ELA

READING SKILLS

TEXT STRUCTURES/ FEATURES AND MAIN IDEA

LEARNING GOALS

• 5.9D I can recognize the characteristics and structure of informational texts so that I can understand the Main Idea effectively. I know I am successful when I can justify my Main Idea using characteristics and structures of text. 

  
  

• 5.6E I can make connections to personal experiences, ideas in other texts, and society so that I can improve my reading comprehension. I know I am successful when I am able to find connections with experiences, other books or the world. 

ACTIVATING LEARNING: TEXT STRUCTURES

https://youtu.be/yid-Cgs1Kcg

Multiple Choice

1. Read the following paragraph:

Which one is it- an alligator or a crocodile? These two animals look almost the same because they are both reptiles with similar body parts and body structures. However, if you look closely, you will see some small differences. Crocodiles have long, narrow snouts shaped like a 'V', while alligators have wider snouts shaped like a 'U'. Unlike the alligator, you can see both the upper and lower teeth on a crocodile, and they are exposed in an interlocking pattern when the mouth is closed. However, you can only see an alligator’s upper teeth when its mouth is closed. Another slight difference is their color. A crocodile has an olive-brown color, while alligators are usually darker, almost black.

Determine which text structure was used in the paragraph above.

• cause and effect

• compare and contrast

Multiple Choice

Read the following paragraph:

Millions of people around the world have trouble getting to sleep at night. In fact, one in three people report having this problem. If you are one of these people, there are things you can do to get a good night’s sleep. First, doctors recommend that you go to bed and get up at the same time every night, including weekends. Keep the same routine every night at bedtime. Another solution is to avoid eating or drinking foods with caffeine. Coffee, tea, soda, and chocolate are often high in caffeine and should be avoided. Also, do not exercise within three hours of bedtime. Try to do something relaxing before heading to bed. Avoid watching scary or intense television programs, and do not think about stressful events. These are just a few ideas that can help you get a complete night of sleep.

Determine which text structure was used in the paragraph above.

• problem- solution

• cause and effect

Open Ended

Read the following paragraph:

Venus, the second planet in our solar system, is the hottest of the planets. It is also the brightest of all planets. It is about the same size as Earth, and it is covered with thick clouds of carbon dioxide and sulfur. The clouds are so thick that little light reaches the surface of Venus. The surface of Venus is often described as a “stormy desert” full of very active volcanoes and many craters. There is no liquid water on Venus.

Determine which text structure was used in the paragraph above.

Fill in the Blanks

Multiple Choice

The Kingda Ka, a tiger-themed roller coaster, is the tallest coaster in the world. It is located at Six Flags Great Adventure Amusement Park in Jackson, New Jersey. It reaches 456 feet in the air. It is also the world’s second fastest roller coaster, reaching a speed of 128 miles per hour. It was completed in 2005. The ride lasts 28 seconds from start to finish. Thrill seekers enjoy the lightning fast speed (it goes from 0 to 128 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds), 418 foot drop, and the moment of weightlessness that occurs near the end of the ride.

• Description

• sequence

ACTIVATING LEARNING: MAIN IDEA

https://youtu.be/mkZo2zVKJR4

Multiple Choice

What is the topic?

• person, place, thing or idea being written about.

• most important thought about the topic

Open Ended

What is Main Idea?

Multiple Choice

1. Weather reporters have to give out a lot of information. That's why they use pictures. The pictures help them tell us about the weather without using so many words. Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is. They need to know where the warm air is. They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area. Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short. The pictures help weather reporters get the information out in a fast way.

Which sentence best describes the main idea of the paragraph?

• Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is

• Pictures help weather reporters get information out in a fast way

Multiple Choice

Seated on his throne, King Midas wore a golden crown. He had golden rings on each finger and held a golden scepter. His vest was embroidered with golden thread and even his shoes had golden ornaments. He had a golden box filled with gold coins. He named his daughter Marigold.

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

• King Midas loved gold

• King Midas sold lots of gold.

Multiple Choice

Native Americans dried strips of meat, pounded it into a paste, and then mixed it with fat. Sometimes they added berries and sugar. Then they pressed it into small cakes. They called these cakes pemmican. Pemmican didn't spoil, and it provided lots of energy for people traveling or going hunting. Today explorers still carry and eat this food.

What is the passage mostly about?

• how pemmican was prepared by Native Americans

• What can be put in pemmican.

Multiple Choice

Floods can cause tremendous damage. They can ruin houses, roads and buildings. Floods can take down trees and cause mudslides. It often leaves mud, sand and debris behind. It can take months to clean up after a flood.

What is the main idea?

• Floods can cause a lot of damage

• It takes a lot of time to clean up after a flood.

Multiple Choice

The earth's surface is constantly changing. All over the world everyday there are earthquakes, floods and volcanoes that quickly change our world. Some changes are too small to see. Others cause tremendous damage and costs millions of dollars to clean up.

What is the main idea?

• It is expensive to clean up the damage

• The Earth's surface is always changing.

TEXT CONNECTIONS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79YdC1Zc_ig

Multiple Choice

1. I read a story about a boy who loved to eat cheese for breakfast. It reminded me of the time we ran out of cereal and my mum made me a cheese sandwich for breakfast.

• TEXT TO SELF

• TEXT TO TEXT

Multiple Choice

2. I read a story about a boy who visited a magical land with witches and wizards. It reminded me of the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

• TEXT TO SELF

• TEXT TO TEXT

Multiple Choice

This comprehension strategy means to use what you know to understand what you are reading.

• MAKING CONNECTIONS

• INFERENCE

Multiple Choice

A connection between the book and your life experiences.

• TEXT TO THE WORLD

• TEXT TO SELF

Multiple Choice

A connection between the book and events in real life.

• TEXT TO TEXT

• TEXT TO THE WORLD

Open Ended

_{This book reminds me of World War II because...}

This is an example of which type of connection?

Fill in the Blanks

Multiple Choice

_{This book reminds me of the Harry Potter books because...}

This is an example of which type of connection?

• Text to the media

• Text to text

Multiple Select

Making text connections deepens our understanding of the text and helps us become better readers.

• True

• False