Teaching page · Grade 3 · Lesson 6

Which detail belongs where

A detail goes under the main idea it supports, which is not always the one above it.

What it is

When there is more than one main idea on a page, every detail has to go under the right one. The test is to read the detail and ask which main idea it is evidence FOR — a detail under the wrong heading is worse than one left out, because it will mislead you later.

Watch it built

1
Here are two main ideas.
1. Deserts are dry    2. Desert animals are adapted
2
Here is a detail. Ask which one it is evidence for.
Camels store fat in their humps
3
It is evidence for the animals, not the dryness. Indent it there.
2. Desert animals are adapted
    Camels store fat in their humps
Remember
Ask which main idea this detail is evidence FOR.
Ask yourself: “Which idea does this actually support?”

Remember

Under the idea it belongs to — not the nearest one.

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