Understanding Key Ideas and Details in Informational Texts
Understanding Key Ideas and Details in Informational Texts Objective: Students will learn to identify the main idea of a text and explain how key details support that main idea by reading a short informational passage.
Learning Objectives
- Identify the main idea of an informational text.
- Find key details that support the main idea.
- Explain how the details help to understand the main idea.
Materials Needed
- Printed copy of a short informational text (about animals, weather, or a simple science topic)
- Pencils
- Notebook or paper for writing
- Highlighters or colored pencils
Key Vocabulary
- Main Idea
- The most important point or message that the author wants to share in a text.
- Details
- Facts or pieces of information that support or explain the main idea.
- Informational Text
- A type of writing that gives facts and information about a topic.
Detailed Activities
Read and Identify Main Idea
- Read the selected informational text aloud together or have the student read it silently.
- Discuss what the text is mostly about to help the student identify the main idea.
- Write the main idea in the notebook.
Find Supporting Details
- Reread the text and highlight or underline important details that support the main idea.
- List 2-3 key details in the notebook.
- Discuss how each detail supports the main idea.
Explain the Relationship
- Ask the student to explain in their own words how the details help explain the main idea.
- Write a short sentence or two summarizing this explanation.
- Review and praise the student’s understanding.
Parent & Instructor Notes
- This lesson helps your child practice understanding what they read by focusing on the main message and the important facts that support it.
- You don’t need to be an expert in the topic; focus on guiding your child to think about what the text is mostly about and what details help explain it.
- Encourage your child to ask questions if they don’t understand a part of the text, and discuss it together.
Assessment Questions
- What is the main idea of the text you read?
- Can you name two details that support the main idea?
- How do these details help you understand the main idea better?
Extension Ideas
- Have your child find an informational article or book at home and practice identifying the main idea and details on their own.
- Create a simple graphic organizer with two columns labeled ‘Main Idea’ and ‘Details’ for your child to fill out with different texts.
- Encourage your child to draw a picture that shows the main idea and details to help them visualize the information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Try breaking the text into smaller parts and ask your child what each part is about. Sometimes finding the main idea is easier when looking at smaller sections first.
Choose a short and simple text that can be read within 10-15 minutes to keep your child engaged and focused.
Yes, you can watch a short educational video and then discuss the main idea and key details together, but try to also include reading practice.
Teacher’s Guide
Common Misconceptions:
- Students may confuse the main idea with the topic, so clarify that the main idea is a complete thought about the topic.
- Students might list details without explaining how they support the main idea; encourage explanation.
- Students might think every detail is equally important; teach them to pick the most relevant ones.
Scaffolding Ideas:
For Struggling Students:
- Use shorter texts with clear and simple main ideas.
- Provide sentence starters to help explain the relationship between details and main idea.
- Use visual aids like graphic organizers.
For Advanced Students:
- Challenge them to find supporting details that are implied, not stated outright.
- Ask them to summarize the text in their own words.
- Encourage comparing main ideas from two related texts.
Pacing Recommendations:
- Spend 10-15 minutes reading and identifying the main idea.
- Spend 15 minutes highlighting and discussing details.
- Spend 10-15 minutes explaining the relationship and summarizing.
Standards
- 6.RI.3 — Identify the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key details; summarize the text.
Printable Worksheet
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