{"id":718,"date":"2024-02-26T11:00:25","date_gmt":"2024-02-26T16:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/wp\/?p=718"},"modified":"2026-08-14T21:43:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-15T01:43:47","slug":"main-idea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/wp\/?p=718","title":{"rendered":"Main Idea Teaching Activities"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"718\" class=\"elementor elementor-718\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-51805c0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"51805c0\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-66c4677\" data-id=\"66c4677\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-701d358 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"701d358\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-fdb24c2\" data-id=\"fdb24c2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-912e9f5\" data-id=\"912e9f5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-956b574 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"956b574\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.11.2 - 22-02-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"480\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/teaching-main-idea-3.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-22328\" alt=\"Main Idea\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/teaching-main-idea-3.webp 480w, https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/teaching-main-idea-3-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/teaching-main-idea-3-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/teaching-main-idea-3-24x24.webp 24w, https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/teaching-main-idea-3-36x36.webp 36w, https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/teaching-main-idea-3-48x48.webp 48w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-3ca8486\" data-id=\"3ca8486\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b74b71 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7b74b71\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.11.2 - 22-02-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#818a91;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#818a91;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"412\" data-end=\"653\">If you\u2019ve ever read a student\u2019s paragraph and thought, <em data-start=\"467\" data-end=\"505\">\u201cOkay, but what is this even about?\u201d<\/em> \u2014 you are not alone. Main idea is one of the most important comprehension skills students need&#8230; but also one of the trickiest for them to master.<\/p><p data-start=\"655\" data-end=\"765\">So, how do we get students to move past vague answers like \u201cIt\u2019s about stuff\u201d and into clear, concise thinking?<\/p><p data-start=\"1665\" data-end=\"1779\">\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-e704119 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e704119\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-9afa026\" data-id=\"9afa026\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-24d7ad8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"24d7ad8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\r\n.wsp-stat-strip { background:#323a49; margin:24px auto; max-width:900px; border-radius:14px; padding:24px; }\r\n.wsp-stat-strip .row { text-align:center; }\r\n.wsp-stat-item { padding:8px; }\r\n.wsp-stat-label { display:block; font-size:12px; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1px; color:rgba(255,255,255,.65); margin-bottom:4px; }\r\n.wsp-stat-value { display:block; font-weight:700; color:#f9d342; font-size:17px; }\r\n<\/style>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"wsp-stat-strip\">\r\n  <div class=\"row g-3\">\r\n    <div class=\"col-6 col-md-3\"><div class=\"wsp-stat-item\"><span class=\"wsp-stat-label\">Grade Level<\/span><span class=\"wsp-stat-value\">4th\u20136th<\/span><\/div><\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"col-6 col-md-3\"><div class=\"wsp-stat-item\"><span class=\"wsp-stat-label\">Skill Focus<\/span><span class=\"wsp-stat-value\">Main Idea<\/span><\/div><\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"col-6 col-md-3\"><div class=\"wsp-stat-item\"><span class=\"wsp-stat-label\">Activities<\/span><span class=\"wsp-stat-value\">7 Included<\/span><\/div><\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"col-6 col-md-3\"><div class=\"wsp-stat-item\"><span class=\"wsp-stat-label\">Format<\/span><span class=\"wsp-stat-value\">Printable<\/span><\/div><\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-50ef5f6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"50ef5f6\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-6aacb6f\" data-id=\"6aacb6f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f727c9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7f727c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #2b3d52;\">Jump to Section<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e4a78c elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"5e4a78c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\r\n.cs-jump-nav { max-width:900px; margin:24px auto; display:flex; justify-content:center; gap:10px; flex-wrap:wrap; padding:0 20px; }\r\n.cs-jump-nav a { display:inline-block; padding:10px 20px; border-radius:50px; background:#323a49; border:2px solid #fff; color:#fff; font-weight:700; font-size:13px; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.5px; text-decoration:none; }\r\n.cs-jump-nav a:hover { background:#1dbb9d; color:#fff; }\r\n<\/style> <nav class=\"cs-jump-nav\">\r\n  <a href=\"#why-it-matters\">Why It Matters<\/a>\r\n  <a href=\"#before-you-begin\">Before You Begin<\/a>\r\n  <a href=\"#activities\">Activities<\/a>\r\n  <a href=\"#common-mistakes\">Common Mistakes<\/a>\r\n  <a href=\"#questions\">Questions to Ask<\/a>\r\n<\/nav>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-4a6d6f3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4a6d6f3\" data-element_type=\"section\" id=\"why-it-matters\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-9714237\" data-id=\"9714237\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7e2a3a3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7e2a3a3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\" data-section-id=\"11b0srl\" data-start=\"380\" data-end=\"416\">Why Determining Main Idea Matters<\/h2><p data-start=\"418\" data-end=\"535\">Finding the main idea is one of the most important reading comprehension skills students develop in upper elementary.