Stage 2 reading - Main idea
Learning intention
Students will learn to find the main idea in persuasive, imaginative and informative texts. Students will use the strategies of scanning to quickly identify the main ideas in a text, and skimming to find key words.
Syllabus outcome
- EN2-4A: uses an increasing range of skills, strategies and knowledge to fluently read, view and comprehend a range of texts on increasingly challenging topics in different media and technologies.
National Literacy Learning Progression
Understanding texts
- UnT6: reads and views simple texts and some predictable texts (see Text Complexity) (comprehension); locates specific information in a predictable text or a given set of digital sources (comprehension); recounts or describes the most relevant details from a text (comprehension)
- UnT7: identifies the main idea in a predictable text (comprehension); reads and views predictable texts and some moderately complex texts (See Text complexity) (comprehension)
- UnT8: reads and views some moderately complex texts (comprehension); accurately retells a text including most relevant details (comprehension)
NAPLAN item descriptors
The relevant NAPLAN item descriptors are included in the resource, available for download on this page.
Task outline
Full task descriptions are included in the resource, available for download on this page.
Task 1: A picture paints a thousand words
Students predict what might be happening in a range of images (two activities).
Task 2: Skimming and scanning
Students use a range of texts to practise skimming and scanning techniques (two activities).
Task 3: Identifying main idea in paragraphs and sections
Students identify vocabulary and other details in a text to find and build an understanding of the main idea (four activities).
Task 4: Identifying main idea in whole texts
Students learn techniques to find the main idea in a whole text (two activities).