Hey! What’s the Big Idea?

{photo credit}

Sometimes fiction texts don’t follow this exact structure.  Maybe there isn’t a clearly defined problem or climax.  I’ve found this to be particularly true of stories around the K and 1st grade levels.  When a child struggles to create a main idea in these texts, I like to prepare an idea sort.  I go through the book ahead of time and pull out big and small ideas and have the  student sort them.  (See my definitions below.)

SMALL IDEAS are in a small part of the book; maybe only on one page or in a part of a picture.  They are not very important or may even be irrelevant to the story line.

BIG IDEAS are usually on more than one page and are essential to the story line.  If big ideas are left out, the story would not make sense.

First, I model by sorting a couple of the ideas myself.  I tell the student why I sorted it as a big or small idea. Then I support the student as she sorts the rest.  I ask, “What made that idea big/small?” with each idea, I help the student explain her thinking.  If I see that the student is picking up on the concept rather quickly, I back off my support.

After sorting all the ideas, we use the sentences from the “big idea” column to create a main idea (what the text is all about).

Here’s a sample sort with Duck on a Bike by David Shannon, one of NJoy’s favorite books right now.  I practically have it memorized!  I have this one leveled at end of 1st grade.  Scholastic’s Book Wizard classifies it as 1.8 (first grade, 8th month).

To download a blank sort that you can use with any fiction book of your choice, click here and look under “Main Idea”.

*This post contains affiliate links.  For more information, you can read my disclosure policy.