<\/p><p data-start=\"537\" data-end=\"715\">Strong readers don\u2019t remember every detail. Instead, they identify the information that matters most and recognize how supporting details work together to develop a central idea.<\/p><p data-start=\"717\" data-end=\"787\">When students can determine the main idea, they become better able to:<\/p><ul data-start=\"789\" data-end=\"985\"><li data-section-id=\"19arde0\" data-start=\"789\" data-end=\"811\">summarize accurately<\/li><li data-section-id=\"h4i0vm\" data-start=\"812\" data-end=\"866\">distinguish important details from interesting facts<\/li><li data-section-id=\"1woe6y2\" data-start=\"867\" data-end=\"903\">organize information while reading<\/li><li data-section-id=\"1fcglz0\" data-start=\"904\" data-end=\"935\">recognize an author\u2019s purpose<\/li><li data-section-id=\"zp6w0a\" data-start=\"936\" data-end=\"985\">prepare for more advanced informational reading<\/li><\/ul><p data-start=\"987\" data-end=\"1091\">This skill strengthens comprehension across every subject\u2014from literature to science and social studies.<\/p><p data-start=\"767\" data-end=\"874\">Let\u2019s talk strategies that <em data-start=\"794\" data-end=\"809\">actually work<\/em>\u2014and maybe even make your students smile a little while learning.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-e8303f2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e8303f2\" data-element_type=\"section\" id=\"before-you-begin\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-7862c82\" data-id=\"7862c82\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-df158f6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"df158f6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\" data-section-id=\"1ppraho\" data-start=\"1211\" data-end=\"1257\">Before Students Can Determine the Main Idea<\/h2><p data-start=\"1259\" data-end=\"1351\">Students often believe the main idea is simply the first sentence or the topic of a passage.<\/p><p data-start=\"1353\" data-end=\"1434\">Before introducing formal practice, make sure students understand the difference.<\/p><p data-start=\"1436\" data-end=\"1458\">Ask questions such as:<\/p><ul data-start=\"1460\" data-end=\"1663\"><li data-section-id=\"152h9ta\" data-start=\"1460\" data-end=\"1496\">What is this passage mostly about?<\/li><li data-section-id=\"1wasxk4\" data-start=\"1497\" data-end=\"1536\">Which details are the most important?<\/li><li data-section-id=\"h76aea\" data-start=\"1537\" data-end=\"1607\">Which details could be removed without changing the overall meaning?<\/li><li data-section-id=\"8thn78\" data-start=\"1608\" data-end=\"1663\">How would you summarize this passage in one sentence?<\/li><\/ul><p data-start=\"1665\" data-end=\"1779\">Helping students distinguish between a topic and a complete main idea makes later activities much more successful.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-09edd9c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"09edd9c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong data-start=\"879\" data-end=\"922\">Psst\u2026 Don\u2019t forget to grab the handout.<\/strong> It\u2019s packed with printables that match the activities below.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b6c38d elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"1b6c38d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/flipchart\/reading\/mainidea\/Main-Idea-Activities.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"elementor-button-link elementor-button elementor-size-md\" role=\"button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon elementor-align-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"far fa-paper-plane\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Get the handout.<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-72137fe elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"72137fe\" data-element_type=\"section\" id=\"activities\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-94b050e\" data-id=\"94b050e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-850430c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"850430c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Activities for Teaching Main Ideas<\/h2><h3>\u2728Activity # 1: Introducing the Main Idea<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-d5a60b8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d5a60b8\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-2e00a2d\" data-id=\"2e00a2d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-659e193 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"659e193\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/reading-skills\/main-idea\/main-idea-teaching-activities-1.webp\" title=\"\" alt=\"Teaching Upper Elementary Students to Find the Main Idea\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-e496135\" data-id=\"e496135\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ff0ffb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5ff0ffb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"1047\" data-end=\"1178\">We know we shouldn\u2019t start a student narrative with \u201cOne day\u2026\u201d \u2014 and we shouldn\u2019t start a main idea lesson with a worksheet either.