Grade Levels: K-3

These classroom activities are designed to complement the Main Idea topic on BrainPOP Jr.

What’s the Big Idea?
Have students bring in magazine articles from children’s magazines. Have small groups work together and swap articles. Have them use a main ideas chart to find the main idea and supporting details. Small groups can pick an article and make a presentation to the class.

Give a Hand

Have students trace their hands and use it to write a short paragraph about their hands. The main idea/topic sentence can go in the palm. Some, or all, of the fingers can contain the supporting details. Make sure students write sentences that support their main idea. Display the hands around the classroom so students can look at each others’ work.

Main Idea Mobile

Have students make a paragraph mobile. They can write a topic sentence on a large piece of construction paper, foam block, or cardboard canister. Then they can write supporting details on smaller pieces and dangle them from the main idea. You may wish to have a list of suggested topics or have students research on their own. Have each student make a presentation of their mobile in front of the class. Then display the mobiles in the classroom so students can share their work.