Main Idea - Day 1

Main Idea - Day 1

​What is it?

​How do I figure it out?

​What is a topic?

​A topic is the word or phrase that everything in a text refers back to. You try to figure out how it’s all connected.

We use the topic to help us figure out the Main Idea. A topic is not the Main Idea.

​What is a topic?

​Can you find the topic of these pictures?

​What is a topic?

​Can you find the topic of these pictures?

Sort the following words into three different groups.

​

​You will be given the first word of a group and you will type in the rest of the words that you feel go with that group

​pineapple

​helmet

​lemon

​touchdown

​elbow

​grape

​pear

​fumble

​quarterback

​plum

​fingernail

​cherry

​ankle

​punt

​earlobe

​knuckle

​referee

​eyelash

​huddle

​thigh

​kiwi

​shoulder

​field goal

​mango

Open Ended

The first word is pineapple

Open Ended

The first word is eyelash

Open Ended

The first word is helmet

Sort the following words into three different groups.

​

​You will be given the first word of a group and you will type in the rest of the words that you feel go with that group

​sweeping

​jumping jacks

​whale

​vacuum

​jog

​eel

​dusting

​bicycling

​shark

​push-ups

​squid

​sit-ups

​laundry

​lunges

​scrub

​walrus

​seahorse

​mop

​stretch

​rinse

​dishwasher

​jellyfish

​octopus

​weightlifting

Open Ended

1st sort - you choose the first word

Open Ended

2nd sort - you choose the word

Open Ended

3rd sort - you choose the word

​Finding the main idea

​To find the main idea, figure out the topic first. Then, look for a sentence that states a main point about the topic.

​Looking for a topic in text

​Water is an amazing resource. Everyone in the world depends upon it. Every creature needs water to survive. Without water, we would not last long. Water makes our world beautiful.

​Looking for a topic in text

​Water is an amazing resource. Everyone in the world depends upon it. Every creature needs water to survive. Without water, we would not last long. Water makes our world beautiful.

The topic is WATER

​Water is an amazing resource. Everyone in the world depends upon it. Every creature needs water to survive. Without water, we would not last long. Water makes our world beautiful.

​Look for repeated words 

​In the last paragraph, the word water was repeated again and again.

Can you find the main idea?

​Water is an amazing resource. Everyone in the world depends upon it. Every creature needs water to survive. Without water, we would not last long. Water makes our world beautiful.

Can you find the main idea?

​Water is an amazing resource. Everyone in the world depends upon it. Every creature needs water to survive. Without water, we would not last long. Water makes our world beautiful.

Can you find the main idea?

​Water is an amazing resource. Everyone in the world depends upon it. Every creature needs water to survive. Without water, we would not last long. Water makes our world beautiful.

​Topic: Water

​Main Point about the topic:

Can you find the main idea?

​Water is an amazing resource. Everyone in the world depends upon it. Every creature needs water to survive. Without water, we would not last long. Water makes our world beautiful.

​Topic: Water

​Main Point about the topic: Water is an amazing resource

​Finding the Main Idea

​Notice that topics are expressed as words or phrases, but main ideas are expressed in sentences.

​Topic + Main Point about the Topic = Main Idea

​Careful....

​

​"Another good title for this passage would be...."

​

​It's just a way of asking for the MAIN IDEA

Multiple Choice

Kitchens usually contain a variety of different appliances.  Toasters are most useful when you are eating a bagel or sliced bread.  Soups are often made in slow cookers.  Coffee lovers will usually have a coffee maker on their counters.

What is the topic?

• Steaming vegetables

• Kitchen Safety

• History of the Refrigerator

• Kitchen appliances

Multiple Choice

Cooking in the kitchen can be fun, but it also can be dangerous. In order to stay safe in the kitchen, you should take some precautions. Blenders, food processors, and knives all have sharp edges and should be treated carefully. Also, food and pans that come out of the oven will be very hot and should be taken out with an oven mitt.

What is the topic?

• Steaming vegetables

• Kitchen Safety

• History of the Refrigerator

• Kitchen appliances

Multiple Choice

People have not always had refrigerators in their kitchen.  Before there were refrigerators, people used ice or snow to cool their food.  Some people kept food cold for long periods of time by storing it underground and packed in ice.  Iceboxes, wooden boxes packed with ice and insulating materials, used to be very common.  Now, most people use the modern refrigerator to keep food cool.

What is the topic?

• Steaming vegetables

• Kitchen Safety

• History of the Refrigerator

• Kitchen appliances

Multiple Choice

Vegetables can be cooked in the kitchen in a variety of ways. A popular method for cooking vegetables is called steaming. Steaming vegetables is healthier than boiling or roasting vegetables because it helps lock in nutrients. Asparagus, carrots, and green beans are all excellent when steamed.

What is the topic?

• Steaming vegetables

• Kitchen Safety

• History of the Refrigerator

• Kitchen appliances