Teaching page · Grade 3 · Lesson 5

Main idea and detail

Notes show what belongs to what by moving further right.

What it is

Notes have two sizes of thing in them. The main idea is what the whole part is about. A detail is one piece of evidence for it. Writing them at the same size loses the difference — so the main idea goes on the left and the detail is indented under it.

Watch it built

1
Find what the whole part is about. That is the main idea.
Deserts are hard to live in
2
Find one thing the text says that shows it. That is a detail.
Some years no rain falls
3
Write the main idea on the left, the detail indented under it.
Deserts are hard to live in
    Some years no rain falls
Remember
Main idea on the left. Details indented under it.
Ask yourself: “Is this part of the line above, or a new idea?”

Remember

Main idea on the line, details indented under it.

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