<\/p><p data-start=\"1180\" data-end=\"1220\">Try one of these engaging hooks instead:<\/p><h4><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Idea 1: Using Visuals<\/span><\/h4><ol><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Begin with engaging visuals such as photos or illustrations.<\/span><\/li><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Select pictures that depict various activities or scenes, like a circus performance.<\/span><\/li><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Ask students to describe what they see in the image.<\/span><\/li><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Type these so students can view the list on a SmartBoard or write them on a whiteboard.<\/span><\/li><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Once you have enough details, challenge the students to summarize the picture using five words or fewer.<\/span><\/li><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This concise summary will serve as the main idea derived from the image. <\/span><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b23476 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0b23476\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4>Idea 2: Tell Me in Five Words or Less<\/h4><p>Another effective approach is to have students share their weekend experiences in five words or less, selecting their words carefully to convey the key events. This activity helps students practice narrowing down a topic and identifying the main idea.<\/p><p>Example: football, pizza, Grandma, video games<\/p><p>(These words provide great information, and classmates can imagine what the student did over the weekend.)<\/p><p>It\u2019s short, it\u2019s silly, it teaches summarizing\u2014and they\u2019ll start to <em data-start=\"1860\" data-end=\"1866\">feel<\/em> what main idea sounds like.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-54c3769 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"54c3769\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-acdc9dd\" data-id=\"acdc9dd\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5c1f2b4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5c1f2b4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><img class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/14.0.0\/svg\/2728.svg\" alt=\"\u2728\" \/>Activity #2: Build Understanding with Anchor Charts<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-2006b1a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2006b1a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-09a5cae\" data-id=\"09a5cae\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce8321c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ce8321c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/flipchart\/reading\/mainidea\/Main-Idea-Teaching-Activities-2.jpg\" title=\"\" alt=\"Teaching Upper Elementary Students to Find the Main Idea\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-0a13ed9\" data-id=\"0a13ed9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6913bf5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6913bf5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4>Idea 1: Reference Anchor Chart<\/h4><p>Create an anchor chart for the classroom to give students a visual reference like the one pictured with basic information. Include definitions and facts for students to reference throughout their main idea study.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7382f0d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7382f0d\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b9fb177\" data-id=\"b9fb177\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-3fac69e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3fac69e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-2186254\" data-id=\"2186254\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c4adae elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6c4adae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/flipchart\/reading\/mainidea\/Main-Idea-Teaching-Activities-3.jpg\" title=\"\" alt=\"Teaching Upper Elementary Students to Find the Main Idea\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-5a83562\" data-id=\"5a83562\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9c1b055 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9c1b055\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4>Idea 2: Activity Anchor Chart<\/h4><p>Create an anchor chart based on a theme, such as a circus, carnival, desert, or classroom. Have students describe the details taking place and then develop a sentence that tells the main idea of these details.<\/p><p>Have students repeat the process in small groups with new images\u2014cityscapes, zoos, school hallways\u2014and work together to identify main ideas. After five minutes of brainstorming, ask a group member to read the sentences aloud while the class identifies the place described. It\u2019s collaborative, it\u2019s concrete, and it\u2019s a great lead-in to more complex texts.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fdc5c86 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fdc5c86\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6f7e698\" data-id=\"6f7e698\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-491b91b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"491b91b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>\u2728<span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Activity #3: Matching Pictures to Paragraphs<\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-642fda8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"642fda8\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-f4de653\" data-id=\"f4de653\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0679fd8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0679fd8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/flipchart\/reading\/mainidea\/Main-Idea-Teaching-Activities-4.jpg\" title=\"\" alt=\"Teaching Upper Elementary Students to Find the Main Idea\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-06c84be\" data-id=\"06c84be\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bbef097 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bbef097\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"2701\" data-end=\"2776\">Raid those old magazines or outdated textbooks and give them a second life!