CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.5
The Standard
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.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Reading Standards for Informational Text
What This Standard Means
Students need to recognize common nonfiction text features and use them on purpose. They should know that captions explain pictures, bold words signal key terms, headings organize sections, and glossaries or indexes help find information fast.
Mastery looks like a student saying, “I’ll check the index for frogs,” or “The caption tells me what the photo shows,” then finding the needed fact without reading every page. Students often get stuck naming features but not using them, or they confuse headings, captions, and labels.
Ways to Teach It
- Give pairs a nonfiction book and sticky notes, then have them label captions, bold words, headings, glossary, and index pages.
- Ask students, “Which text feature helped you find the answer fastest, and how did it help?” after a short book search.
- Show a page and ask students to point to the feature they would use to find one named fact.
- Use a kids’ website menu or classroom library bin labels to show how icons and headings help people find information quickly.
Plan a Lesson for CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.5
Generate a complete lesson plan aligned to this standard, with objectives, activities, and materials. Free, no account needed.
Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.5
Know and use various text features (e.g., headings, tables of contents, glossaries, electronic menus, icons) to locate key facts or information in a text.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.5
Use text features and search tools (e.g., key words, sidebars, hyperlinks) to locate information relevant to a given topic efficiently.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.7
Interpret information presented visually, orally, or quantitatively (e.g., in charts, graphs, diagrams, time lines, animations, or interactive elements on Web p...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.7
Use information gained from the illustrations and words in a print or digital text to demonstrate understanding of its characters, setting, or plot.