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1st grade · English Language Arts · Unit 11 of 13

Think It Through

Main idea, details and clues

What your child practices

Reading a short story, finding the main idea and details, and using clues to work out what is not said.

Alabama Course of Study content standard: 1.21; 1.22 · finding the main topic and key details in a text

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Details are small facts in the story.
  2. Look back at the words to find them.
  3. Use clues to guess what will happen next.

Example: Priya gets the dog’s leash. What will she likely do next? A leash is for taking a dog on a walk. She will take the dog outside. Answer: take the dog outside

Think It Through in Alabama

In the Alabama Course of Study, this is unit 11 of 13 in 1st grade English Language Arts, after Kinds of Sentences and before Messages All Around.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    What did Kenji do last?

    Kenji drew a big red heart.

    He wrote “For Grandma” on the front.

    Then he put it in an envelope.

    • He wrote a name.
    • He drew a heart.
    • He put it in an envelope.

  2. Question 2

    Who is the card for?

    Kenji drew a big red heart.

    He wrote “For Grandma” on the front.

    Then he put it in an envelope.

    • a teacher
    • Kenji
    • Grandma

  3. Question 3

    What is the main idea?

    Kenji drew a big red heart.

    He wrote “For Grandma” on the front.

    Then he put it in an envelope.

    • Kenji makes a card for Grandma.
    • Kenji paints a fence.
    • Kenji goes to sleep.

  4. Question 4

    What fell on Amir's nose?

    Amir put on his boots and a warm hat.

    He grabbed his shovel and ran outside.

    White flakes fell on his nose.

    • leaves
    • rain
    • snowflakes

  5. Question 5

    What is the story mostly about?

    Amir put on his boots and a warm hat.

    He grabbed his shovel and ran outside.

    White flakes fell on his nose.

    • Amir goes swimming.
    • Amir bakes a cake.
    • Amir plays outside in the snow.

  6. Question 6

    What time of year is it most likely?

    Amir put on his boots and a warm hat.

    He grabbed his shovel and ran outside.

    White flakes fell on his nose.

    • winter
    • spring
    • summer

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