Main idea Details I can identify the main

Main idea & Details I can identify the main idea and details of expository text maintaining chronological order.

What do you already know? THINK: How can you tell what the most important idea is in expository text? WRITE: In your own words, write a sentence or two about how you can tell what the most important idea is in expository text. SHARE: With your shoulder partner, please share your sentences about how to tell what the most important idea is in expository text.

What is a“main idea? ” Is it the topic of the writing piece? Is it what the most exciting part of the text? Is it the reason the text was written?

Focus on Main Idea A main idea is an author’s main point. The author writes a text in order to get their point across. It is the reason the author is writing. If an author could summarize his or her writing in one or two sentences, that would be the main idea.

Going to School What’s the main idea? Which of these is the main reason/main idea of going to school? 1. I get new supplies at the beginning of the year. 2. The school lunch is delicious. 3. I learn to read, write and do math.

Try it! What is the main idea? Lantern fish live near the bottom of the ocean where it is very dark, so they carry their own lights. The lights look like tiny glowing pearls. They are called photophores. A lantern fish can flash its photophores on and off. What is the main idea? 1. The lights look like tiny glowing pearls. 2. Lantern fish live near the bottom of the ocean where it is very dark, so they carry their own lights.

Try it! What is the main idea? A backswimmer has a rounded back and its underside is flat. When it floats on its back it looks like a little boat. It rows itself along in the water using its two hind legs like oars. The backswimmer spends most its time upside down. What is the main idea? 1. The backswimmer spends most of its time upside down. 2. A backswimmer has a rounded back and its underside is flat.

Focus on Details are known as “supporting details” or“critical details”. Another word for “critical” is all-important. Details are the examples and descriptions the author gives to prove or support his or her main idea. Supporting details relate DIRECTLY to the main idea. (NOTE: Not all details support the main idea!) Before you can identify supporting details, you must first identify the main idea.

Try it! What are the details? Next time you see lightning, count the number of seconds that pass until you hear thunder. The lightning is a mile away for every five seconds that you count. In this way, you can “measure” how far the lightning is from you. Scientists know that the speed of light is faster than the speed of sound. So calculating the difference between the two speeds, they have developed this easy five-second formula. First, what is the main idea? 1. You can figure out how far away lightning is. 2. The lightning is a mile away for every five seconds that you count.

Try it! What are the details? Next time you see lightning, count the number of seconds that pass until you hear thunder. The lightning is a mile away for every five seconds that you count. In this way, you can “measure” how far the lightning is from you. Scientists know that the speed of light is faster than the speed of sound. So calculating the difference between the two speeds, they have developed this easy five-second formula. Which is a supporting detail? 1. Scientists know that the speed of light is faster than the speed of sound. 2. Lightning creates a sonic boom.

Try it! What are the details? When Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke, people listened. Poor people, rich people, white people, black people, people form other countries- they all listened. Many helped him work, march, sign, and pray for justice. He asked people not to fight with each other. He suggested peaceful ways to solve problems. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a special talent for leadership. First, what is the main idea? 1. Many people listened to Martin Luther King, Jr. 2. Martin Luther King, Jr. was an influential leader.

Try it! What are the details? When Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke, people listened. Poor people, rich people, white people, black people, people form other countries- they all listened. Many helped him work, march, sign, and pray for justice. He asked people not to fight with each other. He suggested peaceful ways to solve problems. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a special talent for leadership. Which is a supporting detail? 1. When Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke, people listened. 2. Martin Luther King, Jr. was African-American.

Time To Show What You Know! THINK: What is a main idea? THINK: What are supporting details? WRITE: In your own words, please define main idea and supporting details. SHARE: With your shoulder partner, please share your definitions and update your definitions , if necessary.

Pair Share: Explain the difference between the Main Idea and Supporting Details

Time for practice! Take out those Whiteboards

Directions: I am going to give you a list of sentences. For each set, write M for the Main Idea and a D for a Detail Sentence.

1. A. _____ Native American tribes lived in variety of different dwellings. B. _____ The Plains Indians used tepees that where easy to put up and take down. C. _____ The Iroquois built longhouses which were large rectangular homes. D. _____ The Navaho constructed an earth-covered log dwelling, called a hogan.

2. A. _____ If a volcano has not erupted within historic times, it is inactive. B. _____ Volcanoes can be classified by the amount of activity they produce. C. _____ An extinct volcano will probably not erupt in the future. D. _____ Dormant volcanoes have been known to erupt in historic times and will probably erupt again in the future.

Homework Tonight Complete Road Trip - We will review these tomorrow.