Finding the Main Idea with Hope the Dog!

English Language Arts Grades Pre-K 6:19 Video
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Lesson Description

Let's learn about the main idea, what a topic is, and how to find them in stories! We will watch a fun video about Hope the dog and Ross, who has a bad day, and then practice finding the main idea ourselves.

Video Resource

Main Idea | Award Winning Main Idea and Supporting Details Teaching Video | What is Main Idea?

GrammarSongs by Melissa

Duration: 6:19
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Topic: What the story is about (person, place, thing, or idea).
  • Main Idea: The most important point the author wants to tell you.
  • Supporting Details: Little pieces of information that tell you more about the main idea.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify the topic of a short paragraph.
  • Students will be able to identify the main idea of a short paragraph with prompting.
  • Students will be able to understand that supporting details explain the main idea.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students if they have ever told someone about their day. What's the most important thing they usually say? Explain that stories also have a most important thing, called the main idea.
  • Video Time! (7 mins)
    Watch the YouTube video 'Main Idea | Award Winning Main Idea and Supporting Details Teaching Video | What is Main Idea?' together. Pause after each example (Hope the dog and Ross) to ask questions.
  • Discussing Hope (5 mins)
    After the Hope example, ask: 'Who was the story about?' (Hope). 'What did the story want us to know about Hope?' (She's the best dog). 'What things told us she was the best?' (Comes when called, loves to swim, is there when sad).
  • Discussing Ross (5 mins)
    After the Ross example, ask: 'Who was the story about?' (Ross). 'How was Ross feeling?' (Having a bad day). 'What things made his day bad?' (Late, missed the bus, fell in a puddle).
  • Activity: Main Idea Pictures (8 mins)
    Show pictures to the class. For each picture, ask: 'What is this a picture of (Topic)?' 'What is the most important thing about this picture (Main Idea)?' Examples: A sunny day (The sun is shining), A child playing with blocks (Building a tower), A cat sleeping (Taking a nap).

Interactive Exercises

  • Picture Sort
    Provide a set of pictures. For each picture, the student identifies the topic and what is happening.

Discussion Questions

  • What is a topic?
  • What is a main idea?
  • Why is it important to know the main idea of a story?

Skills Developed

  • Listening Comprehension
  • Identifying Key Information
  • Oral Communication

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What is the story about?

Correct Answer: The Topic

Question 2:

What is the most important part of the story called?

Correct Answer: The Main Idea

Question 3:

Hope is a...

Correct Answer: Dog

Question 4:

Ross was having a...

Correct Answer: Bad Day

Question 5:

What does Hope like to do?

Correct Answer: Swim

Question 6:

What happened to Ross when he rode his bike?

Correct Answer: He fell in a mud puddle

Question 7:

The story about Hope says she is...

Correct Answer: The best dog!

Question 8:

What did Ross miss?

Correct Answer: The bus

Question 9:

Details tell you more about...

Correct Answer: The Main Idea

Question 10:

What is something you like to do?

Correct Answer: All of the above

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

The ________ is what the story is about.

Correct Answer: topic

Question 2:

The _________ Idea is the most important point.

Correct Answer: main

Question 3:

Hope is a _________.

Correct Answer: dog

Question 4:

Ross had a bad _________.

Correct Answer: day

Question 5:

Hope loves to _________.

Correct Answer: swim

Question 6:

It was _________ when Ross fell in a mud puddle.

Correct Answer: raining

Question 7:

The story says Hope is the _________ dog.

Correct Answer: best

Question 8:

Ross missed the _________.

Correct Answer: bus

Question 9:

Details tell you more about the main _________.

Correct Answer: idea

Question 10:

The topic and main idea help you understand the _________.

Correct Answer: story

Educational Standards

PK.2.R:Students will begin to retell or reenact major events or details from a read-aloud. PK.3.R.2:Students will answer basic questions (e.g., who, what, where, and when) about texts, photographs, or illustrations during shared reading or other text experiences with prompting. PK.8.R:Students will listen and respond to read-alouds, participate in shared reading, and interact independently with texts.

Teaching Materials

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