Central Idea and Summary
What goes in a summary and what should be left out?
Only the most important details go in a summary, while the minor details should be left out
: “Jordan stared at the clock as the minutes ticked down. He chewed on his pencil and tapped his foot quickly under the desk. When the teacher said, ‘Pencils down,’ Jordan let out a loud sigh.”
What can you infer about Jordan?
A: He was nervous about the test or worried about finishing on time.
A student says: “I think the character was nervous before the test.” What would be a strong piece of text evidence to support this claim?
Evidence that shows physical or emotional signs of nervousness (ex: “Her hands were shaking as she picked up her pencil” or “He kept biting his lip and tapping his foot”).
After the storm, the playground was deserted.” What does “deserted” mean?
What are character traits?
Words that describe a character’s personality (ex: kind, selfish, brave)
Give a 1 sentence summary.
Every morning, Jamal practiced basketball before school. He stayed after school to shoot more hoops. On weekends, he played in the park with friends. Jamal wanted to be the best player in the county. He would even skip meals so that he could spend more time practicing.
Jamal spent most of his time practicing basketball.
The sky turned dark. People on the beach began packing their umbrellas and coolers. A brief wind blew the sand in my face.
What prediction can you make?
A storm is coming
Max's class was going on a field trip. Mrs. Bowling reminded the class three times to bring back permission slips. Today was the last day she asked for any last minute slips. Max banged his head on his hand, and let out an "ugh."
What evidence shows Max is forgetful?
Max banged his head on his hand, and let out an "ugh."
“The librarian gave us a stern look when we whispered during study time, so we immediately stopped talking.”
Strict / serious.
“Lila stayed after class to help her teacher stack chairs and clean up.” What trait best describes Lila?
Helpful / responsible.
$500 Q: How are central idea and summary different?
Central idea = the main point. Summary = retells the main point and key details in a shorter version.
“The boy slammed his book shut, crossed his arms, and looked out the window.” What can you infer about his mood?
He is frustrated, angry, or upset.
A student claims: “Maya is a responsible person.” Read the passage:
“Before leaving the house, Maya double-checked that her little brother had his lunch, made sure the dog’s bowl was full, and grabbed her homework folder from the table.”
What detail from the passage best supports the claim?
“Maya double-checked that her little brother had his lunch, made sure the dog’s bowl was full, and grabbed her homework folder.”
"The knight displayed great bravery when facing the dragon.”
What is an antonym (opposite) of bravery?
Fear
Read this passage:
“The wind howled outside the cabin, rattling the windows. Inside, Ben lit a candle and tried to stay calm. He told himself over and over that everything would be okay, even though his hands shook.”
What is the mood of the passage, and what character trait does Ben show?
Mood = tense/scary/uneasy. Trait = brave (he is trying to stay calm even though he is scared).