<\/p><ul data-start=\"2778\" data-end=\"2952\"><li data-start=\"2778\" data-end=\"2813\"><p data-start=\"2780\" data-end=\"2813\">Glue each image to an index card.<\/p><\/li><li data-start=\"2814\" data-end=\"2861\"><p data-start=\"2816\" data-end=\"2861\">Cut out corresponding captions or paragraphs.<\/p><\/li><li data-start=\"2862\" data-end=\"2952\"><p data-start=\"2864\" data-end=\"2952\">Students match image to paragraph\u2014and you provide the answer key using a quick snapshot.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><p>Students can work individually or in pairs to read the paragraphs and match the photographs next to the correct paragraphs.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fed6608 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"fed6608\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/flipchart\/reading\/mainidea\/teaching-main-idea-2.jpg\" title=\"\" alt=\"Matching Activity\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e14d03 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5e14d03\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>\u2728Activity #4: Matching Paragraphs to Titles<\/h3><p data-start=\"3070\" data-end=\"3162\">This one\u2019s a remix of Activity 3\u2014same idea, but this time with <em data-start=\"3133\" data-end=\"3141\">titles<\/em> instead of pictures.<\/p><ul data-start=\"3164\" data-end=\"3311\"><li data-start=\"3164\" data-end=\"3227\"><p data-start=\"3166\" data-end=\"3227\">Students read each paragraph and match it to a fitting title.<\/p><\/li><li data-start=\"3228\" data-end=\"3311\"><p data-start=\"3230\" data-end=\"3311\">Level it up by removing the titles completely and having them write their own.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><p>Again, students can work individually or with a partner to read the paragraphs, choose the most suitable title from the provided cards, and match the cards accordingly. To differentiate instruction, make this activity more challenging by providing some students with the paragraphs only and having them write titles.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-dff2369 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"dff2369\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ae45057\" data-id=\"ae45057\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6009fa2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6009fa2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>\u2728<span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Activity #5: Working with Paragraphs<\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-76e9997 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"76e9997\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-7e9724d\" data-id=\"7e9724d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-57ae70b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"57ae70b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/flipchart\/reading\/mainidea\/teaching-main-idea.jpg\" title=\"\" alt=\"Teaching Upper Elementary Students to Find the Main Idea\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-798832a\" data-id=\"798832a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4046ecd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4046ecd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Preparation:<\/span><\/p><p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Locate the twenty paragraphs in the handout. After duplicating the paragraphs, cut them apart and give one to each student. Have students take a piece of construction paper and draw a horizontal line across the middle of the page. Students then draw a vertical line down the center. These lines divide the page into four equal sections. Next, tell students to glue their paragraphs in the centers of the pages. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9328b97 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9328b97\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Have students label the four sections created by drawing the horizontal and vertical lines:\u00a0<\/span><\/p><ul><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Who? or What?\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">When? Where? or How?<\/span><\/li><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Main Idea<\/span><\/li><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Title<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The illustration below shows how to label these four sections.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0Activity:<\/span><\/p><p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Students read the paragraph and answer the questions. Next, they write a sentence stating the passage\u2019s main idea. Finally, students write a good title that says the main idea.