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 examples
Example 1
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.
Example 2
A bold word in the middle of a page is usually an important word the book is about to explain.
Example 3
A caption under a picture tells you what the picture shows. It is often the fastest fact on the page.
Practice questions
- What is the main topic of a page called 'Rainy Days'?
- Use a table of contents to find what page a topic is on.
- 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 lessonEn 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 1: 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.
Ejemplo 2: Una palabra en negritas a media página normalmente es una palabra importante que el libro está por explicar.
Ejemplo 3: Un pie de foto debajo de una imagen te dice qué muestra. Muchas veces es el dato más rápido de la página.
More Reading: Informational lessons
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