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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 IdeaNon-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 3Detail 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 remainfree, the buffalo herds that they depended upon forsurvival dwindled. At one time, 30 million buffaloroamed the Plains. However, hired hunters killed theanimals to feed crews building railroads. Others shotbuffalo as a sport or to supply Eastern factories withleather 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 battledto remain free, the buffalo herds that theydepended upon for survival dwindled. At onetime, 30 million buffalo roamed the Plains.However, hired hunters killed the animals tofeed crews building railroads. Others shotbuffalo as a sport or to supply Eastern
factorieswith leather for robes, shoes and belts. From1872 to 1882, hunters killed more than onemillion buffalo each year.
Heading
Firstsentence
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 IdeaSubject
+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 ourpersonal servants that will look and behavemuch like real humans. We will be able to talk tothese mechanical helpers and they will be able torespond in kind. Amazingly, the robots of thefuture will be able to learn from experience. Theywill be smart, strong, and untiring workers whoseonly goal will be to make our lives easier.
Robots as Servants
Someday we will all have robots that will beour personal servants that will look andbehave much like real humans. We will beable to talk to these mechanical helpers andthey will be able to respond in kind.Amazingly, the robots of the future will beable to learn from experience. They will besmart, strong, and untiring workers whoseonly 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 IdeaSubject
+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 topay for the instruction from qualified teachers whohave life saving experience. Second, there is theequipment. You’ll need a surf board, of course, butalso a wet suit and ocean shoes. Last, you’ll needtransportation to the ocean which, if you live milesform the water, will require air or train tickets. Justlearning to surf might seem easy, but getting readyto learn will cost a great deal of money.
Children and Pets
Dogs are good for children because they teachchildren to be responsible. Children who have to feedthe dog, give the dog water, and to walk the dog learnto be responsible for the life of another being. Catsalso teach children responsibility, and along with this,children who own a cat learn about independencesince cats are quick to teach this. Snakes, rats, fishand gerbils are also good to teach children aboutcleanliness and proper bathing habits. Most pets teachchildren 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.