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1deb1e8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1deb1e8\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0e4a1b6\" data-id=\"0e4a1b6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b617414 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b617414\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><img class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/14.0.0\/svg\/2728.svg\" alt=\"\u2728\" \/><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Activity #6: Practice with Song Lyrics<\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-5f400d9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5f400d9\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-0dac877\" data-id=\"0dac877\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f82d65d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f82d65d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/flipchart\/reading\/mainidea\/Main-Idea-Teaching-Activities-6.jpg\" title=\"\" alt=\"Casey Jones\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-2f44393\" data-id=\"2f44393\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c22dc8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2c22dc8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"2787\" data-end=\"2898\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\">Students love using song lyrics because they&#8217;re short, engaging, and naturally organized around a central idea.<span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"><\/span><\/p><p>\n<\/p><p data-start=\"2900\" data-end=\"3011\">Use the included organizer with <strong data-start=\"2932\" data-end=\"2961\">The Ballad of Casey Jones<\/strong> to identify the main idea and supporting details.<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This activity is from my resource&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teacherspayteachers.com\/Product\/Main-Idea-Lessons-and-Activities-1211563\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em>Main Idea<\/em><\/strong><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>on Teachers Pay Teachers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ff83d47 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ff83d47\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f851ae0\" data-id=\"f851ae0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b56de9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4b56de9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>\u2728<span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Activity #7: Using Animated Shorts to Teach Main Idea and Details<\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-c2a55ce elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c2a55ce\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-1740d33\" data-id=\"1740d33\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-60b1556 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"60b1556\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/flipchart\/reading\/mainidea\/Main-Idea-Teaching-Activities-5.jpg\" title=\"\" alt=\"Casey Jones\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-fb991f1\" data-id=\"fb991f1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e378c0f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e378c0f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"4328\" data-end=\"4403\">We all know Pixar teaches more in 5 minutes than a whole chapter sometimes.<\/p><p data-start=\"4405\" data-end=\"4501\">Cue <strong data-start=\"4409\" data-end=\"4419\">Lifted<\/strong> \u2014 the hilarious animated short where an alien <em data-start=\"4466\" data-end=\"4473\">tries<\/em> to pass his abduction test.<\/p><p data-start=\"4503\" data-end=\"4645\">After watching, students complete the organizer from the handout, identifying the main idea and pulling in supporting evidence from the short.<\/p><p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This activity is a sample of my\u00a0<\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.teacherspayteachers.com\/Product\/Teaching-Reading-with-Animated-Short-Films-Digital-Printable-Shorts-Pt-1-3353376\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Teaching Reading and Writing Skills with Animated Short Films<\/em><\/a><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0cc5462 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"0cc5462\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/watch?v=LVLoc6FrLi0&quot;,&quot;show_image_overlay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;image_overlay&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/bookunitsteacher.com\\\/flipchart\\\/reading\\\/mainidea\\\/animated-short-lifted.jpg&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;source&quot;:&quot;url&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Animated Short Lifted&quot;},&quot;lightbox&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.11.2 - 22-02-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-video .elementor-widget-container{overflow:hidden;transform:translateZ(0)}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-wrapper iframe,.elementor-widget-video .elementor-wrapper video{height:100%;width:100%;border:none;background-color:#000}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-open-inline .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;background-size:cover;background-position:50%}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay{cursor:pointer;text-align:center}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay:hover .elementor-custom-embed-play i{opacity:1}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay img{display:block;width:100%}.elementor-widget-video .e-hosted-video .elementor-video{-o-object-fit:cover;object-fit:cover}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-video,.e-con>.elementor-widget-video{width:var(--container-widget-width);--flex-grow:var(--container-widget-flex-grow)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-lightbox\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;video&quot;,&quot;videoType&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/embed\\\/LVLoc6FrLi0?feature=oembed&amp;start&amp;end&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;loop=0&amp;controls=1&amp;mute=0&amp;rel=0&amp;modestbranding=0&quot;,&quot;modalOptions&quot;:{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;elementor-lightbox-0cc5462&quot;,&quot;entranceAnimation&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;entranceAnimation_tablet&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;entranceAnimation_mobile&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;videoAspectRatio&quot;:&quot;169&quot;}}\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJ0eXBlIjoidmlkZW8iLCJ2aWRlb1R5cGUiOiJ5b3V0dWJlIiwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL3d3dy55b3V0dWJlLmNvbVwvZW1iZWRcL0xWTG9jNkZyTGkwP2ZlYXR1cmU9b2VtYmVkJnN0YXJ0JmVuZCZ3bW9kZT1vcGFxdWUmbG9vcD0wJmNvbnRyb2xzPTEmbXV0ZT0wJnJlbD0wJm1vZGVzdGJyYW5kaW5nPTAiLCJtb2RhbE9wdGlvbnMiOnsiaWQiOiJlbGVtZW50b3ItbGlnaHRib3gtMGNjNTQ2MiIsImVudHJhbmNlQW5pbWF0aW9uIjoiIiwiZW50cmFuY2VBbmltYXRpb25fdGFibGV0IjoiIiwiZW50cmFuY2VBbmltYXRpb25fbW9iaWxlIjoiIiwidmlkZW9Bc3BlY3RSYXRpbyI6IjE2OSJ9fQ%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/flipchart\/reading\/mainidea\/animated-short-lifted.jpg\" title=\"\" alt=\"Animated