text-features Vocabulary
JamWise Education TeamยทUpdated March 2026
The text-features strand is a core part of the K-8 english language arts curriculum. It encompasses 31 vocabulary terms that students encounter as they progress from kindergarten through 8th grade. Each term builds on previous knowledge, creating a spiral of deepening understanding that prepares learners for increasingly complex concepts.
Understanding text-features vocabulary is essential for classroom discussions, assessments, and real-world application. Below you will find every term organized by grade level, so teachers and parents can quickly identify which words are appropriate for their students and explore definitions tailored to each developmental stage.
Kindergarten
(6 terms)
Cover
The cover is the outside of a book that shows the title and a picture.
Front cover
The front cover is the first thing you see on a book. It shows the title, author name, and usually a picture.
Page
A page is one side of a sheet of paper in a book.
Picture
A picture in a book helps you understand the story by showing what is happening.
Spine
The spine is the side edge of a book where the pages are held together. It shows the title so you can find the book on a shelf.
Title
The title is the name of a book or story.
1st Grade
(10 terms)
Back cover
The back cover is the outside back of a book. It often has a short description of the story or information about the author.
Diagram
A diagram is a picture with labels that shows how something works or what its parts are.
Glossary
A glossary is a list of important words and their meanings found at the back of a book.
Graphic
A graphic is any picture, photo, chart, or diagram in a text that gives information visually.
Heading
A heading is a title at the top of a section that tells what that part is about.
Illustration
An illustration is a picture in a book that helps tell the story or explain information.
Index
An index is a list at the back of a book that shows topics and the page numbers where you can find them.
Label
A label is a word or phrase next to a picture that tells what something is.
Nonfiction text feature
A nonfiction text feature is a part of an informational book that helps you find facts, like bold words, photos, maps, and diagrams.
Table of contents
A table of contents is a list at the front of a book that shows the chapters and what page they start on.
2nd Grade
(5 terms)
Bold print
Bold print is text that is darker and thicker than the rest. It shows that a word is important.
Caption
A caption is a sentence or phrase under or next to a picture that explains what the picture shows.
Chart
A chart organizes information in rows and columns so it is easy to read and compare.
Map
A map is a drawing that shows where places are. Maps in books help you understand locations in the text.
Photograph
A photograph in a nonfiction book is a real picture taken with a camera that shows what something actually looks like.
4th Grade
(6 terms)
Almanac
An almanac is a reference book published every year with facts, statistics, and information about many topics.
Atlas
An atlas is a book of maps that shows countries, cities, mountains, rivers, and other geographic features.
Italics
Italics are slanted letters used to show titles of books, emphasis, or foreign words in a text.
Subheading
A subheading is a smaller title within a section that breaks the text into specific parts, helping readers find information quickly.
Table
A table organizes facts and numbers in rows and columns so they are easy to read and compare.
Timeline
A timeline is a line with dates and events placed in order to show when things happened.
5th Grade
(4 terms)
Encyclopedia
An encyclopedia is a reference book or website with articles about many topics arranged alphabetically.
Graph
A graph is a visual display of data using bars, lines, or pie slices that makes numbers easier to understand and compare.
Sidebar
A sidebar is a box of extra information placed next to the main text that gives interesting or helpful details.
Text feature
A text feature is any part of a nonfiction text that helps the reader find or understand information, like headings, captions, or diagrams.