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Finding Main Ideas
Elementary schoolers read paragraphs one at a time in order to pick out the main ideas. They choose which sentences are most important in a paragraph. This type of exercise prepares learners to identify the main idea in longer narratives.
For the Teachers
Main Idea Outline
Find the main idea in an informational text with a versatile lesson. Three levels of differentiation help you implement the strategy in any age or class level, based on the ability and objectives of your learners.
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Writing Expository Paragraphs
Students read Arthur's Pet Business and complete a pre-writing worksheet for expository writing. In this paragraph writing lesson, students gather and organize material for a paragraph about pets.
Education World
Take Five: Writing a Color-Coded Paragraph
Use a traffic light to model a very basic paragraph plan. The Go, or topic sentence, is written in green and expresses an opinion about the topic. Information that supports the opinion of the Go sentence is written in yellow and the...
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In a Nutshell....
Students examine how to summarize the most important details in a reading passage in order to increase their comprehension. They design a story web using the summarization skills. Before class, they complete a reading assignment prior to...
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Topic Sentence
Students write a topic sentence to a paragraph and explain that it introduces the main idea. After a whole-class demonstration, students write a complete paragraph with their topic sentence and supporting sentences. There are some...
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Wheat: From Field to Oven
How does wheat go from the seed to the table? While focusing on main ideas and supporting statements, class members read an excerpt about wheat production and complete a worksheet. The end goal is a display that shows the different...
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Gold Rush
Young scholars use educational software to determine the main idea of paragraphs. They read about the Gold Rush and Frontier Life in America before writing a history log as they simulate that they are writing back to a cousin in New...
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Main Idea and Supporting Details
Second graders write topic sentences. In this writing lesson, 2nd graders construct a paragraph consisting of a topic sentence and 2-4 additional sentences. Students analyze their writing and publish a final copy.
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Analyzing Key Ideas and Details in Nonfiction
Students explore nonfiction texts. In this language arts lesson, students read a nonfiction text and make predictions. Students identify facts and opinions in the text and draw conclusions as they read.
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Second Grade Language Arts: Topic Sentences
In this second grade language art topic sentences worksheet, student read short paragraphs and pick the best topic sentence for each one.
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Making Predictions by Analyzing Key Ideas and Details
Students make predictions. In this language arts lesson, students read nonfiction texts and make predictions about what they are going to read. Students confirm and revise their predictions as they read the text.
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How to Summarize
Students review techniques on how to read a passage smoothly making the words connect, and with expression. They then read the instruction to the chapter in their science book and answer questions that are written on the board. They...
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Paragraphs
Students observe paragraphs in newspaper articles and the chapters in their reading books writing down reasons for each new paragraph. They then discuss why writers organize their work into paragraphs.
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Pumpkin Carving Sequencer
Students arrange illustrations in sequential order. In this text organization lesson, students access a webpage where they must follow the instructions to learn about the steps of pumpkin carving. Students then click and drag...
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“THE LORAX” by Dr. Seuss
Few children's books convey the message of conservation as well as Dr. Seuss' The Lorax. Read the story aloud, emphasizing the interconnectedness of plants and animals in an ecosystem and discussing different ways people can help the...
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What is The Main Idea
Students will investigate why comprehension is a major goal of reading. To comprehend the meaning of text, students must know certain strategies in order to be successful. Form a topic sentence that captures the meaning of a paragraph...
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Steps to Summarization!
Students practice summarizing what they have read. They review the meaning of comprehension. Students go through the steps needed in order to summarize a passage. They pick out the main parts/ideas of what they have read. Students...
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Plug it All In
Second graders discover the meaning of silent reading and how it is an important part of reading fluently. They listen as the teacher models how to summarize a short paragraph using three steps and then read and re-read an article and...
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Tales From Around the World
Students read stories. In this culture lesson, students read stories from different regions around the world. Students look for each region on the map and listen for interesting cultural details in the story. Students then discuss the...
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Amazing Facts about My City and State
Young scholars investigate several sources to explore facts about their city and state. The location, population, history, landmarks, and main features of the area are unearthed in this experience.
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Sentence Sequence
Second graders write a paragraph with detail sentences in chronological sequence.
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Earthquake!
Students gain an understanding of earthquakes. They examine vocabulary associated with earthquakes, how earthquakes happen, and preventive measures taken to diminish damage or harm in the event that an earthquake should happen.
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Sum + It = Up
Students review silent reading techniques as well as summarization. They read copies of "Forest Life" silently and complete a story web to organize the main points of the story. They then use use the points to write a brief paragraph to...