The students then created a flap book with the definition of each text feature in their reading notebooks.
The next day, the students walked into class to find a surgery room setup! I covered their tables with baby blue butcher paper and each student had gloves, surgical cap, and face masks waiting at their desks.
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I explained that it was time for Text Feature Surgery! Each student had a Text Feature booklet with a page for each feature. The students were asked to search through different magazines and cut out the text features and paste them on the correct page.
I sent a letter home the week before the text feature surgery asking parents to donate a school-appropriate magazine for the activity. You can download the letter HERE.
I searched "Heart Rate Monitor" audio on YouTube to set the mood. I told the kiddos that they had to be completely silent and concentrated on their surgery. Any little distraction might hurt their patient. ;)
This was such a fun activity! My students absolutely LOVED it and it really helped them learn those text features! We review text features every time we read an informational text.

I decided to use some of their work as anchor charts around the class. They refer to these anytime we discuss text features.
We also worked on sorting and matching text features using task cards. The kiddos had to match the feature name with its definition and an example.
You can send home these Text Feature 'Cheat Sheets' to help your students review at home. They can also be glued into their notebooks for easy access.
At the end of the week I assessed them using this simple cut & paste activity.
Teach Text Features DIGITALLY!
All of these resources are now available in DIGITAL format! The resource includes Google Slides versions of all of the activities in the pack. It also includes a set of Boom Cards where students must match the text feature name to an example and its definition.
All of these resources are part of my Text Feature Activity Pack.
I LOVE watching you all transform your classrooms! Don't forget to tag me at @SweetToothTeaching in any photos of your text feature surgery in action!