Short Lifted\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-custom-embed-play\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Play Video about Animated Short Lifted\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"eicon-play\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Play Video about Animated Short Lifted<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-9bc8546 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9bc8546\" data-element_type=\"section\" id=\"common-mistakes\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-1fb84ec\" data-id=\"1fb84ec\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bb40150 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bb40150\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\" data-section-id=\"1sy2gr3\" data-start=\"3329\" data-end=\"3361\">Common Mistakes Students Make<\/h2><p data-start=\"3363\" data-end=\"3378\">Students often:<\/p><ul data-start=\"3380\" data-end=\"3577\"><li data-section-id=\"17tdpse\" data-start=\"3380\" data-end=\"3418\">confuse the topic with the main idea<\/li><li data-section-id=\"119cts\" data-start=\"3419\" data-end=\"3462\">include too many details in their summary<\/li><li data-section-id=\"1jtmr6e\" data-start=\"3463\" data-end=\"3519\">choose an interesting fact instead of the central idea<\/li><li data-section-id=\"u8dpo2\" data-start=\"3520\" data-end=\"3577\">write a title instead of a complete main idea statement<\/li><\/ul><p data-start=\"3579\" data-end=\"3660\">Encourage students to support every main idea with several details from the text.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-727c32e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"727c32e\" data-element_type=\"section\" id=\"questions\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-0d7d007\" data-id=\"0d7d007\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0c3b578 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0c3b578\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\" data-section-id=\"176igp3\" data-start=\"3703\" data-end=\"3743\">Questions That Build Main Idea Skills<\/h2><p data-start=\"3745\" data-end=\"3758\">Ask students:<\/p><ul data-start=\"3760\" data-end=\"3984\"><li data-section-id=\"1vu8o9s\" data-start=\"3760\" data-end=\"3790\">Which details are essential?<\/li><li data-section-id=\"fpl48s\" data-start=\"3791\" data-end=\"3824\">Which details could be removed?<\/li><li data-section-id=\"8thn78\" data-start=\"3825\" data-end=\"3880\">How would you summarize this passage in one sentence?<\/li><li data-section-id=\"8cvsr7\" data-start=\"3881\" data-end=\"3942\">Does your main idea include the most important information?<\/li><li data-section-id=\"1e0la8a\" data-start=\"3943\" data-end=\"3984\">Which detail best supports your answer?<\/li><\/ul><h2><span style=\"color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 30px;\">Helping Students Focus on What Matters Most<\/span><\/h2><p data-start=\"4065\" data-end=\"4181\">Determining the main idea helps students move beyond simply remembering information to understanding why it matters.<\/p><p data-start=\"4183\" data-end=\"4331\">As students practice identifying important ideas, supporting details, and concise summaries, they become stronger readers across every subject area.<\/p><p data-start=\"4333\" data-end=\"4486\">Best of all, this skill naturally prepares students to evaluate evidence, distinguish fact from opinion, and compare ideas across multiple texts.<\/p><p data-start=\"4488\" data-end=\"4641\"><img class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/14.0.0\/svg\/1f4e5.svg\" alt=\"\ud83d\udce5\" \/>\u00a0Download the free lesson handout to access the organizers, printable activities, animated short lesson, and classroom resources featured in this post.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fb9e0a2 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"fb9e0a2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/flipchart\/reading\/mainidea\/Main-Idea-Activities.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"elementor-button-link elementor-button elementor-size-md\" role=\"button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon elementor-align-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"far fa-paper-plane\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Get the handout.<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-97203f4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"97203f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"4671\" data-end=\"4734\">Teaching the main idea doesn\u2019t have to be dry. With the right visuals, hands-on activities, a dash of humor, and a few cartoons, your students will start seeing (and explaining) the main idea like pros. They\u2019ll move from \u201cIt\u2019s about stuff\u201d to \u201cThe passage is mainly about how penguins care for their young.