Main ideas
Define main idea in your own words. What question does it answer about a text?
The main idea is what the text is mostly about — it answers, “What is this passage mainly saying?”
Define theme and explain how it differs from main idea.
Theme = the lesson or message the author wants readers to learn. Main idea = what the story is mostly about.
Find and fix the two errors:
me and friend went to the store.
My friend and I went to the store. (Capitalize and correct subject pronoun order.)
Define narrator. What is their job in a story? What point of view has the narrator as the main character?
The narrator tells the story and shows readers what the characters think, feel, and do.
1st person point of view
“Lightning Fact Check!” — True or False: Rachel’s story in the text "Eleven" takes place over several days.
False — The entire story happens in one day, on her birthday.
What is the main idea of “Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros?
Growing up can be confusing and emotional, especially when others don’t understand your feelings.
Choose the sentence that best expresses a possible theme of “Prince Francis.”
A) Being popular makes you happy.
B) True kindness matters more than appearance.
C) Fancy clothes show who you really are.
B) True kindness matters more than appearance.
Find and fix the errors:
itz going to be a grape day.
It’s going to be a great day. (“It’s” = contraction for it is.) Great instead of grape.
Who narrates “Eleven,” and how does her point of view shape the story?
Rachel, first-person — it helps readers feel her embarrassment and emotion directly.
“Grammar Fix!” — What’s wrong with this sentence? Fix it:
My Achilles Meal shows people is awkward sometimes they can be funny to?
“My Achilles Meal" shows that people are awkward, but sometimes funny too.
In “Prince Francis,” what central idea drives the story’s events?
People must look beyond appearances and titles to find genuine happiness and friendship.
Identify the parenthetical element in this sentence:
“Rachel, who was turning eleven, wished the day would end.”
“who was turning eleven.”
Find and fix the errors:
The student were excited for there field trip.
The students were excited for their field trip. (Subject-verb agreement + correct possessive pronoun.)
How does Prince Francis change from the start to the end of the story?
He becomes less self-centered and learns to value kindness over appearances.
“Guess the Story!” — The theme is: Learning to appreciate who you are and where you come from. Which story or stories does this fit?
My Achilles Meal (primary), possibly Prince Francis as a secondary answer.
Which sentence best expresses the main idea of “My Achilles Meal”?
A) Family dinners are always perfect.
B) Humor can help people share awkward cultural experiences.
C) Trying new foods is dangerous.
D) People should never eat in public.
B) Humor can help people share awkward cultural experiences.
Revise this sentence so it correctly combines the ideas and uses punctuation properly:
“Rachel was embarrassed she cried in front of everyone.”
“Rachel was embarrassed, and she cried in front of everyone.” (Comma + conjunction joins two complete ideas.)
Find and fix the error:
Rachel felt happy, she finally told the truth.
Rachel felt happy because she finally told the truth. (Run-on sentence — fix with conjunction.)
What conflict drives “Wagon Train at Dusk”?
The group must face harsh conditions while holding on to hope — both an external and internal struggle.
“Emoji Symbolism!” — Show one emoji that represents the main characters feelings at one point in the story "Wagon Train at Dusk."
Many different responses possible
Identify the best main idea for “Wagon Train at Dusk.” Then, explain how the author’s use of description supports it.
The story is about perseverance and hope during a difficult journey; the author’s descriptions of dusk and movement emphasize endurance and determination.
Create a sentence that clearly states a theme from “Eleven” or “Prince Francis” and correctly uses a parenthetical element and a conjunction.
Example: “Rachel, who learns the hard way, realizes that growing up takes patience and courage.”
Find and fix all the errors:
my achilles meal shows a girl learn about culture, and humor helps her grow to
“My Achilles Meal” shows a girl learning about culture, and humor helps her grow too. (Capitalize title, fix verb form, and punctuate correctly.)
In both “Eleven” and “My Achilles Meal,” the main characters face moments of embarrassment. How does each author use those moments to show growth?
Rachel learns that growing up means accepting feelings; the narrator of My Achilles Meal learns that humor can make uncomfortable moments meaningful and help her connect with others.
“Quote Detective!” — Identify which story this line comes from:
‘Because when you’re eleven, you’re also ten, and nine, and eight...’ — What does it reveal about the character?
Eleven — It shows Rachel realizes that growing up doesn’t erase past versions of herself; emotions from every age remain inside her.