Identifying Main Idea
Many students bring reusable water bottles to school to help reduce plastic waste." Question: What is the main idea?
Students bring reusable bottles to reduce plastic waste
Which of these is a supporting detail for the main idea "Recycling helps the environment"? A: It saves resources. B: Recycling is fun. C: People like bright bins
What does "annotate" mean when you read a text?
Annotate: write notes, questions, or symbols in margins
Give a one-sentence summary of: "Sam studied for the math test and then slept early."
Sam prepared for the test and slept early
What does it mean to infer something from a text? Give a simple example from this sentence: "The lights were off and the house was quiet."
Infer means conclude something not directly stated. Example: house quiet + lights off → people are asleep or away.
What question can you ask yourself to help find the main idea of a non fiction text?
What is this mostly about?" or "What is the author trying to teach me"
Find a supporting detail: "Dogs need exercise, veterinary care, and attention every day." What is one supporting detail that supports a main idea like "Owning a dog requires commitment"?
Dogs need daily exercise (or veterinary care; or attention).
Name two active reading strategies students can use to find the main idea.
highlighting key sentences, annotating, summarizing paragraphs, asking questions, making margin notes, identifying the main idea, using genre elements
Which is better for a summary—the exact wording from the text or your own shorter words? Explain why.
If an author lists many facts about different trees in a park, what is a likely purpose of the passage? A: To explain the types of trees. B: To entertain with a story. C: To ask for donations.
A: To explain the types of trees.
A paragraph lists reasons people exercise: to feel healthier, to have more energy, and to sleep better. Write the main idea.
Exercise gives health benefits
True or False: A supporting detail should be a fact or example that explains or proves the main idea.
True
How can highlighting be used incorrectly so that it doesn't help you find the main idea?
Write a summary for this paragraph
Bees play a very important role in nature because they pollinate flowers, which helps plants make fruits and seeds. When bees move from flower to flower collecting nectar, they carry pollen that allows flowers to reproduce, and this process helps grow many of the fruits, vegetables, and nuts people eat. However, bees are threatened by habitat loss when meadows, wildflower areas, and nesting sites are replaced by buildings, farms that use lots of pesticides, or roads. If bees have fewer places to live and fewer flowers to feed on, their populations can drop, which could make it harder to grow the food we rely on.
Bees pollinate flowers and help grow food. They face threats from habitat loss that put food production at risk.
Read this line: "The new bus route cut student commute time in half and more kids now join after-school clubs." What can you infer about why the bus route was added?
Inference: The bus route was added to decrease commute time and increase student participation in activities.
"Over the past year, the school cafeteria added vegetarian options, labeled foods with ingredients, and began a weekly health-promo newsletter. Students say they feel more informed and have better food choices." What is the main idea?
"The cafeteria made changes that helped students make healthier choices."
Identify the supporting details in this paragraph: "The library extended hours, added new computers, and hosts after-school study groups to help students succeed." Name the main idea and list the supporting details
Main idea: The library added resources to help students succeed.
Supporting details: extended hours; new computers; after-school study groups.
Say what you would think or ask as yourself as you read the following sentence: "The river flooded three times last spring, damaging many homes."
"When did this happen?" "Which houses were affected?" "This suggests severe flooding problem."
Revise this long sentence into a brief summary: "Because the city improved bike lanes, added more streetlights, and ran safety campaigns, more people now choose to ride bikes to work and school."
City safety and infrastructure improvements led more people to bike to work and school.
How does identifying the author's purpose (to inform, persuade, or entertain) help you find the main idea? Give a classroom example.
Knowing purpose focuses attention on facts (inform), arguments (persuade), or details (entertain), which narrows what the main idea likely is.
The Old Mill Park had fallen into neglect. Broken benches, overgrown paths, and litter made the park unsafe and unpleasant for families. The playground equipment was rusted, the community garden had been overtaken by weeds, and few people visited. Local events that once brought neighbors together were canceled because there was nowhere clean and welcoming to meet.
In response, volunteers organized clean-up days, local businesses provided funding for repairs, and the town planted new trees and flowers along the walkways. Workers fixed benches, repainted the playground, and rebuilt raised beds in the garden. With the improved space, the town restarted weekend markets, outdoor movie nights, and seasonal festivals that welcomed residents of all ages. The restored park became a safe, attractive place that strengthened community connections.
The town restored the park through community effort and funding, improving community events and the park's condition.
students working together improved the school garden by planting crops, building raised beds, and scheduling care. Students wrote that harvests were bigger and lessons were more meaningful. Ask students to list three supporting details and explain how each supports the main idea.
main idea that teamwork improved the garden.
supporting details: planting crops; building raised beds; scheduling care.
Read this short paragraph: 'After reading the article, Maya wrote short notes in the margins, circled the words she didn't know, and drew arrows linking repeated ideas. Later, she used her notes to write a one-paragraph summary.'
Describe, step-by-step, how Maya used at least three active reading strategies. Then explain how each strategy helped her find the main idea."
Write a concise paragraph summary that captures the main idea and the most important supporting details without adding new information
'The neighborhood food pantry used to open only once a week and served a small number of families. Volunteers noticed that many people couldn't come because of work schedules and transportation problems.
This year the pantry changed its hours, added a mobile delivery van, and partnered with local buses to offer free rides on distribution days. As a result, the number of families served doubled and food waste decreased.'
The neighborhood food pantry improved access by changing hours, adding a mobile delivery van, and partnering with local buses. These changes helped more families receive food and reduced food waste.
List two inferences you can draw that are not directly stated in the text, and explain how they would connect to the passage.
Recess should be longer because it helps students stay healthy, concentrate better, and build friendships. When kids have more time to run, play, and get fresh air, they get important exercise that keeps their bodies strong and reduces stress. A longer break also gives students a chance to relax their minds so they can focus more during lessons and improve their learning. Finally, extra recess time lets classmates play together, learn how to solve conflicts, and make stronger friendships, which creates a happier school community. For these reasons, lengthening recess would benefit students’ bodies, brains, and social skills.
Example inferences from recess paragraph: 1) Students are not getting enough physical activity during current schedule. 2) Teachers or parents may already have concerns about student focus. Each inference is suggested by reasons the author gives for longer recess.