1. Created By: Kari Raymer

2. Main Idea The main idea is the most important point that an author wants readers to understand The main idea is the most important point that an author wants readers to understand It is what the text is mostly about Authors do not always state the main idea in the passage or story Sometimes authors state the main idea in the topic sentence

3. Details Details are facts that explain the main idea Details are facts that explain the main idea They give you information that supports the main idea In order to find the main idea, you look to see what all the details have in common

4. Deciding which details are important When you are finding details in a passage, make sure you leave out the unimportant details When you are finding details in a passage, make sure you leave out the unimportant details These will not help you find the main idea

5. Why is main idea important? Knowing the main idea of a passage or story can help with summarizing Knowing the main idea of a passage or story can help with summarizing When you summarize, you are telling a shorter version of a passage or story EXAMPLE: telling your parents about the story you read that day at school EXAMPLE: telling a younger student about a passage you read about bees

6. Why are details important? Finding the important details in a story or passage will help you understand the new information better Finding the important details in a story or passage will help you understand the new information better Knowing important details in a passage will help you remember the information for later when you need it EXAMPLE: taking a science test after reading in a chapter in your science book EXAMPLE: answering questions about a book you read

7. Let’s Practice! Joe loves to go to the park on the weekend. He plays on the swings with his little sister, and slides down the tallest slide as many times as he can. When it is time for lunch, Joe takes a break to eat with his family at the picnic tables. His mom always packs turkey sandwiches and carrot sticks. After lunch, Joe spends the rest of the afternoon on the monkey bars. When his mom tells him it is time to go home, all Joe can think about is coming back next weekend.

8. What details are unimportant? Joe loves to go to the park on the weekend. He plays on the swings with his little sister, and slides down the tallest slide as many times as he can. When it is time for lunch, Joe takes a break to eat with his family at the picnic tables. His mom always packs turkey sandwiches and carrot sticks. After lunch, Joe spends the rest of the afternoon on the monkey bars. When his mom tells him it is time to go home, all Joe can think about is coming back next weekend.

9. What details are unimportant? Joe loves to go to the park on the weekend. He plays on the swings with his little sister, and slides down the tallest slide as many times as he can. When it is time for lunch, Joe takes a break to eat with his family at the picnic tables. His mom always packs turkey sandwiches and carrot sticks. After lunch, Joe spends the rest of the afternoon on the monkey bars. When his mom tells him it is time to go home, all Joe can think about is coming back next weekend.

10. What details are unimportant? This detail does not have anything in common with the rest of the story It will not help us find our main idea This means we can leave it out of our important details

11. What details are important? Joe loves to go to the park on the weekend. He plays on the swings with his little sister, and slides down the tallest slide as many times as he can. When it is time for lunch, Joe takes a break to eat with his family at the picnic tables. His mom always packs turkey sandwiches and carrot sticks. After lunch, Joe spends the rest of the afternoon on the monkey bars. When his mom tells him it is time to go home, all Joe can think about is coming back next weekend.

12. What details are important? Joe loves to go to the park on the weekend. He plays on the swings with his little sister, and slides down the tallest slide as many times as he can. When it is time for lunch, Joe takes a break to eat with his family at the picnic tables. His mom always packs turkey sandwiches and carrot sticks. After lunch, Joe spends the rest of the afternoon on the monkey bars. When his mom tells him it is time to go home, all Joe can think about is coming back next weekend.

13. What details are important? Joe loves to go to the park on the weekend. He plays on the swings with his little sister, and slides down the tallest slide as many times as he can. When it is time for lunch, Joe takes a break to eat with his family at the picnic tables. His mom always packs turkey sandwiches and carrot sticks. After lunch, Joe spends the rest of the afternoon on the monkey bars. When his mom tells him it is time to go home, all Joe can think about is coming back next weekend.

14. What details are important? Joe loves to go to the park on the weekend. He plays on the swings with his little sister, and slides down the tallest slide as many times as he can. When it is time for lunch, Joe takes a break to eat with his family at the picnic tables. His mom always packs turkey sandwiches and carrot sticks. After lunch, Joe spends the rest of the afternoon on the monkey bars. When his mom tells him it is time to go home, all Joe can think about is coming back next weekend.

15. What do these details have in common? He plays on the swings with his little sister He slides down the tallest slide as many times as he can He spends the rest of the afternoon on the monkey bars.

16. So, what’s our main idea? Joe loves to go to the park on the weekend. He plays on the swings with his little sister, and slides down the tallest slide as many times as he can. When it is time for lunch, Joe takes a break to eat with his family at the picnic tables. His mom always packs turkey sandwiches and carrot sticks. After lunch, Joe spends the rest of the afternoon on the monkey bars. When his mom tells him it is time to go home, all Joe can think about is coming back next weekend.

17. So, what’s our main idea? Joe likes to go the park on the weekends to play on the equipment.

18. Is the main idea stated in a topic sentence? Joe loves to go to the park on the weekend. He plays on the swings with his little sister, and slides down the tallest slide as many times as he can. When it is time for lunch, Joe takes a break to eat with his family at the picnic tables. His mom always packs turkey sandwiches and carrot sticks. After lunch, Joe spends the rest of the afternoon on the monkey bars. When his mom tells him it is time to go home, all Joe can think about is coming back next weekend.

19. Is the main idea stated in a topic sentence? Joe loves to go to the park on the weekend. He plays on the swings with his little sister, and slides down the tallest slide as many times as he can. When it is time for lunch, Joe takes a break to eat with his family at the picnic tables. His mom always packs turkey sandwiches and carrot sticks. After lunch, Joe spends the rest of the afternoon on the monkey bars. When his mom tells him it is time to go home, all Joe can think about is coming back next weekend.

20. Let’s Review! The main idea is the most important point that an author wants readers to understand The main idea is the most important point that an author wants readers to understand Sometimes the main idea is stated in the topic sentence, but sometimes it is not Details are facts that all have something in common and help you find the main idea Some details are unimportant and will not help you find the main idea

21. Credits! Fonts: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Wizard-Of-Boz http://thewizardofboz.blogspot.com