Central Idea & Details | Grade 4 ELA

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Lesson plans, teaching strategies, and pacing guide for central idea instruction

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Visual explanations of central idea, key details, and summarizing strategies

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Multiple informational passages with questions about central ideas and supporting details

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10-question assessment mirroring actual FAST test format

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Home activities for finding central ideas in everyday reading

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Complete answer keys with explanations for all worksheets and quiz

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Central Idea vs. Topic: The topic is what the text is about (1-2 words); the central idea is the main point the author makes about that topic (a complete sentence)
Key vs. Minor Details: Key details directly support the central idea; minor details add interest but aren't essential
Summarizing Strategy: Teach students to state the central idea and 2-3 key details in their own words
Look at Structure: Central ideas are often stated in the first or last paragraph; headings and subheadings also provide clues