ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Research Building Blocks: Skim, Scan, and Scroll
Contains plans for two lessons on locating supporting details that are part of a larger unit on researching a state symbol. It works on skills like determining the most important information, using key words to identify relevant...
Quia
Quia: Literary Terms Quiz
In this self-scoring practice activity, students read four passages and select the main idea of each.
Other
Reading Quest: Strategies for Reading Comprehension: Power Thinking
Looking for an alternative to formal outline instruction? Power Thinking teaches the concept of outlining but on a somewhat simplified level. The site is good for basic note-taking from a text.
Education Development Center
Tv411: Summarizing Activity 2
This activity asks students to differentiate between main ideas and supporting details.
Curated OER
Mc Graw Hill: Part 2 Reading: Informational Text: How Reasons Support Key Points
Get an example of how to identify an author's main idea in a text on this site. Also, learn how to recognize supporting ideas to main ideas presented in a text. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.2
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: City Government [Pdf]
"City Government" is a one-page, nonfiction, reading passage about Chicago's city government system. It explains that Chicago is divided into 50 wards, and each ward elects an Alderman to represent them. It is followed by...
Other
Prezi: Main Idea and Supporting Details
Slideshow investigates how to find the main idea and key details of a story.
Read Works
Read Works: Main Idea 3rd Grade Unit
[Free Registration/Login Required] A three-lesson unit teaching students to use the first and last sentence to identify the main idea of a paragraph and the first and last sentence in each paragraph to identify the main idea of a...
Read Works
Read Works: Main Idea 4th Grade Unit
[Free Registration/Login Required] A two-lesson unit on main idea and details through which young scholars use the topic sentence to identify the main idea of a paragraph and categorize details as main idea or supporting. With free...
Curated OER
Mc Graw Hill: Part 2 Reading: Informational Text: Reasons and Evidence in Text
An article discussing how authors use reasons and evidence to support their ideas in a text. Site includes an example to help students find reasons and evidence.
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Pioneer Families [Pdf]
"Pioneer Families" is a one page, nonfiction, reading passage about pioneers who traveled west in wagon trains, the hardships they faced, and how they worked together to build communities. It is followed by questions which require...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: The Captain's Job [Pdf]
"The Captain's Job" is a one page, nonfiction, reading passage about a captain safely landing his plane in the Hudson River after birds had flown into the engines causing them to stop. It is followed by questions which require students...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: The First Flyers [Pdf]
"The First Flyers" is a one page, nonfiction, reading passage about the Wright brothers and their obsession with flying. It is followed by questions which require students to provide evidence from the story; it includes: determining main...
![Scholastic: Informational Text: Reading Response: Main Ideas & Details [Pdf] Graphic](https://content.lessonplanet.com/knovation/original/241272-21ebac911f8734b3826318f202df38b5.jpg?1661510811 "Scholastic: Informational Text: Reading Response: Main Ideas & Details [Pdf] Graphic")
Scholastic
Scholastic: Informational Text: Reading Response: Main Ideas & Details [Pdf]
This graphic organizer can be used with students when they read informational text. Students will write the main idea in a central oval and then write four details that support the main idea of this reproducible graphic organizer.
Read Works
Read Works: Organizing Information Into an Outline
[Free Registration/Login Required] In this activity, students will take notes as they read Animal Homes by Ann O. Squire. This information will then be organized into an outline. Includes printable materials for teacher and students.
Learning Farm
Learning Farm: Ccs: Time, Sequence, and Cause/effect
An automated lesson will engage student's learning how to describe the connection between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text. An introduction to the concept precedes a...
Read Works
Read works.org: The Artist Who Painted Herself
[Free Registration/Login Required] Use this read aloud instructional activity to teach concepts such as main idea, using pictures to gain information, and recount key details from an informational text. This lesson plan aligns with...
Quizlet
Quizlet: Main Idea, Main Idea Test
Terms associated with main idea are included on this assessment. This test assesses the following text feature terms: central idea, main idea, details, supporting details, summarizing, interesting detail, conclusion, topic, subject, and...
Quizlet
Quizlet: Main Idea, Main Idea Match
Terms related to main idea are included in this review "Match" game. Questions are provided for the following words: central idea, main idea, conclusion, infer, inferences, interesting detail, subject, summarizing, and supporting detail....
Quizlet
Quizlet: Main Idea, Main Idea Flashcards
Terms related to main idea are included in this review exercise. Interactive vocabulary flashcards are provided for the following words: main idea, central idea, interesting detail, subject, topic, support, supporting detail, theme, and...
Quizlet
Quizlet: Main Idea and Details 2nd Grade Flashcards
Flashcards with main idea statements are available on this site. Students will read a series of details. Then students will read the main idea after each set of details.
Quizlet
Quizlet: Main Idea and Details 2nd Grade Match
Identifying the main idea is the task for this "Match" game. Students will read a series of details and match the main idea that "matches" the list of supporting details.
Quizlet
Quizlet: Ccisd 4th Grade Main Idea Flashcards
Reading strategy terms (nonfiction) are included in this review exercise. Flashcards are provided for the following words: topic, main idea, supporting details, summarizing, conclusion, point of view, author's perspective, author's...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Analyze Nonfiction: Central Idea [Pdf]
This graphic organizer will help students analyze nonfiction pieces. Students will use the graphic organizer to guide them as they identify the central idea and supporting details.