How do you find the main idea of a nonfiction text?

In this lesson you will learn how to find the main idea of a

nonfiction text by looking over the main ideas of each section

and asking, “How do these ideas fit together?”

Let’s ReviewLet’s Review

Let’s ReviewA Common Mistake Some

students only use the heading of an article to guess about the main idea.

Let’s ReviewCore Lesson

Pizza was simple when it was invented.

Pizza later came to America and changed.

Today there are many kinds of pizzas Americans eat.

Let’s ReviewCore Lesson

Pizza was simple when it was invented.

Pizza later came to America and changed.

Today there are many kinds of pizzas Americans eat.

How do these ideas fit together?

Let’s ReviewCore Lesson

The main idea of the article is that pizza has changed a lot over time.

Pizza was simple when it was invented. Pizza later

came to America and changed.

Today there are many kinds of pizzas Americans eat.

Let’s ReviewCore Lesson

Look back at your notes about the main idea of each section.

1

2 Ask, “How do these ideas fit together?”

3 Use a complete sentence to tell the main idea of the whole text.

In this lesson you have learned to find the main idea of a nonfiction

text by looking over the main ideas of each section and asking

“How do these ideas fit together?”

Let’s ReviewGuided Practice

Read “The Great Chicago Fire.”Practice finding the main idea of each section then asking “How do these ideas fit together?”

Let’s ReviewExtension ActivitiesFind two articles about the same topic.

Find the main idea of each text.

Compare and contrast the main ideas.

Let’s ReviewQuick Quiz

How do these ideas fit together?What would the main idea be?

Pizza makers invent new pizzas all the time.

Different cities have different styles of pizza named after them.

Dessert pizzas have sweet toppings, like cinnamon and frosting.