Main Idea: Understanding the Terms
Interactive Notebook, p. 53

1.  Color 'Topic' blue, 'Topic Sentence' green, 'Main Idea' purple, and 'Supporting Details' red on the first template.

First Template

2.  Cut down the center line first; then cut out the diamond; finally, cut the horizontal line. Do NOT cut the strip that you glue along.

3.  Write the following notes on the back of the correct tab:

Topic - the general subject the passage is about.

Topic Sentence - a sentence in a passage that states the main idea of that passage *some passages, paragraphs, or essays may not have a topic sentence*

Main Idea - a state that tells what a passage is mostly about *The reader can determine this AFTER reading and comprehending because it is not always stated outright in the passage*

Supporting Details - more narrow ideas, evidence, examples, details, and elaboration that support the main idea of a passage.

4.  Now, with the class, identify the topic, the topic sentence, the supporting details in the passage.  Circle the topic in blue; box in the topic sentence in green; and underline the supporting details in red.

5.  Cut out the passage (Template 2) and glue it into the Interactive Notebook on p. 53.  Now glue the top layer (first template) so that the middle is free.

6.  In purple, draw a 'bubble' over the passage and write the main idea of the passage.

2nd Template

Interactive Notebook        What's Going On?