Grade 4 · Reading · Lesson 9

Find Main Idea and Supporting Details

Every passage is built around one central message — the main idea. Supporting details are facts, examples, or reasons that explain or prove the main idea. Off-topic details do not connect to it at all. Skilled readers identify the main idea first, then check which details truly support it.

What this lesson teaches

1Identify the stated or implied main idea of a passage
2Distinguish supporting details from off-topic information
3Construct a one-sentence main idea statement using key details

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