Lesson Plan
Read Works

Read Works: Main Idea 4th Grade Unit

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] A two-lesson unit on main idea and details through which students use the topic sentence to identify the main idea of a paragraph and categorize details as main idea or supporting. With free login,...
Handout
Curated OER

Mc Graw Hill: Part 2 Reading: Informational Text: Reasons and Evidence in Text

For Students 3rd - 5th Standards
An article discussing how authors use reasons and evidence to support their ideas in a text. Site includes an example to help students find reasons and evidence.
Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Pioneer Families [Pdf]

For Teachers 1st - 3rd Standards
"Pioneer Families" is a one page, nonfiction, reading passage about pioneers who traveled west in wagon trains, the hardships they faced, and how they worked together to build communities. It is followed by questions which require...
Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: The Captain's Job [Pdf]

For Teachers 1st - 3rd Standards
"The Captain's Job" is a one page, nonfiction, reading passage about a captain safely landing his plane in the Hudson River after birds had flown into the engines causing them to stop. It is followed by questions which require students...
Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: The First Flyers [Pdf]

For Teachers 1st - 3rd Standards
"The First Flyers" is a one page, nonfiction, reading passage about the Wright brothers and their obsession with flying. It is followed by questions which require students to provide evidence from the story; it includes: determining main...
Graphic
Scholastic

Scholastic: Informational Text: Reading Response: Main Ideas & Details [Pdf]

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st Standards
This graphic organizer can be used with students when they read informational text. Students will write the main idea in a central oval and then write four details that support the main idea of this reproducible graphic organizer.
Lesson Plan
Read Works

Read Works: Organizing Information Into an Outline

For Teachers 3rd - 4th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] In this activity, students will take notes as they read Animal Homes by Ann O. Squire. This information will then be organized into an outline. Includes printable materials for teacher and students.
Lesson Plan
Learning Farm

Learning Farm: Ccs: Time, Sequence, and Cause/effect

For Students 1st - 4th Standards
An automated lesson will engage student's learning how to describe the connection between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text. An introduction to the concept precedes a...
Lesson Plan
Read Works

Read works.org: The Artist Who Painted Herself

For Teachers 3rd Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] Use this read aloud lesson plan to teach concepts such as main idea, using pictures to gain information, and recount key details from an informational text. This lesson plan aligns with Common Core...
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Quizlet

Quizlet: Main Idea, Main Idea Test

For Students 3rd - 5th Standards
Terms associated with main idea are included on this assessment. This test assesses the following text feature terms: central idea, main idea, details, supporting details, summarizing, interesting detail, conclusion, topic, subject, and...
Interactive
Quizlet

Quizlet: Main Idea, Main Idea Match

For Students 3rd - 5th Standards
Terms related to main idea are included in this review "Match" game. Questions are provided for the following words: central idea, main idea, conclusion, infer, inferences, interesting detail, subject, summarizing, and supporting detail....
Activity
Quizlet

Quizlet: Main Idea, Main Idea Flashcards

For Students 3rd - 5th Standards
Terms related to main idea are included in this review exercise. Interactive vocabulary flashcards are provided for the following words: main idea, central idea, interesting detail, subject, topic, support, supporting detail, theme, and...
Activity
Quizlet

Quizlet: Main Idea and Details 2nd Grade Flashcards

For Students 2nd - 3rd Standards
Flashcards with main idea statements are available on this site. Students will read a series of details. Then students will read the main idea after each set of details.
Interactive
Quizlet

Quizlet: Main Idea and Details 2nd Grade Match

For Students 2nd - 3rd Standards
Identifying the main idea is the task for this "Match" game. Students will read a series of details and match the main idea that "matches" the list of supporting details.
Activity
Quizlet

Quizlet: Ccisd 4th Grade Main Idea Flashcards

For Students 3rd - 5th Standards
Reading strategy terms (nonfiction) are included in this review exercise. Flashcards are provided for the following words: topic, main idea, supporting details, summarizing, conclusion, point of view, author's perspective, author's...
Graphic
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Analyze Nonfiction: Central Idea [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 8th Standards
This graphic organizer will help students analyze nonfiction pieces. Students will use the graphic organizer to guide them as they identify the central idea and supporting details.
Article
International Literacy Association

Ila: Unlocking the Power of Informational Text With Five Creative Ideas

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
Five easy ways to help unlock the power of informational text for all students.
Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: George Washington Carver [Pdf]

For Teachers 2nd - 4th Standards
"George Washington Carver" is a one page, biographical passage about George Washington Carver, a famous African American, who taught farmers better farming methods including planting peanuts to improve the soil. It is followed by an...
Lesson Plan
Better Lesson

Better Lesson: Sl.3.2: Determine the Main Ideas and Supporting Details of a Text

For Students 3rd Standards
Links to 44 lessons and activities that build student skills in standard SL.3.2: Determine the main ideas and supporting details of a text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually,...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Where Does Food Go?

For Teachers 1st - 3rd Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] This informational text passage explains the process of food digestion. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and strategies and establishes scaffolding...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Trouble in the Amazon

For Teachers 2nd - 4th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the causes and effects of the decreasing rain forest. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Explore Our Solar System

For Teachers 2nd - 4th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] This informational text passage shares facts about planets in the solar system. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and strategies and establishes...
Lesson Plan
Florida Center for Reading Research

Florida Center for Reading Research: Monitor for Understanding: Question Creation [Pdf]

For Teachers 2nd - 5th Standards
A lesson plan in which students read a text and create questions using the words provided on word cards. Materials are included.
Lesson Plan
Florida Center for Reading Research

Florida Center for Reading Research: Monitor for Understanding: Sum Summary! [Pdf]

For Teachers K - 1st Standards
A lesson plan in which students read a narrative or informational text and complete graphic organizers to help them write good summaries of the texts. Materials are included.