The aim of the article was to conduct a comparative analysis of the structures and functions of didactic tasks, in the form of questions appearing in school textbooks and during lessons. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the content of textbooks and lesson transcripts of lessons were carried out. The obtained data revealed differences that appeared between properties of didactic tasks of this kind found in early school textbooks and lessons. The presented research results will be used for subsequent research related to other types of didactic tasks, and may also contribute to enriching teachers’ knowledge about the ways that pupils work with a textbook.