Reading Station 4 -- Main Idea and Summary

A main idea is

• specific descriptions of people, places, or things

• something real or true

• the central idea in a story

• to show something is real or true

A detail is...

• the central idea in a story

• something real or true

• specific descriptions of people, places, or things

• to show something is true/real

A summary is...

• a belief or judgement

• the events in a novel or a movie

• A restatement/explanation of what's been said

• a fact

How does summarizing help you become a better reader?

• because you are using your imagination to recreate the ending

• because you are evaluating the text to see what is most important

• because you are combining what you learned in the text with your own background knowledge

• because your teacher made you do it

What is one strategy you can use when you read a text to help you summarize

• the 5 W's (who, what, when, where, why)

• looking up unknown words in the dictionary

• asking the teacher for the answer

• writing down everything word for word

Which detail would be least important to include

in a summary of Gerhana’s story?

• Gerhana almost died alone in the wild.

• Gerhana’s mother was killed.

• Gerhana has a coat of bright-orange hair.

• Caregivers at the Forest School saved Gerhana.

The main purpose of the infographic “Why We

Need Rainforests” is to help readers understand

• Earth’s water cycle.

• the role rainforests play in the planet’s health.

• carbon dioxide.

• the lumber and coal industries.

Both the article and the infographic support the

idea that (choose TWO answers)

• deforestation is a problem.

• rainforests provide important medicines.

• orangutans are like humans in many ways.

• rainforests are valuable.

The main purpose of “How to Save a Baby

Orangutan” is to ______, whereas the main purpose

of “Why We Need Rainforests” is to ______.

• introduce readers to Dr. Signe Preuschoft; inform

  readers about Earth’s water cycle

• inform readers about the threats orangutans face;

  help readers understand the vital role rainforests

  play in the planet’s health

• describe the unique ecosystem in Borneo; explain

  why deforestation occurs

• explain how orangutans communicate; compare

  the lumber and coal industries

IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA

Being a clown isn't all fun and games. Rodeo clowns expose themselves to great danger every time they perform. When cowboys dismount or bulls buck them off, rodeo clowns jump in front of the bulls and motion wildly to get their attention. In this way rodeo clowns provide an alternate target, and in doing so protect the rider. Of course, this is a very dangerous thing to do. So you see, sometimes clowning around can be serious business.

• Sometimes clowns can mean serious bussiness.

• Rodeo clowns protect cowboys by putting themselves in danger.

• Cowboys and Rodeo Clowns are constantly in danger.

• A Rodeo bull's attention is easily caught by Rodeo clowns.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.4.2