Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Pigeon Express [Pdf]
"Pigeon Express" is a one page, fictional, reading passage about a man who had carrier pigeons and sent messages to his sister on the other side of town everyday. It is followed by constructed-response questions which require students to...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Summer [Pdf]
"Summer" is a one page, fictional, reading passage about a mother and her two children traveling from the city to the country to visit her parents for the summer. They discuss the modern conveniences they have now like cell phones and...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Our Streets [Pdf]
"Our Streets" is a one page, nonfiction passage about how streets are designed, built, signed, and maintained. It is followed by an open-ended question which requires students to provide evidence from the story; it includes underlining...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: I Like Plants [Pdf]
"I Like Plants" is a one page, realistic fiction, reading passage about a person who loves plants and became a botanist; now she teaches her college students about plants and ecology. It is followed by constructed-response questions...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Making Progress [Pdf]
"Making Progress" is a one page, fictional, reading passage about students clearing the trash from a vacant lot near the school and planting a garden to beautify the neighborhood and show they care. It is followed by constructed-response...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Mama's Happy Christmas [Pdf]
"Mama's Happy Christmas" is a one page, fictional, reading passage about children creating a play for their sick mother on Christmas day. It is followed by constructed-response questions which require students to provide evidence from...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: My New Brother [Pdf]
"My New Brother" is a one page, fictional, reading passage about child whose mother has just had new baby boy. It is followed by constructed-response questions which require students to provide evidence from the story; it includes:...
Other
I Pathways: Language Arts: Stated Versus Implied
Learn about the difference between a stated main idea and an implied main idea. Then, practice finding the stated and implied main ideas in two short texts.
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: My First Baseball Game With Q&a [Pdf]
"My First Baseball Game" is a one page, fictional, reading passage about a boy and his sister going to their first baseball game and learning what it means to be Chicago Cubs fans. It is followed by constructed-response questions which...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: My First Baseball Game With Q & a Key [Pdf]
"My First Baseball Game" is a one page, fictional, reading passage about a boy and his sister going to their first baseball game and learning what it means to be Chicago Cubs fans. It is followed by constructed-response questions which...
Quia
Quia: Reading: Finding the Main Idea
Students read forty short texts and choose the main idea of each text. Correct answers are provided for any missed, and the score is tallied along the way.
ACT360 Media
Writing Den: Essay Writing Tips
All you want to know about writing essays, from prewriting to editing. Click on the tip-o-matic and find tips on anything dealing with grammar or writing.
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Writing Our Sloppy Copies and Peer Editing
Students will write a sloppy copy and help a peer to edit their writing. They will use a kid-friendly checklist (included)to help each other find their mistakes. Videos of students engaged in the lesson plan are provided, along with a...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Writing Our Sloppy Copies and Peer Editing
Students will write a sloppy copy and help a peer to edit their writing. They will use a kid-friendly checklist (included)to help each other find their mistakes. Videos of the lesson in action are provided, along with a teacher's grading...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Literature: Analyzing Theme
Article explains how to find the theme in a piece of literature by asking yourself a series of questions as you read. RL.9-10.1 Analyzing Theme. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.2
Beacon Learning Center
Beacon Learning Center: Get the Idea
Learn about and practice finding the main idea in short reading passages.
University of Houston
University of Houston: Atlantis: Main Idea Story 1
An exercise in finding the main idea. Read a short nonfiction paragraph about Texas, and click on the correct main idea.
University of Houston
University of Houston: Atlantis: Main Idea Story 2
An exercise in finding the main idea. Read a short nonfiction paragraph about pollution, and click on the correct main idea.
University of Houston
University of Houston: Atlantis: Main Idea Story 3
An exercise in finding the main idea. Read a short nonfiction paragraph about the solar system, and click on the correct main idea.
University of Houston
University of Houston: Atlantis: Main Idea Story 4
An exercise in finding the main idea. Read a short nonfiction paragraph about where different animals live, and click on the correct main idea.
University of Houston
University of Houston: Atlantis: Main Idea Story 7
An exercise in finding the main idea. Read a short nonfiction paragraph about computers, and click on the correct main idea.
Wisc-Online
Wisc Online: Identifying the Main Idea
This resource defines main ideas and is an interactive way to assess a student's ability to correctly find main ideas from paragraphs.
TES Global
Blendspace: Main Idea Activities
A learning module that includes six links to videos, images, graphic organizers, and websites that reinforce the reading skill of finding the main idea.
TES Global
Blendspace: Main Idea
A five-part learning module with links to videos and images about finding the main idea of a text.