16 Engaging Text Structures Activities

Studying text structures can help students improve their reading comprehension and writing skills while developing critical thinking and analytical abilities. This collection of high-interest and high-engagement resources covers the five key types of informational structures which include; comparing and contrasting, sequencing, description, problem and solution, and cause and effect. Featuring anchor chart ideas, nonfiction reading passages, and plenty of fun hands-on activities and games, they make an excellent addition to any elementary classroom.  

1. Comparison Text Structures Activity 

There are many versions of this beloved fairytale, making it an excellent choice for identifying similarities and differences, using anchor charts and Venn diagrams. 

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2. Text Structure Lesson Idea  

A PowerPoint presentation is a great way to provide a visual overview of the different types of text structures, including chronological, cause and effect, and descriptive structures. 

Learn More: Twinkl 

3. Informational Text Structure Posters

This colorful collection of text structure definitions and curricular standards posters allows students to visually connect with their learning goals and see how far they have progressed along their journey.  

Learn More: Twinkl

4.  Video-Based Text Structure Activity 

Students are sure to love watching the adventures of Moby and Tim as they use their understanding of text structures to improve their reading skills and survive shark attacks! 

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5. Text Structures Carousel Activity

This carousel activity is a perfect choice for kinesthetic learners as it gets the entire class up and moving to different centers around the room. Students are challenged to provide written evidence for their developing understanding of text features, as well as identify the author’s perspective and purpose. 

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6. Scavenger Hunt Text Structure Resource

What better way than a scavenger hunt to explore story structures? After putting kids in small groups and supplying them with a basket of books, have them identify all the text structures they can find in a limited amount of time. This resource also includes structured task cards, posters, and graphic organizers to provide additional reading practice. 

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7. Nonfiction Text Structures Activity

In this hands-on activity, students are tasked with cutting out and sorting various paragraphs based on their key text structure features. Why not extend the activity by challenging them with magazines, books, and other reading materials around the classroom? 

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8. Try a Mentor Text

A great way to illustrate this important concept is with a group of mentor texts, specifically chosen to help teach nonfiction text structures. Students will gain a deeper appreciation for the purpose and organization of a wide variety of literature by practicing their skills with these carefully curated books. 

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9. Informational Text Structures Lesson 

This comprehensive resource includes an anchor chart, reading pages, and task cards. To ensure students are engaged while you’re reading, you could try having them hold up a different number of fingers to identify the type of text structure they are hearing such as one finger for compare and contrast, two fingers for sequencing, and so on. 

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10. Text Structures for Non-Fiction Texts

This collection of graphic organizers and anchor charts is a wonderful way to encourage students to think critically about the author’s message while improving their reading comprehension skills. 

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11. Watch a Video Overview 

This high-interest video from the popular Khan Academy website uses everyone’s favorite food- pizza, to teach about text structures in an unexpected way! 

Learn More: Khan Academy

12. Make a Flipbook

Creating flipbooks is a great way to study text structures since they provide a quick visual overview and handy reference for students and can be filled in and expanded throughout a unit of study. 

Learn More: Staggered Flip Book

13. Nonfiction Text Structures Chart

Studying text structures is a surefire way to help students retell and summarize information as well as organize their own writing. This graphic organizer helps students consolidate their learning and makes a great launch point for generating concrete examples. 

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14. Teach The Basics with Engaging Resources

Help students identify the key signal words to determine the structure of a text with this handy graphic organizer guide. Providing learners with a specific list of clue words turns this activity into a fun puzzle and is sure to encourage greater engagement with the texts they are studying. 

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15. Try an Online Escape Room

This online escape room guides students to answer text structure questions in order to find the four-digit code and solve the puzzle! 

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16. Try an Online Game

Students are sure to love competing in this game of rags to riches as they identify text structures from a list of clues and signal words in their quest for fame and fortune!

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