Mount Aloysius College

2019 Lesson Plan

I. Heading

Lesson Title: Main Idea and Details – Ice Cream

Teacher Name: Ms. Katie Ellenberger
Date Lesson is Taught: Friday, September 13, 2019
Subject/Discipline: English Language Arts
Grade Level: 2nd grade
Number of Students: 16
Allocated Instructional Time: 20 Minutes
Multiple Intelligences Addressed: Verbal-Linguistic, Visual-Spatial,
Bodily/Kinesthetic, Interpersonal, Naturalist
Pennsylvania Common Core Standards or Early Learning Standards:
Standard - CC.1.2.2.A
Identify the main idea of a multi-paragraph text as well as the focus of specific
paragraphs within the text.
Standard - CC.1.5.2.B
Recount or describe key ideas or details from a text read aloud or information
presented orally or through other media.

II. Rationale and Background

The purpose of this lesson is for children to demonstrate knowledge of the

main ideas and details of a text. The children will be able to distinguish the
difference between main ideas and details through reading a short story. The
goal is to help children better understand parts of a text. At this time of life, it is
important for students to be able to do this so they are able to later elaborate on
information and pick out important points of detailed text.
The students are familiar with the concept of stories and their general
organization or print orientation. This activity will engage the students in a
creative way that will help them learn to distinguish between main ideas from
details. It proves the importance of learning main ideas and details in a story.

III. Lesson Objectives

 Objective #1 TLWBAT identify and write the main idea when given a few
associated details. (CC.1.2.2.A)
Objective #2 TLWBAT identify and write associated details when given a main
idea topic. (CC.1.5.2.B)
Objective #3 TLWBAT analyze a provided short story and distinguish between
the main idea and key details and write them into a graphic organizer.
(CC.1.2.2.A) (CC.1.5.2.B)

IV. Materials

Teacher Materials:
- Printer
- Paper
- Promethean board

Student Materials:
- Printed papers
- Pencil

V. Procedures

A. Introduction and Motivation

The introduction will include:

1. I will start by having the students recall what we have been working on.
2. I will ask them about the animals in the forest story and what we did with
it. I will also ask them what it was about.
3. I will tell them that we are going to continue practicing with main idea and
details but also ask them the importance of learning this information.

B. Lesson Body

1. I will have the helper pass out the first set of papers.
2. The first sheet focuses on just filling in the main idea. I will explain to them
what they are to do and then instruct them to work on this with their
neighbors.
3. After they are done, we will go over the answers together just saying them
out loud.
4. I will then have the helper pass out the next paper that focuses on details
and pull it up on the Promethean board.
5. I will explain the paper and then we will go through it altogether having the
students provide the ideas.
6. I will then ask them to explain to me what a main idea is and what details
are as I pull up the story on the board and the next paper is passed out.
 7. I will read the story one time through. We will then all read it together out
loud.
8. We will then discuss which sentence tells the main idea and have a
student come up to circle it. They will then write it in the correct bubble on
their papers.
9. We will then repeat step 8 with each of the three details.

C. Simplification and Extensions

1. For a child with Down syndrome, I would assist the student in their part of
the activity such as helping them write on their papers and spell words. I
might also provide them with visuals.
2. For a child who is gifted, I would challenge them by writing and giving
them a more complex story to analyze to identify the main ideas and
details from. I would also give them harder categories to work with on the
first two papers.

D. Closure/Conclusion

1. I will then ask them again to explain to me what main idea and details are.
2. I’ll tell them to put those sheets in their folders on the stay home side.
3. I will also tell them to remember what these are because they are going to
be on their test.

VI. Home-School Connection/Homework Assignment/Independent Practice

I will have each child take their sheets home that we will have completed that
day. I will have the day’s activities and pictures posted on the classroom website
to keep the children’s families updated.

VII. Evaluation

A. Student Assessment
1. Each student will demonstrate their knowledge by identifying and
writing the main idea when given a few associated details and
associated details when given a main idea topic. (OBJ #1 & #2)
2. Each student will discuss and write the main ideas and key details in a
graphic organizer through analyzing a short story that is provided.
(OBJ #3)

B. Reflective Practice/Self-Evaluation

Reflect on your teaching experience and answer these questions:

1. What were two strengths of the lesson? – The children had several
responses to my questions and were eager to answer. Overall, they were
pretty engaged. I was also prepared for the lesson and knew the children. 

2. What are two areas of the lesson that need improvement? – My classroom
management still needs improvement. It wasn't terrible but I need to work
on keeping them all on track. The lesson plan also needed some
improvement. I need to remember to attach all my materials and try to
estimate the time better. 

3. What would I do differently, if I were to reteach this lesson? – If I were to

reteach this lesson I would make it more interactive. The sheets were
good practice for the students and it was what my cooperating teacher
wanted me to do, but if I were to teach this in my own classroom I would
try not to have as many worksheets. I would also have them up and using
the Promethean board more. 

4. What biases, if any, existed in the materials, activities, language, or

interactions with children? – No biases existed.

5. Did anything surprise me? – I was surprised by how responsive the

children were. For the main idea and details worksheets, they had so
many answers and even could have kept going. I was also surprised by
how well some of them behaved.
 Ice Cream Party

Once upon a time there was a boy named

Jack. He was having an ice cream party for his

birthday. Jack loved ice cream! It was his

favorite food. There was an ice cream truck at

his party. Several of Jack’s friends came and

ate ice cream with him. They also hit an ice

cream shaped pinata. The birthday party was

a lot of fun for Jack and his friends.