader to understand the text, while others make it easier for the reader to find certain information.

This 22-slide teaching presentation has been created by our experienced teacher team to help you teach the features of non-fiction texts to students. It uses age-appropriate language and examples of each text feature to teach your students what they need to know about how these features enhance the reader’s experience.

The slide deck addresses the following non-fiction text features:

• Table of contents
• Headings and subheadings
• Paragraphs
• Formatted text
• Index
• Glossary
• Photographs and captions
• Diagrams
• Maps
• Timelines
• Tables

The slideshow also includes two review activities to make sure your students understand the purpose of each of the text features. Answers to these review questions are also included.

Through engaging with this resource, your students will be able to identify the most common text features and how these make it easier to engage with a non-fiction text.

Explore Non-Fiction Text Features with Your Students

This slide deck makes an excellent starting point when it comes to teaching your students about the most common text features that can be found in non-fiction texts. As you work through the slide deck as a class, we encourage you to stop and discuss each text feature in further detail. Provide your students with opportunities to share examples of each text feature from non-fiction books they have read, or from books in your class or school library. The more students explore real examples of these features, the better!

Download This Text Features Slideshow

This presentation downloads as either a Microsoft PowerPoint or a Google Slides version. Use the dropdown menu next to the Download button to access your preferred slideshow. (Note: You will be prompted to make a copy of the Google Slides presentation before accessing it.)

Project the resource onto your screen and work through the slides as a class for a paperless English lesson!

This resource was created by Samantha Rose, a Teach Starter collaborator.

More Resources Targeting the Features of Non-Fiction Texts

Looking for more resources to support your teaching of non-fiction text features? Good news… we have many more teacher-created, curriculum-aligned resources available!

teaching resource

Informational Text Features Cheat Sheet

Download this list of text feature examples to teach your students about the purpose of these important textual elements.

teaching resource

Informational Text Features Cut and Paste Worksheets

Use this text features matching worksheet when exploring the features of non-fiction texts with your students.

teaching resource

Non-Fiction Text Features – Scavenger Hunt Flipbook

Get students exploring informational text features with this set of scavenger hunt flipbooks perfect for primary students.