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Hey, What’s the BIG

idea?
A Main Idea and
Details Activity
Introducing the
Umbrella of
Understanding!
• The umbrella is a metaphor
for main idea and details
• The top represents the big
idea, in other words, the
main idea
• The details go under the
umbrella QuickTime™ and a
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Details are…
• Items that are part of a
larger category
• Narrower
• More specific
• Examples
• Support the main idea
The Main Idea is…
• A larger category
• Broader
• More general
• Often the last sentence of the
introduction in an informative
text
• Often the first or last sentence
in an informative paragraph
The Topic is…
• Even broader
• More general
• Can be stated in just a few
words
• Often the title contains the
topic
For some people…
• Remembering all the characters and events
is easy. It is easy to retell the entire
story with all the details, but don’t
know the main idea…
• Other people have a hard time remembering
specific facts, but remember the overall
story or message--the main idea.
Which one are you?
Great readers learn to do both---go from
specific details to general ideas and
topics and back again.
Try this…
By far the scariest thing about a
dragonfly is it’s name. This
double-winged fast-flying insect is
totally harmless. It has large,
deep eyes that can detect the
smallest movements. Its body may be
bright blue and red or vivid green.
Dragonflies in flight look like
dancing spots of color in the light
of a summer’s day.
What is the topic?
By far the scariest thing about a
dragonfly is it’s name. This
double-winged fast-flying insect is
totally harmless. It has large,
deep eyes that can detect the
smallest movements. Its body may be
bright blue and red or vivid green.
Dragonflies in flight look like
dancing spots of color in the light
of a summer’s day.
What is the Main Idea?
By far the scariest thing about a
dragonfly is it’s name. This
double-winged fast-flying insect is
totally harmless. It has large,
deep eyes that can detect the
smallest movements. Its body may be
bright blue and red or vivid green.
Dragonflies in flight look like
dancing spots of color in the light
of a summer’s day.
What are some details?
By far the scariest thing about a
dragonfly is it’s name. This
double-winged fast-flying insect is
totally harmless. It has large,
deep eyes that can detect the
smallest movements. Its body may be
bright blue and red or vivid green.
Dragonflies in flight look like
dancing spots of color in the light
of a summer’s day.
Here is another…
A dragonfly goes through several big
changes before it becomes a flying
insect. From the egg, a tiny creature
called a nymph is hatched. It lives
in the water, eating other small
creatures. Soon it sheds its skin and
grows new skin. This molting, or
shedding skin continues several times
until it becomes full grown. Finally
it squeezes its way out of its last
skin a full grown dragonfly.
What is the topic?
A dragonfly goes through several big
changes before it becomes a flying
insect. From the egg, a tiny creature
called a nymph is hatched. It lives
in the water, eating other small
creatures. Soon it sheds its skin and
grows new skin. This molting, or
shedding skin continues several times
until it becomes full grown. Finally
it squeezes its way out of its last
skin a full grown dragonfly.
What is the Main Idea?
A dragonfly goes through several big
changes before it becomes a flying
insect. From the egg, a tiny creature
called a nymph is hatched. It lives
in the water, eating other small
creatures. Soon it sheds its skin and
grows new skin. This molting, or
shedding skin continues several times
until it becomes full grown. Finally
it squeezes its way out of its last
skin a full grown dragonfly.
What are some details?
A dragonfly goes through several big
changes before it becomes a flying
insect. From the egg, a tiny creature
called a nymph is hatched. It lives
in the water, eating other small
creatures. Soon it sheds its skin and
grows new skin. This molting, or
shedding skin continues several times
until it becomes full grown. Finally
it squeezes its way out of its last
skin a full grown dragonfly.
The Object of the
Game…
• To figure out the main idea
from a group of related
details
• To reinforce the fact that
the main idea must cover all
the details in a selection
• To have fun!
Example..

QuickTime™ and a
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The BIG idea is:
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Reading
Language Arts
Social Studies
Science
Example..

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The BIG idea is: School Subjects
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Reading
Language Arts
Social Studies
Science
Example..

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The BIG idea is:
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Red
Yellow
Blue
Example..

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The BIG idea is: Primary Colors
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Red
Yellow
Blue
Example..

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The BIG idea is:
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Wilma
Katrina
Andrew
Example..

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The BIG idea is: Destructive Hurricanes
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Wilma
Katrina
Andrew
Example..

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The BIG idea is:
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Electrons
Neutrons
Protons
Example..

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The BIG idea is: Parts of an Atom
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Electrons
Neutrons
Protons
Example..

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The BIG idea is:
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Puerto Rico
Jamaica
Cuba
Example..

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The BIG idea is: Caribbean Islands
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Puerto Rico
Jamaica
Cuba
Example..

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The BIG idea is:
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Horror
Humor
Fantasy
Romance
Mystery
Example..

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The BIG idea is: Genres of Fiction
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Horror
Humor
Fantasy
Romance
Mystery
Example..

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The BIG idea is:
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Pencil
Marker
Crayon
Pen
Example..

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The BIG idea is: Writing utensils
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Pencil
Marker
Crayon
Pen
Example..

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The BIG idea is:
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Context Clues
Main Idea
Reference and research
Comparisons
Example..

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The BIG idea is: Reading Clusters on FCAT
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Context Clues
Main Idea
Reference and research
Comparisons
Example..

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The BIG idea is:
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Saturn
Jupiter
Neptune
Uranus
Example..

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The BIG idea is: Outer Planets
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Saturn
Jupiter
Neptune
Uranus
Example..

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The BIG idea is:
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Hypothesis
Experiment
Observation
Data
Results
Conclusion
Example..

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The BIG idea is: Scientific Method
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Hypothesis
Experiment
Observation
Data
Results
Conclusion
Example..

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The BIG idea is:
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Bandwagon
Emotional appeal
Testimonial
Glittering generality
Example..

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The BIG idea is: Propaganda techniques
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Bandwagon
Emotional appeal
Testimonial
Glittering generality
Example..

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The BIG idea is:
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Narrative
Persuasive
Expository
Analytical
Example..

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The BIG idea is: Types of writing prompts
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Narrative
Persuasive
Expository
Analytical
Example..

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The BIG idea is:
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Word Choice
Organization
Ideas
Sentence fluency
Example..

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The BIG idea is: The Traits of Writing
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Word Choice
Organization
Ideas
Sentence fluency
Now you try!
• On the game cards provided
think of a group of words
(details) that fall into the
same category and fall under
the same main idea umbrella.
• Play with your family---or
against another family!
Remember..
• The main idea must include
all the details!
• The main idea can’t be too
big---or too small.
• You can play this main idea
game any time any where!