1. What’s the main idea?

3. What is important about? Spoon – you eat with it Rain – it is wet Wind – it blows Sky – always there

4. Paragraph #1 Ms. Smith is a great second grade teacher. She has worked at Livingston Avenue School for three years. Her first job in Cranford was as a third grade teacher. Ms. Smith is always nice to her students. She makes learning fun and cares about each child in her class. Cranford is lucky to have Ms. Smith as a teacher!

5. Main Idea What is the passage mostly about? What is the author’s message? Limited(little) information – only tells what is really important Does not include details

6. Ways to Identify Main Idea 1. Locate important words that tell (who, where, when, what, why) the passage is mostly about. 2. List and separate the supporting details to create your own main idea sentence (typically graphic organizers)

7. Paragraph #1 Ms. Smith is a great second grade teacher. She has worked at Livingston Avenue School for three years. Her first job in Cranford was as a third grade teacher. Ms. Smith is always nice to her students. She makes learning fun by reading to her students all of the time and playing learning games. Cranford is lucky to have Ms. Smith as a teacher!

8. Paragraph #1 Ms. Smith is a great teacher at LAS because she is nice and fun.

9. Main Idea Hand Ms. Smith is a great teacher at LAS because she is nice and fun.

10. Main Idea Hand I’ve got the main idea in my hand It tells who, where, when, what, why AND NOT DETAILS!!!

11. The storm that hit the Northeast this weekend was extremely powerful. The people in our town had trouble because of the rain and high winds. Many homes lost power and schools were closed. The roads were dangerous. Many trees and wires were down blocking the roads. Winds even caused a small plane to flip upside down.

12. Main Idea? There’s a new kid on the block And boy, that kid is tough The new kid punches hard The new kid plays real rough The new kid’s big and strong With muscles everywhere That new kid tweaked my arm That new kid pulled my hair The new kid likes to fight And pick on all the guys That new kid scares me some That new kid’s twice my size That new kid stomped my toes That new kid swiped my ball That new kid’s really bad I don’t care for her at all Detail #1 Detail #2 Detail #3

13. The new girl on the block is a bully. There’s a new kid on the block And boy, that kid is tough The new kid punches hard The new kid plays real rough The new kid’s big and strong With muscles everywhere That new kid tweaked my arm That new kid pulled my hair The new kid likes to fight And pick on all the guys That new kid scares me some That new kid’s twice my size That new kid stomped my toes That new kid swiped my ball That new kid’s really bad I don’t care for her at all Detail #1 The new kid is really big and strong with muscles everywhere. Detail #2 The new kid punches and pulls hair. Detail #3 The new kid steals.

14. Main Idea? Ma! Don’t throw that shirt out It’s my all time favorite shirt I admit it smells peculiar And is stained with grease and dirt That it’s missing half its buttons And has got so many holes That it might have been infested By a regiment of moles Yes! I know that I’ve outgrown it That it’s faded and it’s torn I can see the sleeves are frazzled I’m aware the collar’s worn But I’ve had the shirt forever And I swear that I’ll be hurt If you dare to throw that shirt out It’s my all-time favorite shirt Detail #1 Detail #2 Detail #3

15. Main Idea Kite As a team, read the short passage. Complete the main idea chart to identify the main idea and supporting details. Write the main idea on the kite and each supporting detail on an index card. Assemble your kite. If you finish early, play the main idea card game with a partner.