Using Nonfiction Text Features: ELA Reading Comprehension Worksheets | GRADE 3

Students will use text features and search tools in informational texts to locate information efficiently and answer reading comprehension questions (RI.3.5). This includes using subheadings to determine what a section is about and where to look for specific information. This also includes determining what kinds of information can be found using certain text features, and explaining the reason why an author uses such text features.   

The text features/search tools in this resource are: headings (titles), subheadings (section titles), bolded words, sidebars (text boxes), picture captions, labels, and line numbers.

These reading comprehension worksheets have a mini-lesson at the top to serve as an anchor, followed by a nonfiction passage and several questions.  Tips are included next to some commonly asked text feature questions to mentor students on how to best answer them. Use as test prep, or to teach and practice working with text features and search tools.    

♥ Get the Story Structure & Text Features Bundle, or save $$$ with these: Craft & Structure | READING! Grade 3 ♥

THIS PRODUCT INCLUDES:

• 4 nonfiction text feature worksheets with reading passages covering social studies & science-related topics
• 17+ questions (27 tasks), with simulated standardized test questions for third grade
• Mix of multiple choice, open/short response, and matching activities  
• Unassisted version without tips
• Digitally enabled (Easel Activities) version to assign online via Google Classroom or any LMS 

INFORMATIONAL TEXT TOPICS COVER: 

Social Studies

• Wildlife Crossings
• The Egyptian Pyramids

Science

• Giving Plastic Bags a Second Life
• The Giraffe (its survival functions) 

COMMON CORE DESIGNED, SIMULATED AFTER:

• Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC)
• State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) / TEKS 
• Florida FSA (same test vendor creates FAST progress monitoring assessments) 
• New York State Testing Program (NYSTP)
• Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR)
• Georgia Milestones Assessment System (GMAS)
• Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) 
• Ohio’s State Tests 
• Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP)
• New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA)
• Virginia Standards of Learning (VA SOL)
• Arizona’s Academic Standards Assessment (AASA, formerly AzM2)

USEFUL IN MANY WAYS

All drills take 10 to 15 minutes to complete, and can be used for:

• Literacy lessons 
• Guided or independent practice  
• ELA test prep / reading test prep* (with test-taking strategies)
• Small group work / literacy circles / partner work 
• Reading intervention groups (RTI) / small group remediation & instruction
• Independent work / early finishers work
• Literacy center activities
• Morning work / do now / bell ringers / ELA warm-ups
• Progress monitoring/checks
• Exit slips or tickets
• Homework
• Text features and search tools review/reteach
• Tutoring (targeted reading skill work) 
• After-school programs / extended school days
• Learning packets for anticipated school closings / snow days
• Winter/spring/summer vacation reading packets 
• Summer school programs / summer bridge activities 
• Substitute teacher lesson plans & activities 
• Homeschool lessons 
• Absent student make up work
• *including (but not limited to) reading summative assessments such as: SBAC for California, Washington, Oregon, Connecticut, Nevada & other member states, Tennessee TNReady, Massachusetts MCAS, Minnesota MCA, Maryland  MCAP, Colorado CMAS, Missouri MAP, Wisconsin Forward, PARCC and more

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• Scroll below to view the entire Common Core Grade 3 Reading line-up!

ALIGNED WITH COMMON CORE ELA READING STANDARDS FOR 3RD GRADE

RI.3.5: Use text features and search tools (e.g., key words, sidebars) to locate information relevant to a given topic efficiently.

GRADE 3 COMMON CORE READING RESOURCES 

Each reading comprehension unit can be purchased individually, or within a bundle.

✏ denotes the level of savings

READING! GRADE 3 BUNDLE ✏ ✏ ✏ ✏ ✏ ✏

Reading Comprehension I:  Core ELA Value Bundle ✏ ✏ ✏ ✏ ✏

♥ Main Idea & Supporting Details - Literature & Informational Text

♥ Analyzing Characters - Literature

♥ Context Clues - Literature & Informational Text

♥ Main Idea & Details Task Card Center - Informational Text

Reading Comprehension II:  Key Ideas & Details Bundle ✏ ✏ ✏

♥ Making Inferences Bundle ✏ ✏  

• Making Inferences - Literature
• Making Inferences - Informational Text

♥ Sequence of Events Bundle ✏ ✏

• Sequencing Events - Literature
• Sequencing Events - Informational Text

♥ Cause & Effect Bundle ✏ ✏

• Cause & Effect - Literature
• Cause & Effect - Informational Text

Reading Comprehension III:  Craft & Structure Bundle ✏ ✏ ✏

♥ Text Structure & Features Bundle ✏ ✏

• Story & Poem Structure (refer to parts) - Literature
• Using Text Features - Informational Text

♥ Point of View Bundle ✏ ✏ 

• Point of View & Perspective of Narrators/Characters - Literature
• Author’s Point of View - Informational Text

Reading Comprehension IV:  Integration of Knowledge & Ideas Bundle ✏ ✏ ✏

♥ Illustrations in Reading Bundle ✏ ✏

• Illustrations in Stories - Literature
• Illustrations in Informational Text - Informational Text

♥ Logical Connections Between Sentences & Paragraphs - Literature

♥ Compare & Contrast Bundle ✏ ✏

• Compare & Contrast Stories - Literature
• Compare & Contrast Nonfiction - Informational Text