Text Detective Worksheet
Text Feature Detective
Reading Informational Text • RI.3.5 Investigation
Name:
Date:
Detective Mission: Authors use text features to organize information and give clues. Study the numbered labels [ 1 ] through [ 6 ] in the article below, then solve the cases!
Sample Magazine Article
River Otters: Acrobats of the Water
Wildlife Watch • Issue 14
1
Built for Swimming
River otters love living in rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. Their bodies are 2 streamlined for high-speed swimming. They use their strong webbed paws like paddles and steer with their muscular tails.
3
Diagram: Anatomy of a Swimmer
🦦 North American River Otter
➔ Dense Fur: Traps warm air
➔ Webbed Toes: Power strokes
➔ Rudder Tail: Swift steering
4 🦀 🦦 [ Wildlife Photograph ]
5
An otter pup grasps a freshwater crab along the riverbank before diving back into the cool water.
6
DID YOU KNOW?
River otters can hold their breath underwater for up to 8 minutes and dive to depths of 60 feet!
GLOSSARY:
streamlined (adj.): shaped to move easily and smoothly through air or water.
Part 1
Identify the Text Feature
Match the numbered tag [1-6] to its correct name.
Word Bank: Caption Heading Bold Word Photograph Sidebar Diagram
1. Label [ 1 ] points to a:
2. Label [ 2 ] points to a:
3. Label [ 3 ] points to a:
4. Label [ 4 ] points to a:
5. Label [ 5 ] points to a:
6. Label [ 6 ] points to a:
Part 2
Detective Application & Skills
Text Features • Page 2
Section A: Why Do Authors Use Them?
Write the matching letter on each blank.
1. Diagram
Letter:
2. Caption
Letter:
3. Bold Print
Letter:
4. Sidebar
Letter:
5. Glossary
Letter:
A Explains what is happening in a picture or photograph.
B Draws attention to important vocabulary words to know.
C A mini dictionary that defines unfamiliar topic words.
D Shows the different parts of something using labels.
E Provides interesting extra facts in a separate box.
Section B: Fact Finding with Features
Use the article on Page 1 to answer each question.
1. Look at the Sidebar on Page 1. How long can a river otter hold its breath underwater?
2. Look at the Diagram on Page 1. Which body part helps the otter steer while swimming?
Section C: Be the Author!
Add your own text features below.
🛝 🦦 Muddy River Slide Two playful otters sliding on their bellies into the river.
1. Write a catchy Heading for this picture section:
2. Write a descriptive Caption explaining what the otters are doing:
Text Feature Investigation Complete!
Detective Badge Rating:
