Helloooo sweet summertime! I don’t know about y’all, but I have been soaking up this whole stay up late and sleeping in thing! Both of my kiddos have been awesome sleepers since day one. They could sleep all day if I’d let them.
Anywho, I have been spending my late nights marking some things off my to-do list. One thing I have been wanting to get done is comprehension packs for my team and I to use next year. We hit the ground running with main idea and details….so it was the first on my list! I will eventually have a pack for each 1st grade comprehension skill. Character Traits is already in the works!
I wanted to give you a look at my Tying Up Comprehension: Main Idea pack! Let’s get started! There are 7 activities included. Students will get to become surgeons, chefs, and meteorologist with 3 of the activities. These might just be my favorites.
They will also get up and moving with finding details and main idea with making puzzles, spinners, and ice cream sundaes.
There are also 4 read aloud craftivities with sorts included.
Let’s take a closer look at the 7 activities that I mentioned above.
I am a huge believer in engaging your students and making learning as hands on as possible. Main Idea can be somewhat of a *not so fun* skill to teach so telling your students that they will become surgeons is sure to get them excited! Throughout this activity, students will read their patient’s file (both beginning and advanced reader cards are included). Afterwards, they will look at their patient’s x-ray and fix their broken bones. Bring in surgery hats, gloves, etc! The X-ray includes details and 2 main ideas from their patient’s file. They will have to decide which main idea is correct.
Pizza! Yum! Throughout this activity, students will become chefs by reading recipes that include details and main idea. Students will then create a delicious pizza by sorting the details and main idea!
This activity, Flooded with Details, is about focusing on the important details. Students will become meteorologist by reading their weather map and decided which details are needed for the main idea. Students can then present their forecast to the class as an extension activity.
For this activity, each student will get a piece of the puzzle. There are different puzzles included. They will walk around the room to find friends that have cards with details that fit their main idea. We did this last year and my kiddos begged to do it more. You can read more about it here.
On the Move is fun because it gets your students up and moving as well. Their are several different main ideas included. You can put different cards in a bag or give each child a card. Students have to find the main idea chart in the room that matches their main idea. You can see this activity here.
This is perfect for guided reading, stations, or group work. Students simply spin the spinner and write sentences for their details. Afterwards, they write a main idea sentence.
I must have had food on my mind when I created this pack! #alwaysthinkingaboutfood
For this activity, each student will get a topping (detail). They have to find partners that have details that goes along with theirs. Afterwards, they build a sundae and write the main idea on the bowl.
Now let’s look at the read alouds! There are 4 included.
I love this story! If you do not own the book, you can listen to it for free on Storyline Online. It always makes the kids laugh! After reading, students will sort the detail and main idea cards, or…you can have your students write the details and main idea.
This is a tear jerker! You can find it read aloud on You Tube if you do not own the book. Students will sort the details and main idea.
Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann can be used for so many comprehension skills! I decided it would be a great way to start the year off when learning about main idea and details because we can incorporate learning safety rules into it.
This activity is an oldie but goodie that we have done for a few years now when learning main idea and details. Students will sort the details and main idea after listening to Dog Breath by Dav Pilkey. You can actually download this activity for free here or get all the activities mentioned above by clicking here or on the picture below!
