Central Idea
What is a central idea?
A sentence telling the reader what the text is mostly about.
What is the author trying to teach me? So what about the topic?
Ask yourself, "Is that what the whole text is about?"
What is a supporting detail?
Facts, examples and sentences within a text that support the central idea.
What is topic?
One or two words about the WHOLE text
Niagara Falls is a famous waterfall in Northern America. It is on the Niagra River about halfway between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Niagara Falls is on the American and Canadian border. The American Falls is 167 feet high. On the Canadian side, the Horseshoe Falls is 161 feet high. What is the central idea of the paragraph?
Niagara Falls is a famous waterfall in Northern America.
Kangaroos protect themselves in many ways. If a kangaroo senses danger, they will bang their tail on the ground to warn the others.A new born joey is only the size of your thumb.What is the supporting detail?
If a kangaroo senses danger, they will bang their tail on the ground to warn the others.
Niagara Falls is a famous waterfall in Northern America. It is on the Niagra River about halfway between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Niagara Falls is on the American and Canadian border. The American Falls is 167 feet high. On the Canadian side, the Horseshoe Falls is 161 feet high. What is the topic?
Niagara Falls
The Statue of Liberty is famous monument in New York City. 3.5 million people visit The Statue of Liberty each year. The Statue of Liberty is a 151 foot statue of a woman holding a book and a torch. It is located on an island in New York Harbor. It was a gift of friendship from the people of France. It has become a symbol of freedom. What is the central idea of the paragraph?
The Statue of Liberty is famous monument in New York City.
Kangaroos are strange looking animals. Some kangaroos act as guards to protect the mob. They have small front legs and huge hind legs with great big feet.What is the supporting detail in the paragraph?
They have small front legs and huge hind legs with great big feet.
The Statue of Liberty is famous monument in New York City. 3.5 million people visit The Statue of Liberty each year. The Statue of Liberty is a 151 foot statue of a woman holding a book and a torch. It is located on an island in New York Harbor. It was a gift of friendship from the people of France. It has become a symbol of freedom. What is the topic?
The Statue of Liberty
Most kangaroos eat grass. Some kangaroos eat only plants and vegetables. Depending on where the kangaroos are from, some kangaroos will eat on trees and shrubs. Kangaroos eat different kinds of food. What is the central idea?
Kangaroos eat different kinds of food.
Kangaroos are mostly night time creatures. Kangaroos have a long powerful tail.They sleep during the day under a shady tree or bush.What is the supporting detail in the paragraph?
They sleep during the day under a shady tree or bush.
Most kangaroos eat grass. Some kangaroos eat only plants and vegetables. Depending on where the kangaroos are from, some kangaroos will eat on trees and shrubs. Kangaroos eat different kinds of food. What is the topic?
Kangaroos
Penguins are interesting birds. They are flightless, which means they cannot fly. They spend half of their time on land and half of their time in water. Penguins can also swim 20 miles per hour. What is the central idea?
Penguins are interesting birds.
Most kangaroos eat grass. Some kangaroos eat only plants and vegetables. Depending on where the kangaroos are from, some kangaroos will eat on trees and shrubs. Kangaroos eat different kinds of food.What is the supporting detail?
1. Some kangaroos eat only plants and vegetables.
2. Some kangaroos will eat on trees and shrubs.
3. Most kangaroos eat grass.
Penguins are interesting birds. They are flightless, which means they cannot fly. Penguins spend half of their time on land and half of their time in water. Penguins can also swim 20 miles per hour. What is the topic?
Penguins