Honeybees visit flowers to sip a sweet liquid. They carry yellow dust from flower to flower on their legs. Back at the hive, bees work together to make food for the colony. Farmers and gardeners depend on bees to help many plants grow. You might notice the word nectar in the text. If you want to know what that word means right away, use the page features. Then keep reading to learn how bees use it during their busy day. Heading: Bee Facts Caption: A close-up shows a honeybee on a flower. Glossary term: nectar

Which feature helps you find what the word nectar means the fastest?

Many families save water at home. Turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth keeps clean water from running down the drain. Fixing leaky sinks and toilets can save buckets every week. Taking shorter showers uses less water, too. Some people place a bucket outside to collect rainwater for plants. Small choices add up and help rivers and lakes. When everyone tries, we can protect this important resource and still get our chores done. Saving water also saves energy.

Features Panel Heading: Saving Water at Home Caption: A picture shows a faucet turned off while someone brushes. Glossary: conserve - use less of something to avoid waste.

Which feature helps you find what the whole page is mostly about the fastest?

Volcanoes can be quiet for many years and then suddenly erupt. Hot, melted rock called magma rises and may explode as ash and lava. Scientists watch volcanoes to keep people safe. They measure small shakes in the ground and test gases in the air. If a volcano becomes active, families should have an emergency plan. Knowing safe routes and keeping supplies ready can help everyone leave quickly and calmly. Practice makes the plan easier to follow.

Features Panel Heading: Volcano Safety Caption: A volcano sending a gray cloud into the sky. Glossary: magma - hot, melted rock beneath Earth's surface.

You want to find a picture that shows what ash looks like. Which feature helps you find it fastest?

Many birds move when seasons change. In fall, they fly to warmer places to find food. In spring, they return to build nests. A short article about this might show a photo of geese in the sky. The picture could have a short note under it. A special word, like migrate, may be in bold. At the end, a small box explains what the word means so readers understand the topic. Features panel — Heading: "Why Birds Move." Caption: "Note under a picture of flying geese." Glossary: migrate—move to a new place for a season.

Which feature helps you find what migrate means the fastest?

Ocean tides are the regular rise and fall of the sea. They happen each day, pulling water in and out along the shore. A short article may begin with a clear title so readers know what the text will be about. A photo of the beach could include a note under it. A special word, such as gravity, might appear in a small box that explains the term. Features panel — Heading: "Ocean Tides." Caption: "Note under a beach photo." Glossary: gravity—the force that pulls objects toward each other.

Before reading details, you want to know the big idea of the text. Which feature helps you find that the fastest?

Recycling turns used items into new things. Cans and paper can be collected, cleaned, and made into fresh materials. An article might show a picture of a bin filled with sorted items. A short note under the picture can tell exactly what the image shows. A small box may define a word like reduce so readers learn key terms. Features panel — Heading: "Why We Recycle." Caption: "Note under a photo of a recycling bin." Glossary: reduce—to use less so we make less waste.

You see a photo of a bin in the article. Which feature helps you quickly tell what the picture is showing?

In a rainforest, tall trees create layers from the ground to the treetops. Sunlight mostly reaches the highest leaves. Animals and plants live where they can find light and food. Some creatures glide or climb between branches. Lower down, it is cooler and darker. The word understory names a middle layer where young trees and shrubs grow. A photograph on the page shows part of the forest. Use the features to figure out what the photo shows and where it fits among the layers. Heading: Layers of the Rainforest Caption: A photo shows the tall tree tops. Glossary term: understory

You want to quickly tell what the picture is showing. Which feature helps you find that fastest?

Rainforests are warm, wet places filled with plants and animals. Scientists describe the forest in layers. The top is called the canopy, where many birds and monkeys live. Below it is the understory, and the forest floor is at the bottom. A photo shows the leafy roof high above the ground. When you read, text features help you find facts quickly and save time. Features panel: Heading: Layers of the Rainforest Caption: Diagram of treetops where animals move Glossary term: canopy — the leafy roof of a forest

Which feature helps you find the meaning of "canopy" fastest?

Deserts are dry places that can be very hot during the day and cool at night. Many animals rest in shade to save water. Some animals are nocturnal, which means they are active after sunset. A chart on the page groups animals by when they are awake. Good readers use text features to figure out what a section will be about before reading every paragraph. Features panel: Heading: Animals of the Desert Caption: Chart of daytime and nighttime animals Glossary term: nocturnal — active at night

To quickly learn the main topic of this section before reading, which feature should you look at?

Volcanoes can form when hot, melted rock rises to Earth's surface. Lava cools and hardens into new rock. A web page about volcanoes might include a small sidebar with extra facts. It could also include a clickable link that opens a map showing where many volcanoes are found. A photo may show glowing lava with a short note underneath to explain the image. Features panel — Heading: "Volcano Basics." Caption: "Note under a lava photo." Glossary: crater—the bowl-shaped top of a volcano.

You want to open a map that shows where many volcanoes are. Which feature helps you get there the fastest?