Teach Main Idea Without Worksheets! 

Identifying the main idea and detail is often one of the hardest reading skills to teach. The concept is abstract to young readers, and it is often impossible to find structured, explicit instructional materials to help teach these skills. Let us help you solve that problem with a Main Idea teaching PowerPoint. This PowerPoint is geared specifically to the primary learner and provides them with a visually appealing and easy-to-understand. It features a high-interest nonfiction piece about the whale shark and applies the steps needed to find the main idea to the topic.

Inside this presentation, you’ll find 27 pages packed with learning materials and visual aids to assist the young learner. This teaching PowerPoint includes pictures, explicit instructions on determining the central idea, and interactive question-and-answer opportunities to check for understanding.

Tips for Differentiation + Scaffolding 

In addition to morning warm-ups, use this activity any time you need to bring students’ minds back to learning, like after recess, lunch, and independent playtimes.

The activities in this teaching resource vary in complexity and the time needed to complete them. Put students in pairs or teams to collaboratively complete the activities or use them in a 1:1 intervention setting.

Above-Level 

Challenge your above-level students to read other nonfiction leveled texts and find the main idea of those texts.

Below-Level

Struggling students can work on the checks for understanding in a small group atmosphere.  Additionally, provide students with similar completed assignments, posters, and main idea anchor charts to help them draw on past lessons.

Easily Prepare This Resource for Your Students

Use the Download button to choose between the PDF versions of this resource. Answer keys are included with slides where applicable.

Project the slides onto a screen and work through them as a class by having students record their answers in their notebooks or mini whiteboards.

This resource was created by Jennifer Hall, a Teach Starter collaborator.