\u201d<\/p><p data-start=\"5001\" data-end=\"5020\">Now <em data-start=\"5005\" data-end=\"5013\">that\u2019s<\/em> a win<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7b0d2f0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7b0d2f0\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c9fcc36\" data-id=\"c9fcc36\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e99360b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e99360b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"col-sm-9\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Want More Reading Skill Practice?<\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-19337a7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"19337a7\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-43c1356\" data-id=\"43c1356\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af7f05e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"af7f05e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.teacherspayteachers.com\/Product\/Story-Elements-Point-of-View-Characters-Settings-Plot-Development-Theme-1363401\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/reading-skills\/making-connections\/teaching-reading-skills.jpg\" title=\"\" alt=\"Reading Skills Bundle - Teachers Pay Teachers Product\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-db37e86\" data-id=\"db37e86\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c51c63 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6c51c63\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><!--StartFragment --><\/p><p><!--StartFragment --><\/p><p><!--StartFragment --><\/p><p>Build a strong foundation in comprehension with my <strong>Reading Skills Bundle<\/strong>. It includes 12 complete units covering:<\/p><ul><li>Text Structure<\/li><li>Story Elements<\/li><li>Main Idea &amp; Details<\/li><li>Cause &amp; Effect<\/li><li>Compare &amp; Contrast<\/li><li>Inference<\/li><li>And more!<\/li><\/ul><p>Each unit comes with printables, graphic organizers, and engaging activities that make reading skills stick.<\/p><p><!--EndFragment --><\/p><p><!--EndFragment --><\/p><p><!--EndFragment --><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-56490fc elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"56490fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.teacherspayteachers.com\/Product\/Reading-Skills-Bundle-12-Units-Comprehension-Text-Structure-Story-Elements-7773045\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"elementor-button-link elementor-button elementor-size-md\" role=\"button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon elementor-align-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-shopping-cart\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Visit TPT to shop.<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-df25ad6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"df25ad6\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column 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data-id=\"1069265\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"series-nav\">\r\n  <div class=\"series-nav-hub-card\">\r\n    <img src=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/workshop\/comprehension\/images\/comprehension-hero.webp\" alt=\"Comprehension Hub\">\r\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/workshop\/comprehension\/comprehension-hub.html\" class=\"series-nav-hub-btn\">\r\n      <i class=\"fas fa-compass me-2\"><\/i>Comprehension Hub\r\n    <\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n \r\n<style>\r\n.series-nav { display:flex; align-items:center; justify-content:center; gap:32px; flex-wrap:wrap; padding:40px 20px; }\r\n.series-nav-hub-card { background:#fff; border-radius:16px; overflow:hidden; box-shadow:0 6px 20px rgba(0,0,0,.12); width:260px; }\r\n.series-nav-hub-card img { width:100%; display:block; }\r\n.series-nav-hub-btn { display:block; text-align:center; background:var(--gold); color:var(--navy); 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data-id=\"fd322da\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bf2d05f elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"bf2d05f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/wp\/?p=4443\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"elementor-button-link elementor-button elementor-size-md\" role=\"button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon elementor-align-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-arrow-left\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Previous<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6acbd61 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"6acbd61\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/wp\/?p=7239\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"elementor-button-link elementor-button elementor-size-md\" role=\"button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon elementor-align-icon-right\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-arrow-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Next<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019ve ever read a student\u2019s paragraph and thought, \u201cOkay, but what is this even about?\u201d \u2014 you are not alone. Main idea is one of the most important comprehension skills students need&#8230; but also one of the trickiest for them to master. So, how do we get students to move past vague answers like &hellip; <\/p>\n<p><a class=\"more-link btn\" href=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/wp\/?p=718\">Continue reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22328,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[738],"tags":[751],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Main Idea Teaching Activities - Book Units Teacher<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Teach your students to better understand the main idea with the ideas and printables including organizers and anchor charts.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bookunitsteacher.com\/wp\/?p=718\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Main Idea Teaching Activities - 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