Finding Key Concepts in Paragraphs

8th GradeELA15 min

Learning Objective

I can find the main idea and supporting details in a paragraph.

Lesson Flow

Watch Video

4 min

Guided Notes

5 min

Key concepts students will learn:

  • To identify the main idea or ideas in a text, first ask yourself, "What is the topic of this text?"

  • Then ask yourself, "What does the author mainly want to tell or teach me about the topic?"

  • If you think a text has more than one main idea, ask yourself, "Does one of the ideas support the other one, or are the two ideas equally important?"

Practice

10 min

3 questions • Multiple choice & Short answer

Exit Ticket

5 min

Read the paragraph below and identify two main ideas. Some people like to spend their vacations in cold countries. They enjoy activities like skiing and snowboarding. Other people prefer warm places for vacation. They like to swim and sunbathe on the beach.

Teacher Guide

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  • Answer keys for all questions
  • Differentiation strategies
  • Extension activities
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