F. Use a wide range of strategies and skills, including retelling information, using general context clues, and making inferences to identify the main idea, to comprehend third grade functional and textual/informational reading materials (AL COS 4) (SAT 10)

Plain Polly: Adding Relevant Details
This instructional technique creates a lasting visual image of how relevant details help develop a character and a focus. Students learn to add only details that are related to the main idea to a "Plain Polly" stick figure.

Creating a Book Review Using a Multimedia Stack
This lesson is used to reinforce the story elements (setting, characters, problem, events, and solution) of a story or novel. Activities will integrate Reading, Language, Writing, and Computer Skills.
 

Kids' Lab: Solar System:  Reading comprehension activities on the Solar System.

Kids' Lab: Right There Questions:  Locating Specific Information (Printable Reading Practice Sheets) 

Suggestions for English Language Learners (ELLs):
(E/B=Entering/Beginning, D=Developing, E=Expanding)

E/B: Identify title pages, chapter headings, and illustrations with gestures (i.e. pointing) or simple spoken words or phrases.
E/B: Identify characters and setting nonverbally (i.e.gestures, pictures, charts, graphic organizers) or with simple spoken words or phrases.
E/B: Follow one-step written instructions with some assistance and one-to-two-step oral instructions.

E/B: Create a pictorial main idea diagram as you verbalize the parts. Draw the diagram both ways, with the details "adding up" to the main idea and vice versa. Have students point to the main idea in both diagrams; D, E: Have small groups review a topic they've learned in class (i.e. Community workers). Model creating a main idea diagram for one of the workers. Then have students make a main idea diagram about another worker. Invite groups to share their diagrams with the class.
E/B: Identify title pages, chapter headings, and illustrations with gestures (i.e. pointing) or simple spoken words, phrases or sentences; D: Use features of text, including table of contents, chapter headings, and index, to locate most information in text; E: Use features of text, including table of contents, chapter headings, glossary, and index, to locate information in text.
E/B: Identify the main events and some details in an informational text and express with simple spoken or written sentences; D: Identify the main events and some details in an informational text and express with simple spoken and written sentences; E: Identify the main idea and most of its supporting details in an informational text.
E/B: Use prior knowledge of given topic to enhance understanding of reading material that is illustratively supported and express with simple spoken or written sentences; D: Use prior knowledge of given topic to enhance understanding of reading material and express with simple spoken and written sentences.
E/B: Identify setting and main characters from simple, illustratively supported literature and express with simple spoken or written sentences; D: Identify setting, main characters, main events, and conflicts and express with simple spoken and written sentences; E: Understand significant information in text that includes setting, characters, main events, and conflicts.
E/B: Follow one-to-two-step oral or written instructions; D: Follow two-to-three-step written instructions; E: Follow most multi-step oral and written instructions with minimal assistance.
E: Make and confirm predictions about content presented in a text.

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