Unit Plan 16 (Grade 3 ELA): Text Features Deep Dive
Grade 3 ELA unit: students use charts, captions, diagrams, and glossaries to integrate text and visuals, find main ideas, and justify answers with clear evidence.
Grade Level: 3
Subject Area: English Language Arts (Reading, Speaking & Listening, Language)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
This week is a deep dive into informational text features—specifically charts, captions, diagrams, and glossaries. Students learn how to locate information efficiently (RI.3.5) and how to integrate information from words and visuals (RI.3.7). They also practice listening to and interpreting information presented orally or visually (SL.3.2). By Friday, learners will navigate features to answer questions, explain how a visual adds understanding, determine the main idea of a short presentation that includes a visual, and justify their answers with evidence drawn from both text and features.
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to…
- Identify and use captions, diagrams, charts/tables, and glossaries to locate and explain information (RI.3.5).
- Integrate information from words and visuals (e.g., diagram labels, chart data) to show understanding (RI.3.7).
- Determine the main idea and supporting details of information presented visually and orally (SL.3.2).
Standards Alignment — CCSS Grade 3
- Reading Informational: RI.3.5, RI.3.7
- Speaking & Listening: SL.3.2
Success Criteria — student language
- I can name the feature I used and explain what it added.
- I can combine a sentence from the text with a fact from a visual to answer a question.
- I can state the main idea and two key details from a short presentation that includes a visual.