Lessons & Units :: Main Idea 1st Grade Unit

Lesson 3: Using a Title to Determine the Main Idea (Fiction)

Lesson Plan

The Wedding | 390L

The Wedding
Learning Goal
Identify and describe the main idea of a fiction book using the title.
Identify and describe the main idea of a fiction book using textual details.
Duration
Approximately 50 minutes.
Necessary Materials
Provided: Guided Practice Passage, “Princess Lily;” Independent Practice Worksheet
Not Provided: The Wedding by Angela Johnson, Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes

  • Teacher Modeling

    will review how the title helps us determine the main idea of a nonfiction book. I will discuss how the title of a fiction story can also help us determine the main idea. I will show the cover of The Wedding by Angela Johnson and predict that the story will be about someone’s wedding. I will say, "I think this story is about a wedding because that is what the title says and the picture on the front cover looks like a wedding." I will read the story while I periodically stop and think what the story is mainly about. I will identify the main idea as “Sister’s wedding to Jamal.” I will discuss that most of the textual details and pictures are about the wedding.

    TIP: Use a main idea graphic organizer in the shape of a table while you chart to visually illustrate how the supporting sentences support the main idea. Ask students to picture the main idea as the top of the table and the details as the legs that support it. Other visuals include a tree with the trunk as the main idea and the limbs as the details. You can use the visual of a layered wedding cake to correspond with the book. This will help facilitate the discussion around why the chosen sentences support the main idea.

  • Think Check

    Ask: "How did I figure out the main idea of the book?" Students should respond that you used the title and the story to figure out one sentence that best describes what the story is about.

  • Guided Practice

    will read the fiction passage “Princess Lilly”. We will identify what the story is mostly about by choosing important information from the passage and using the title. We know the passage is about Princess Lilly because the title tells us that. The story also tells us that she does not like to do what princesses normally do. We will identify the main idea: Princess Lilly does not want to behave like a typical princess.

    TIP: During the Guided Practice, discuss which sentences may not support or reflect the main idea and why.

  • Independent Practice

    will listen as I read Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes. You will identify the main idea using the title and details from the text. (Independent Practice Worksheet is provided.)

    TIP: For an alternative Independent Practice, provide students with a main idea graphic organizer that they can complete while you read Wemberly Worried aloud.

Build Student Vocabulary congratulations

Tier 2 Word: congratulations
Contextualize the word as it is used in the story At the wedding, everybody is saying, “Congratulations.”
Explain the meaning student-friendly definition) Congratulations means “good for you”. When someone says congratulations, it is a way for them to show their happiness or joy when someone else does a good job at something special. At the wedding, everybody is saying “good for you” to the happy new couple.
Students repeat the word Say the word congratulations with me: congratulations.
Teacher gives examples of the word in other contexts People congratulate students at a graduation, or they congratulate someone who is having a birthday or getting married. We congratulate someone by saying, “Congratulations!” There are many reasons to say congratulations. I might say congratulations to someone who just had a baby, or to a student who did well on a test
Students provide examples Tell me about a time when you might say congratulations. Start by saying, “I might say congratulations when ____________.”
Students repeat the word again. What word are we talking about? congratulations
Additional Vocabulary Words squeeze, wrapped

Build Student Background Knowledge

After reading The Wedding, explain that a wedding is a cultural tradition. In the book, there was a big cake, a flower girl, a big dinner, a ceremony, and dancing. This is common in the United States. Different cultures have different kinds of weddings. Some German traditions include breaking dishes before the wedding and having the new couple clean it up. In India, the bride has elaborate drawings painted onto her hands. In France, family and friends bang on pots and pans in celebration after the wedding. Each culture has their unique way of celebrating family.

Texts & Materials

Standards Alignment

(To see all of the ReadWorks lessons aligned to your standards, click here.)

User Comments

Need more on central message for 1st grade. This is a good start

Submitted by mholland_1234610 on 2/17/17

Brilliant!!

Submitted by pomalley777_2259599 on 9/19/16

wonderful lesson

Submitted by sconia_1331553 on 10/2/15

This is very helpful. Thank you!

Submitted by rosamae25 on 4/21/15

This is awesome! I will forward this to my coworkers!!!

Submitted by dr.wilkerson1_1265993 on 2/23/15

I like how the lessons are straight forward and simple. Thanks they were a great help.

Submitted by Miss Abby on 5/7/12

yes, this is great for my students

Submitted by tanijafutrell23_1041020 on 10/30/14