Let’s review what we learned about a central idea yesterday.

Authors of informational texts usually have one important main idea, or central idea that they want readers to know.

• The topic of a text is the person or thing the text is about.
• The central idea is the most important idea or point about the topic.

Details, facts, or examples in a text give information about a topic. When you use the details, facts, or examples to arrive at the most important idea or point about a topic, then it is like a light bulb goes on! You understand the central idea!

After reading, you should review the details, facts, and examples you gather during reading and use them to determine the central idea of the text.

Read Aloud: Student Instructions

To practice identifying the central idea, read Meet the Dogs of Bedlam Farm (online textbook, Classroom Library).

Before you begin, PREVIEW the text and PREDICT what the text will be about. You may write your prediction down (optional). As you read the story, you can then confirm or reject your prediction.

Read Aloud Steps

• Step 1: Read each question aloud. Pause after each of the page numbers to think about your answer.
• Step 2: Answer the questions aloud with someone. You do not need to write or turn in the answers for this section.

Parent/Guardian: Check the student's responses with the answer key

, Reading: Central Idea (1.1.2).

1. p. 18: Why is Lenore a good friend?
2. p. 25: How does Lenore help Frieda? What does this tell you about Lenore?
3. p. 32:
   
   1. What does the author think is the “greatest work of all”? What details in the text support the author’s opinion?
   2. Can you determine the main topic of this text? Remember, the topic of an informational text is who or what the text is mostly about.
4. Reread p. 6-7:
   
   1. Which of the four dogs will the text mainly be about?
   2. How did you figure out that Lenore is the main topic of the text?
5. Reread p. 26-30:
   
   1. What details on these pages tell about Lenore’s job on the farm?
   2. What is the most important idea the author wants you to know after reading this text?
   3. Use the details you learned about Lenore to explain the central idea.