Text Features Vocabulary word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

Text Features Vocabulary word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this text features puzzle set for my 3rd and 4th graders during our nonfiction reading unit. The kids would skip right past the headings, captions, and diagrams because they didn't know those features could help them understand the text better. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like heading, subheading, caption, diagram, label, photograph, illustration, map, chart, graph, table, glossary, index, table of contents, and sidebar. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the text feature names finally stick.

The PDF is four pages. Three puzzles plus one answer key page. The word search works well for quiet time after recess. The scramble gets them talking because they argue about whether a caption goes above or below a picture. The crossword I use for partners. I added a couple simple book and magnifying glass drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 3rd through 5th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers name one text feature and explain what it does on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.