Francisca Esquer

EDU 214/Fall 2014

Lesson Plan Title: Main Idea

Concept /Topic to Teach: Reading Standard for Informational Text K-5- Grade 3: Key Ideas
and Details 2. Determine the main idea of a text, recount the key details and explain how they
support the main idea. Retrieved from
http://sites.csn.edu/education/education_department_CSN/Resources.html
http://www.corestandards.org/wp-content/uploads/ELA_Standards.pdf

General Goal(s): To familiarize 3rd grade students in determining the main idea and supporting
details of a text.

Specific Objectives: Students will read to comprehend, interpret and evaluate informational text
to retell the main idea and supporting details by writing a short summary of a passage. Short
summary must include the main idea and at least two supporting details.

Required Materials: SMART Board, PowerPoint presentation, passages (Explore Our Solar
System, Gasping for Air, Saving Hawaiian Monk Seals) retrieved and printed from
http://www.readworks.org/books/passages, lined paper and pencils.

Anticipatory Set (Lead-In):

Teacher will explain to the class that todays lesson is going to be to determine the main
idea and supporting details of a passage that they are going to be reading.
Teacher will ask the class if anyone knows what the main idea is.
Teacher will ask the class if anyone knows what a supporting detail is.

Step-By-Step Procedures:

Teacher will display on the SMART Board the PowerPoint presentation.

Teacher will explain each slide and its content.
Teacher will ask students if they understood the content and if they have any questions
about it.
Teacher will explain to students that they will be reading a passage on their own and
determining the main idea and supporting details of it by writing a short summary of the
passage; that must include the main idea and at least two supporting details.
Teacher will pass out the printed passages to students.
Plan for Independent Practice:

Students will read Saving Hawaiian Monk Seals passage independently.

Students will determine the main idea and supporting details.
Students will write a short summary containing the main idea and at least two supporting
details.
Students will raise their hand if they need assistance.

Plan for Students with Special Needs:

Students who are gifted and talented will be given a longer passage and required to
include the main idea, more than two supporting details and concluding statement.
Passage, Gasping for Air.
Students who have a learning disability will be given a shorter passage and required to
include the main idea, only one supporting detail and concluding statement. These
students will also be given extra time and assistance with reading. Passage, Explore our
Solar System.

Closure (Reflect Anticipatory Set):

Teacher will ask the class if they had any difficulties determining the main idea and
supporting details.
Teacher will ask the class if they have any questions.
Teacher will commend students on their work, working quietly and independently.
Teacher will collect passages and students short summaries.

Assessment Based On Objectives:

Students read and worked independently.

Students identified the main idea and supporting details of their passage.
Students wrote a short summary of their passage.

Possible Connections to Other Subjects: Reading comprehension & fluency and writing skills.
CONCEPTS OF COMPREHENSION: Main Idea 3rd GRADE UNIT

Reading Passage

Gasping for Air

A recent study says that kids living in areas with air pollution1 are
more likely to develop asthma than kids who live in other areas.
Asthma is an illness that makes breathing difficult. About 9 million
children in the United States suffer from asthma.

More than 3,500 kids, ages 9 to 16, who lived in California took part in
the study. About half of those kids lived in areas that had lots of air
pollution. The other half lived in areas that had clean air. All the
children played outdoor sports.

After studying the kids for five years, doctors found that about 260 of
them developed asthma. Most of those kids lived in towns that had
lots of air pollution. Doctors say that breathing too much polluted air
caused the asthma cases.

A California health official said the study shows the need to do more to
prevent air pollution. Doctors say that children should still play outside
but only on days when air pollution isn't bad.

1
air pollution: air made impure or unhealthy by harmful substances

Text: Copyright 2007 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved.

Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation. Used
by permission. From Weekly Reader 2, Student Edition, 2/9/07.
2010 Urban Education Exchange. All rights reserved.
Informational (Non-Fiction) Reading Passage w ww .ReadWo rk s .o rg/p as sag es

Explore Our Solar System

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune!

Eight planets orbit, or revolve around, the sun. The planets and the sun are parts of our solar
system.

nasa.gov
Which planet is shown here?

The sun is a star. It is a giant ball of hot gas.

nasa.gov

Mercury is the closest planet to the sun. It has mountains, cliffs, and plains.

Venus is the hottest planet. It can reach up to 850 degrees. That is hot enough to melt a rocket
ship!

Earth is the planet pictured on the cover. It is our home. It is the only planet that has the oxygen
and water that people, animals, and plants need to live.
1

Copyright 2012 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved.

Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation.
Used by permission.
2012 ReadWorks. All rights reserved
Informational (Non-Fiction) Reading Passage w ww .ReadWo rk s .o rg/p as sag es

Mars is a cold planet. It is sometimes called the Red Planet because it has reddish soil.

Jupiter is the largest planet. It is made of thick gases. If you tried to land a rocket ship, you
would sink into the planet!

Saturn is the second-largest planet. Like Jupiter, it is made mostly of gases. Its rings are made
up of rock, ice, and dust.

Uranus is cold and windy. It was the first planet to be discovered with a telescope, in 1781.

Neptune is called the Blue Planet. It is the coldest planet because it is farthest from the sun.

Stay Smart!

Ring Around the Planets

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are gas planets. They all have rings. Only Saturns rings are
thick enough to be seen easily from Earth.

To remember the order and names

of the planets, repeat this silly
sentence: My very excellent
mother just served us nachos.

Copyright 2012 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved.

Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation.
Used by permission.
2012 ReadWorks. All rights reserved
CONCEPTS OF COMPREHENSION: Main Idea 3rd GRADE UNIT

Reading Passage

Saving Hawaiian Monk Seals

Marine animal experts are on a mission. They want to save Hawaiian
monk seals from becoming extinct. Extinct means "no longer
existing."

Alfonso Romero / sxc.hu

A Monk Seal

Today, about 1,200 seals live near the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
Experts fear that the population will drop in the next five years. "The
clock is ticking," says scientist Jen Palmer.

Experts worry that the seals are not getting enough food. Many of the
pups are thin and are not living past their first few years. Scientists
are trying to figure out why.

Other scientists are monitoring the monk seals habitat for pollution. A
habitat is a place in nature where an animal or a plant lives. "Every
person takes a very tiny bit of the puzzle, and you hope at some point
you...put it all together and it makes a pretty clear picture," says
scientist Charles Littnan.

Text: Copyright 2007 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved.

Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation. Used
by permission. From Weekly Reader 2, Student Edition, 2/9/07.
2010 Urban Education Exchange. All rights reserved.