Introducing main idea in 5 days is easy when you follow this simple implementation plan!
Have you ever tried to put together a puzzle without looking at the box?
I honestly can’t remember ever doing that. If I did, it was one of my children’s puzzles, and it was not very big. Even as I begin to consider what it would be like to put together a puzzle without a picture or box to reference, I feel shaken and unsettled.
This may be what some of your students feel when they are first approaching a text.
They aren’t sure what the big idea is. They don’t know what they should be focused on or how all the pieces of the text fit together.
This is why identifying the main idea and knowing how to do that effectively is so important.
When we find the main idea, we identify how all the pieces fit together. From there, we can begin organizing the information to create a complete puzzle.
So, how do we teach kids to identify the main idea of a text?
Personally, I like to introduce the main idea in 5 days. Each day has a specific goal and purpose, and each day builds on the last.
Introducing Main Idea in 5 Days [Day by Day Breakdown]
Before we get started, I want to point out that these days don’t have to be consecutive, but I find that the closer they are together, the better. When you can hit a topic, like the main idea, hard for several days in a row, you have less review each day and more focus on moving forward with the content.
Likewise, if you take long breaks between days, you may need to spend more time reviewing, and you may choose to use more anchor charts and visual cues than I do in this plan.
Day # 1 | Introduction + Graphic Organizer
Today we start to introduce this topic by talking with students about why the main idea is important. Feel free to use my puzzle metaphor if you think it will be helpful to your students. You can use whatever terms and connections you believe will sit well with your students.
Next, I like to spend some time introducing the main idea with picture books so we can get right to it.
We use the picture books to practice filling out a graphic organizer as a group. We use the main idea graphic organizer from my FOOD-Themed Graphic Organizer Set, and I explain how the information, like the ice cream, starts with the cone…which just so happens to be the main idea. The scoops are then the supporting details. Make sure to grab your copy of the graphic organizers so you can use them with your students!
Helpful Tip: Print the graphic organizer 2-sided, so students have an extra they can use later. Here’s a free main idea one for you to try.
Day #2 | Small Group Graphic Organizer Work
On day 2, students spend some time in small groups practicing what we did on day 1.
Once students are in a group and have a copy of the ice cream graphic organizer, they pick a picture book to work with. Students can use a copy of the ice cream cone handout, or they can use large anchor chart paper to create their own example to share with the class.
Day #3 | Individual Graphic Organizer Work
On day 3, we remove a few more of the supports and let students work independently to fill out the graphic organizer.
You can use a picture book for this type of work, the student’s book of choice or you can use a close-read passage like these. Either will work, and you’ll be able to formatively assess how your students are grasping the concept of finding the main idea and supporting details.
Day #4 | Practice Using Selected Passages
Day 4 is all about providing students with different examples of passages that feature the main idea at the beginning, middle, or end of a passage, or the passage has an implied main idea.
Try to find short enough passages that students can practice several examples during class on the same day, and give students some time to talk about what they observe when the main idea is stated (or implied) in different places throughout the text.
Day #5 (and beyond) | Play Games to Reinforce the Skill
As we get into day 5 and beyond, we play games to reinforce the skill. Then I make sure to keep the main idea activities in the rotations on game days and incorporate them into all ELA instructions as much as possible.
This game show is a great game to start with as you can put students in big groups and play as a whole class, or you can assign small groups to play on their own using classroom computers.
Introducing the main idea in 5 days is simple, and it is easy for teachers to keep track of (and assess) student progress throughout the process. If you’re thinking about introducing the main idea in 5 days, I strongly suggest you find good no-low prep resources to support your efforts. All of the resources I mentioned in this post are easy, ready-to-print (or play) resources that will help cut your planning time down, so you can focus on what you do best…guiding and supporting your students as they learn a new skill!
Want More 5-Day Plans for Upper Elementary?
Introducing concepts in 5 days is one of my favorite go-to implementation plans for upper elementary skills, and I’ve written several posts about my 5-day plans.
You can check them out below!
