Reading Unit: Main Idea and Summarizing

We have begun our unit on main idea and summarizing in our reading program. Throughout this unit we will be focusing on effective strategies to find the main idea and summarize both fiction and non-fiction materials. Students may be required to find the main idea and summarize a piece of writing read aloud by myself or a piece they will read independently.

Main Idea

The main idea tells you what the story or paragraph is about. Think about what important points the author is trying to describe.

The main idea can also be the main lesson or moral learned in the story.

Summarizing Fiction
When summarizing fiction materials, we will be using the (Somebody, Wanted, But, So, Then) strategy.
Somebody – Who is the main character? (describe them)
Wanted – What is the main character’s goal? What do they want?
But – What is the problem? What is standing in the main character’s way from achieving their goal?
So – How does the main character try to solve this problem?
Then – What is the final resolution to the problem? How does the story end?

Summarizing Non-Fiction
When summarizing non-fiction material, students should be focusing on the important elements of who, what, where, when, why.

How to Help at Home
Students would benefit by reading for 20 minutes every night. After your child has finished a fiction story, you can ask them to summarize their story. Encourage them to focus on the important elements of their story using the Somebody, Wanted, But, So, Then model.

If your child is reading non-fiction material (such as magazine articles) have them summarize their reading. Encourage them to focus on answering the important questions of who, what, where, when, why.