Facts about Paragraphs
Find the main idea/topic sentence
What doesn't belong?
Identify the topic
Parts of a Hamburger Paragraph
100
What is the minimum number of sentences that you should have if you are following the hamburger paragraph model? 

5

100
A mother bird is very busy. They build a nest, lay eggs in the nest, and sit on the eggs. They also gather food for the hungry babies.
A mother bird is very busy.
100
I like to watch football. Every sunday me and my dad watch football together. Last sunday is rained. The Cowboys are my favorite team.
Last sunday it rained.
100

A rainbow is made up of many colors. It has red, purple, and blue stripes. It has orange, yellow, and green stripes. Sometimes the colors are dark. Sometimes the colors are pale.

A rainbow

100

In a hamburger paragraph diagram, what does the top bun represent?

The topic sentence/opening sentence. 

200

True or False?

Every paragraph has a topic. 

True

200
Cats are lazy animals. They like to lie around all day. They walk slow. Sometimes they lick their paws and their fur. That’s why some of them get fat!
Cats are lazy animals.
200
I would like to have a new pet. I have a cat and a dog. Goldfish and birds would be good pets. Birthdays are fun. Maybe I will get a hamster or a rabbit.
Birthdays are fun.
200
Frogs hop on land. They dive into a pond. They swim in the water. They leap for food. A frog can move in many different ways.
Frogs
200

In a hamburger paragraph diagram, what does the bottom bun represent?

The closing sentence. 

300

The author's message about a topic is called the....

Main Idea

300
I like to run. I like to feel the wind go through my hair. Everything passes by you really fast. Then you get out of breath. That’s when I start to walk.
I like to run.
300
Emily and Tonya are good friends. They play games, ride their bikes, and go to the park together. Tonya's dog can run very fast. Emily and Tonya ride the bus to school together. They spend the night at each others' houses.
What is Tonya's dog can run very fast.
300
They very best food in the world is ice cream. It is cold and sweet. I like to lick it as it drips down the cone. I like all the different flavors.
Ice Cream
300

In a hamburger paragraph diagram, what do the burger meat, lettuce, cheese and condiments represent?

The details of your paragraph

400

What do we call the sentence that communicates the main idea of a paragraph? 

Topic Sentence or Introduction 

400
A dinosaur lives under my bed. I can hear him snoring at night. In the daytime he goes outside and eats my mom’s daisies. He tracked his muddy footprints into the house. I ask for extra macaroni and cheese to feed my dinosaur.
A dinosaur lives under my bed.
400
I'm going swimming in the pool at the park. I have my swimsuit and a big towel. Mom gave me money for a snack. Hippos swim in the river. My dad is going to drive me there. It will be a lot of fun.
Hippos swim in the river.
400
Many changes happen to a caterpillar as it grows. It gets bigger and bigger as it eats leaves. One day it forms a fuzzy cocoon. After several weeks, a moth crawls out of the cocoon. It flies away when its wings are dry.
A caterpillar
400

True or false?

You should include all of the parts of the hamburger in every paragraph? 

True

500

In your own words, explain how paragraphs are like hamburgers. 

You must provide at least 3 details. 

Answers will vary. 

500

Boy was I surprised when I looked under my bed. I found a dirty sock, my lost homework, and a piece of rotten banana. I need to clean my room more often.

I need to clean my room more often.

500
Beavers build a special home called a lodge. They use trees to build their lodges. Beavers use their sharp teeth to cut down small trees. They cut off the branches and carry the trunks to the stream. Beavers have babies in the spring. They stack the trunks and branches into a big pile. They make the door to the lodge under they water. Beavers are excellent builders.
Beavers have babies in the spring.
500
When a whale calf is hungry, it bumps it mother. She squirts milk into the calf's mouth. It drinks many gallons of milk in a short time. The milk is so rich a calf can gain eight pounds in one hour. A baby whale needs its mother's milk to grow.
A whale
500

Which part of the hamburger would the following sentence represent? 

As you can see, there are lots of simple things that you can do each day to stay healthy and keep fit. 

Bottom Bun / Closing Sentence

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