Main Idea: Cut, Mix and Match

If your students are ready to practice identifying main idea, find some informational texts and cut them up!  Scholastic News works great for this activity.  

Make sure it has several different headings and sections of text. 

 Cut it apart. Separate the heading, subheadings, sections of text, and photographs.

 Mix the pieces together and put them in a bag.

 Have your students recreate the text in a new format. I had mine create flip books, but creating a poster would be cute too.  First paste the title/heading.

Find all the subheadings and glue 'em down.  

 Now glue the sections of text that match each heading.

Lastly, add the photographs that match the text! 

If you wanted to extend this activity, have your students write why they made the matches they did.