CurriculumGrade 1English Language Arts

Main Topic & Text Features

Aligned to RI.1.2 — Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.

What this lesson teaches

Every nonfiction page has a main topic, which is the big thing it is about. Headings and a table of contents help you find the part you want to read.

Worked example

A page titled 'Bears' tells you the main topic is bears. The table of contents lists 'Bears.....page 4,' so you know where to look.

Practice questions

  1. What is the main topic of a page called 'Rainy Days'?
  2. Use a table of contents to find what page a topic is on.
  3. Tell one key detail from a fact page you read.

Watch the lesson

Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.

▶ Watch this lesson

En español

Tema principal y características del texto

Cada página de no ficción tiene un tema principal, que es el asunto central del que trata. Los encabezados y la tabla de contenido te ayudan a encontrar la parte que quieres leer.

Ejemplo: Una página titulada 'Bears' te indica que el tema principal son los osos. La tabla de contenido dice 'Bears.....page 4', así que sabes dónde buscar.

More Reading: Informational lessons

Ask About FactsRI.1.1How They ConnectRI.1.3What Does It Mean?RI.1.4Find It FastRI.1.5Picture or Words?RI.1.6Pictures Help UsRI.1.7

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