Understanding Main Idea and Supporting Details

Introduction

• Today's focus: Identifying the main idea of a story and finding supporting details.
• Importance of not only identifying but also justifying why certain details support the main idea.
• Comparison to being like an attorney defending a case.

Main Idea Concept

• Definition: The main idea is the "big picture" of what the story is about.

Supporting Details Concept

• Definition: Details that support or "hold up" the main idea, like legs of a chair.

Activity: Visual Thinking

• Purpose: Helps students to think deeply while reading by writing down thoughts instead of speaking them.
• Task: Read a story about Frog and Toad.
• Goal: Identify the main idea and supporting details.

Class Discussion

Main Idea in "Frog and Toad"

• Frogs and toads have more in common than differences.
• Main idea: How frogs and toads are alike and different.

Identifying Supporting Details

• Look for text evidence that shows similarities and differences.
• Example of differences and similarities:
  • Frogs and toads' eggs: Batches vs. long strings.
  • Skin texture: Frogs (smooth) vs. Toads (bumpy).
  • Both are amphibians.
  • Movement: Both hop from water homes.

Organizing Thoughts

• Use of a "main idea web" to visually organize the main idea and details.
• Center of Web: Main idea goes in the center.

Group Activities

• Students work in groups to discuss and identify similarities and differences.
• Requirement to provide "text evidence" from specific paragraphs.

Examples of Text Evidence

• Frogs and toads are both amphibians - Found in Paragraph 1.
• Frogs' skin is slimy, toads' skin is warty - Found in Paragraph 3.
• Both hop away from water homes - Found in Paragraph 1.
• Frogs are edible by dogs, toads are not - Discussed with "edible" as a key vocabulary word.

Conclusion

• Successful use of a graphic organizer to capture the main idea and supporting details.
• Encouragement of critical thinking and discussion among students.
• Emphasis on understanding and justifying the main idea and supporting details.