Finding the Main Idea Grade 6

What is the Main Idea? The main idea = what the writer wants the reader to understand about the subject. The main idea of a passage or reading is the central thought or message. The main idea is always general, details are always specific.

Why is Finding the Main Idea Important? Main ideas help the reader remember important information. Finding the main idea is the essence of comprehension. Readers need to understand what is important and what is detail. The main idea is needed for summarizing and for taking notes.

Finding the Main Idea Non-Fiction First, identify the subject of the text. Try locating the subject in any of these places: –The title –A heading or subheading –The first sentence of each paragraph –Any key words or repeated words or names –The last sentence of each paragraph

Finding the Main Idea Second, decide what the author says about the subject. –Look at the details and what they say about the subject. –Decide what all these details add up to.

Finding the Main Idea Third, use the Main Idea Graphic Organizer to … –Help you sort the subject from the main idea –List specific details –Determine the main idea

Subject What the author says about the subject Main Idea Detail 1 Main Idea Graphic Organizer Detail 3 Detail 2

Finding the Main Idea Sometimes an author will include the main idea in the first sentence.

The Dwindling Buffalo As the Native Americans of the Plains battled to remain free, the buffalo herds that they depended upon for survival dwindled. At one time, 30 million buffalo roamed the Plains. However, hired hunters killed the animals to feed crews building railroads. Others shot buffalo as a sport or to supply Eastern factories with leather for robes, shoes and belts. From 1872 to 1882, hunters killed more than one million buffalo each year.

The Dwindling Buffalo As the Native Americans of the Plains battled to remain free, the buffalo herds that they depended upon for survival dwindled. At one time, 30 million buffalo roamed the Plains. However, hired hunters killed the animals to feed crews building railroads. Others shot buffalo as a sport or to supply Eastern factories with leather for robes, shoes and belts. From 1872 to 1882, hunters killed more than one million buffalo each year. Heading First sentence Repeated words Key words Last sentence

Finding the Main Idea --- Looking at Details The first sentence tells … –The buffalo herds of the Plains diminished. The second sentence tells … –Once there were 30 million buffalo on the Plains. The third sentence tells… –They were hunted to feed crews building railways. The fourth sentence tells… –Some buffalo were shot for sport or for Eastern factories The last sentence tells … –From 1872 – 1882, more than one million buffalo were killed each year.

Main Idea Formula Once you’ve discovered the subject you can determine the main idea. Subject +What the author says about the subject =Main idea

Finding the Main Idea Subject +What the author says about the subject =Main idea The buffalo that the Native Americans depended upon for survival dwindled. +  Once there were 30 million buffalo on the Plains.  They were hunted to feed crews building railways.  Some buffalo were shot for sport or for Eastern factories. From 1872 – 1882, more than one million buffalo were killed each year. In this paragraph, the main idea is stated in the FIRST sentence.

Finding the Main Idea Sometimes an author will include the main idea in the last sentence of a paragraph.

Robots as Servants Someday we will all have robots that will be our personal servants that will look and behave much like real humans. We will be able to talk to these mechanical helpers and they will be able to respond in kind. Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from experience. They will be smart, strong, and untiring workers whose only goal will be to make our lives easier.

Robots as Servants Someday we will all have robots that will be our personal servants that will look and behave much like real humans. We will be able to talk to these mechanical helpers and they will be able to respond in kind. Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from experience. They will be smart, strong, and untiring workers whose only goal will be to make our lives easier. Heading First informational sentence Last sentence Repeated words Key words

Finding the Main Idea --- Looking at Details The first sentence tells … –In the future, robots will be personal servants. The second sentence tells … –Humans will be able to speak and listen to our robot servants. The third sentence tells… –Robots of the future will learn from experience. The last sentence tells … –These robots will be smart, strong and will work without complaint to make out lives easier.

Main Idea Formula Once you’ve discovered the subject you can determine the main idea. Subject +What the author says about the subject =Main idea

Finding the Main Idea Subject +What the author says about the subject =Main idea Robots of the future + –In the future, robots will be personal servants. –Humans will be able to speak and listen to our robot servants. –Robots of the future will learn from experience. Future robots will be smart, strong and will work without complaint to make out lives easier. In this paragraph, the main idea is stated in the LAST sentence.

Surf Camp Going to surf camp is expensive. First, you have to pay for the instruction from qualified teachers who have life saving experience. Second, there is the equipment. You’ll need a surf board, of course, but also a wet suit and ocean shoes. Last, you’ll need transportation to the ocean which, if you live miles form the water, will require air or train tickets. Just learning to surf might seem easy, but getting ready to learn will cost a great deal of money.

Children and Pets Dogs are good for children because they teach children to be responsible. Children who have to feed the dog, give the dog water, and to walk the dog learn to be responsible for the life of another being. Cats also teach children responsibility, and along with this, children who own a cat learn about independence since cats are quick to teach this. Snakes, rats, fish and gerbils are also good to teach children about cleanliness and proper bathing habits. Most pets teach children valuable lessons.

You Do/You Show This is not a slide for the students. Teacher- Please see notes below for the rest of this lesson. The notes contains the last two steps to do with students. It continues to follow the explicit instruction model.