Title of Lesson: Finding the Main Idea with Ramon and Ish by Peter Reynolds
Topic: Finding the main idea of the text using supporting details from the text and background knowledge.
Grade(s): 1-3
Time Period: 40-45 minutes
Objective(s): This lesson is designed to introduce students to the strategy finding the main idea in a text. Using evidence from the e-book, Ish by Peter Reynolds and their background knowledge, students will find the main idea to help them understand the text and the author’s message.
Materials and Resources Needed:
- e-book Ish by Peter Reynolds
- computer/laptop and screen
- Finding the Main Idea graphic organizer (one per student)
- Enlarged version of Finding the Main Idea graphic organizer
- markers
- pencil (one per student)
- eraser (one per student)
Type of Assessment:
● Diagnostic
○ Formative
○ Summative
Possible Strategies and Tools to Assess Students:
● Student work Samples ● Teacher notes
● Oral Statement ○ One-to-one Interview
○ Peer-assessment ○ Checklist
○ Self-assessment ○ Rubric
● Observation ● Other
Procedure of the Lesson:
Part 1
1. Ask the students to think to themselves for a few seconds about what they think is meant by the term “main idea”. Once a moment has passed, ask the students to turn to the person sitting next to them to share their thoughts and ideas. Give the students 1-2 minutes to share. Tell the students that they must be listening attentively to what their partner says, because they will be asked to share what their partner says.
2. Ask the students to return to the large group. Ask for volunteers to share their partners’ ideas.
3. Record the ideas on an overhead and/or large paper, accessible for all students. You may also wish to write “Main Idea” in large letters on a sheet of large chart paper, and record the students’ responses around it.
4. Share the objective of the lesson with the students: “Good readers use the supporting details in a text and their background knowledge to find the main idea of a text. The main idea helps us to better understand a text and the author’s message.”
Part 2
1. Play the e-book, Ish by Peter Reynolds once through without stopping.
2. After playing the e-book once through, tell the students that you are going to play the e-book once more and that they are to pay close attention and record any and all ideas on their handouts that relate to the main idea. Tell the students that you will pause the e-book periodically to allow them to complete the Finding the Main Idea graphic organizer. On the graphic organizer, the students are to write the following:
- What the main idea of the e-book is
- Details from the text that support the main idea
3. Students will be completing the Finding the Main Idea graphic organizer that accompanies this text as they read through the story.
4. Model for the students your main idea and a supporting detail. Write your ideas right into the enlarged version of the Finding the Main Idea graphic organizer. If this lesson is used during a unit on finding the main idea of a text, have the students work in small groups or independently to find the main idea of the e-book Ish.
5. Ask students to look at your ideas. Encourage them to share any thoughts, questions, concerns, or confusions. You may also like to ask the students if and how your supporting detail supports the main idea. This will give the students and you an opportunity to understand how they understand the concept of a main idea and going about finding it and supporting details in a text.
Part 3
1. Continue playing the e-book, pausing periodically for students to complete the Finding the Main Idea graphic organizer. You may wish to do another example with them and then have them do the rest independently.
2. Once students have had sufficient time to complete the Finding the Main Idea graphic organizer, ask them to turn to the student sitting next to them to share their ideas as to what they think the main idea of the e-book is and what details throughout the text support their main idea.
3. When students have had a few moments to share with the student sitting next to them, ask students to come back to the main group. Ask for volunteers to share the main idea and details from the text that support the main idea. You may wish to record student responses on the enlarged version of the Finding the Main Idea graphic organizer.
Extension and Practice
Students can practice finding the main idea independently using a text they are currently reading. You may wish to provide them with another copy of the Finding the Main Idea graphic organizer, or they can record their ideas in their reading notebooks.
Closure:
1. Once all students have completed the graphic organizer, have the students sit in a circle.
2. Create a sentence starter, such as “Finding the main idea of a text is important because…”, and go around the circle so each student has a chance to complete the sentence.
3. Collect the Finding the Main Idea graphic organizer from the students for assessment.
Name: ______Date: ______
Finding the Main Idea
To find the main idea of a story, good readers look for supporting details throughout the text and use their background knowledge.