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Student Instructions
1. Watch the video to learn the TSTIGBCCMD letters and what each text feature does. 2. Complete the Think About It page using a photo, video, voice, drawing, or typed response. 3. Answer the Solve It questions to show what you know. Use the Show It page to create a short demonstration and finish with the Reflect On It poll.
Teacher Notes (not visible to students)
This activity uses Jack Hartmann’s song to teach third graders the set of nonfiction text features summarized by the acronym TSTIGBCCMD. Use the Watch It page first so students hear and see each feature. Pages labeled Solve It include auto-graded questions suitable for quick checks of understanding. The Think About It and Show It pages require student-created multimedia responses; prepare devices for recording or drawing. No printed handouts are required, though a nonfiction book for reference can help students check examples of features. High-quality Think About It answers should name one clear fact the student learned and pose a specific, relevant question about a text feature (for example, “I learned a glossary tells word meanings. I wonder how an index is organized.”). For Show It, expect students to identify at least two text features in a short demonstration and explain (or point to) how each feature helps find information. Teachers can mark these open responses as correct if the student accurately names features and gives plausible uses; mark incorrect if responses show confusion about where or why a feature is used.
