Main Idea

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Main Idea

• Communication Arts
• 3rd grade

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Teachers page

• Communication Arts
• 3rd Grade
• Creator Jami Polly
• Objective- Student will be able to organize
  information to determine the main idea

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How do you find the main idea of a
paragraph?

• The main idea is what the paragraph is all about

• Sometimes it is stated in the first sentence
• Dont forget to look at the picture
• Look for clue words that are used frequently

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Directions

• You will need paper and pencil to do the
  activities.
• Any time you see this picture
• you need to have your pencil and paper
  ready.

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Read this paragraph

• Fish sleep in different ways. Some sleep in
  the sand. Some sleep on their sides. Others
  sleep on their tails. One fish sleeps while
  standing on its head.

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What is the main idea of this paragraph?

• Remember
• - What is this paragraph about?
• - Did you look at the picture?
• - What words did you see repeated?
• fish
• sleep

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Which sentence tells the main idea?

• Fish are lazy.
• Fish sleep differently.
• Some fish sleep in the sand.
• 2
• Way to go!!!

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Read this paragraph

• I got up early. I jumped out of bed.
  Quickly I washed and dressed. Then I ran down
  the stairs. I gulped down my breakfast. I
  couldnt wait to go on my first camping trip.

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What is the main idea of the paragraph?

• I rushed to go camping.
• I ate a big breakfast.
• I ran down the stairs.
• 1
• Great Job!!!

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Now, write your own
paragraph.

• Make your paragraph at least four sentences long.
• Remember Sentences belong in the paragraph only
  if they tell about the main idea.
• Choose from one of these ideas

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Which topic would you like to write about?

• I love to go skiing.
• One day, I got lost while shopping.
• Now, write your paragraph.
• When you are finished, write a sentence that
  tells the main idea of your paragraph.

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Arent main ideas FUN? On
another sheet of paper write two
paragraphs.

• Write the other paragraph about something you
  imagine might happen.
• Write I imagine above the make-believe
  paragraph.

• Write one paragraph about something that really
  happened.
• Write This really happened above the paragraph
  that is true.

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Here are some ideas to write about

• The last day of school
• Your favorite sport

• Building a tree house
• Finding a million dollars