Organizer
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Polk Bros Foundation

I Can Infer the Main Idea When I Read

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
While reading any text, ask your pupils to keep this graphic organizer on hand. They can note down the main idea and three supporting details during or after reading. The instructions allow for individuals to use words or images to...
Organizer
Ed Helper Clip Art

Main Idea Three Ideas and Details

For Students 3rd - 8th Standards
Readers organize and display three ideas that support a topic, as well as two details that support each idea. 
Organizer
Polk Bros Foundation

Main Idea Analyzer

For Teachers 5th - 10th Standards
Show the connection between the main idea and supporting details with a graphic organizer. Pupils fill in the main idea of a text in the circle and the supporting ideas in the boxes connected to the circle.
Organizer
3
3
Polk Bros Foundation

I Can Identify a Nonfiction Writer's Main Idea and Supporting Examples

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Use this page to quickly identify the central idea of a text and organize ideas for writing an informational or explanatory text. The activity is split into two parts. In the first part, pupils note down the main idea and supporting...
Handout
Santiago Canyon College

Taking Notes for Science Class

For Students 5th - 12th Standards
Provide young scholars with the tools they need to succeed with this reference on the Cornell note-taking strategy. By breaking the content of lessons into main ideas, supporting details, and overall summaries, students are...
Organizer
Do2Learn

Umbrella Organizer Frames

For Students 3rd - 6th Standards
Being able to identify the details that support a main idea is an important skill. Have your pupils practice with this graphic organizer, which includes space for a main idea, three supporting details, and a final conclusion.
Lesson Plan
Achieve3000

Listening for Main Idea and Supporting Details

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Did you hear that? It's the main idea! Teach your class listening and note-taking strategies for determining the main idea by following the steps provided in this plan.
Organizer
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1
Polk Bros Foundation

Collect Evidence to Support an Idea

For Teachers 5th - 9th Standards
In order to support an idea, writers must use evidence. Your class members can prepare their evidence with this basic worksheet. Writers note down the topic they are learning about and their own idea. Next, they come up with information...
Organizer
Polk Bros Foundation

Picture the Main Idea

For Teachers 3rd - 7th Standards
Invite your learners to represent the central idea of a text visually. Individuals note down the main idea and then have the opportunity to draw four pictures that show the idea. Consider working out the main idea together and then...
Unit Plan
Crabtree Publishing

The Genius of the Ancients

For Teachers 5th Standards
It is said that necessity is the mother of invention. Fifth graders prove this with help from three lessons that examine how ancient cultures used their needs to drive innovations. In lesson one, pupils identify main ideas and supporting...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Reading Closely to Expand Understanding of Adaptations

For Teachers 3rd Standards
Third graders work to determine the main idea, recall key details, and answer questions using an informational text on the topic of animal adaptations. Using the non-fiction text "Staying Alive: Animal Adaptations" (provided) the teacher...
Workbook
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Pearson

Main Idea

For Students 7th - 12th Standards
The main idea of this resource is that you should take a look if you're planning to teach main ideas in your class! Cover just about everything you need to know about main ideas with a packet of materials that includes information and...
Worksheet
DePaul University

The Working Tools of Insects

For Students 3rd - 4th Standards
The animal kingdom is full of interesting organisms that have unique ways of surviving. Children read about different insects that have special tools for building homes and protecting themselves. When finished, learners identify the main...
Worksheet
DePaul University

Learn about Fables

For Students 2nd - 4th Standards
Expose young readers to a new genre of fiction with a short reading passage. After learning about fables, children identify the main idea and supporting details in preparation for writing a short summary. Read the text as a class,...
Organizer
Polk Bros Foundation

Illustration Planner

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
One way to help your pupils more fully understand an idea from the text they are reading is to require them to draw or sketch the concept. This page provides some space to plan the details your students want to include in their...
Organizer
Polk Bros Foundation

Science Learning Summary Guide

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
Apply reading standards to your science curriculum by asking pupils to complete this guide. Individuals note down important vocabulary as well as two ideas they learned and two supporting facts for each idea. They then take this...
Activity
Florida Center for Reading Research

Comprehension: Monitoring for Understanding, Simple Summary

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd Standards
Can your class sum up a text in a few sentences? Help them build this skill by starting nice and slow. For this summarizing activity, the teacher marks the main ideas with sticky notes. Learners read and reread the text, pausing at the...
Organizer
Polk Bros Foundation

How to Summarize a Non-Fiction Passage

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
After reading a text, one way to find out how much your class comprehended is to ask your pupils to summarize. This worksheet helps class members prepare for writing a summary of a nonfiction text. They note down the topic, up to eight...
Organizer
Ed Helper Clip Art

Main Idea Mountain

For Students 4th - 8th
After reading a text, learners fill out a graphic organizer in the shape of a mountain, with the main idea as the peak. 
Worksheet
DePaul University

Chicago Changer: Jane Addams

For Students 4th - 5th Standards
The power of a single person to change a community is amazing. Read about about how Jane Addams witnessed people living terrible lives in Chicago and chose to do everything she could to help them. When finished, young learners identify...
Organizer
1
1
Polk Bros Foundation

I Can Identify and Support the Main Idea in Non-Ficiton

For Teachers 5th - 10th Standards
Analyze a historical or scientific informational text by determining the main idea and supporting details. This graphic organizer allows pupils to write down the main idea and four details.
Worksheet
DePaul University

Egypt

For Students 3rd - 5th Standards
The country of Egypt is more than just big pyramids and ancient pharaohs. After reading a brief overview of this African nation, young learners will demonstrate their understanding of the text by identifying the main idea and supporting...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Mid-Unit Assessment: Development of the Young Brain

For Teachers 7th Standards
Scholars view a video clip about adolescent brain development and work with partners to identify the main idea and supporting details. Next, as part of the mid-unit assessment, pupils watch another clip from the video and complete a main...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Close Reading of Pages 4 - 7 and 12 - 15 of Bullfrog at Magnolia Circle: Bullfrog Circle

For Teachers 3rd Standards
Scholars take part in a close reading of pages four through seven and 12-15 of the book, Bullfrog at Magnolia Circle: Bullfrog Circle by Deborah Dennard. Readers identify the story's main idea, list its key details, and examine...