Objective: Students will use the objects/pictures in a bag to determine the big idea.

TEKS: K- 5(C) identify and sort pictures of objects into conceptual categories (e.g., colors, shapes, textures) 6(B) discuss the big idea (theme) of a well-known folktale or fable and connect it to personal experience

1st- 14(A) restate the main idea, heard or read

2nd- 14(A) identify the main ideas in a text and distinguish it from the topic

Materials:- paper lunch bags - objects or pictures with a common theme (snack foods, toys, animals with tails, etc.)- marker- appropriate leveled books (optional)

Preparations:! Gather objects or pictures, or run copy of provided pictures! Place objects/pictures in a paper lunch bag!Introduce, discuss, and practice identifying the big/main idea using big books, read alouds, or basal readers.*NOTE: create as many bags as you feel are needed to give the students ample practice in determining the big idea. Directions:1. Review the concept of the big idea or main idea. Explain how the group is going to determine the big/main idea of a set of objects/pictures that are in a bag.2. Pull one object/picture out of the bag and have students identify it. Allow students to discuss what the big idea might be and explain their thinking. It may be necessary to discuss that it is difficult to determine the main idea with only one object/picture.

Big Idea Bags

3. Pull a second object/picture out of the bag and have students identify it. This time, lead a discussion on what the two objects/pictures have in common. Again, allow students to share what they think the main idea is. 4. Once the correct big idea has been determined, use the marker to write it on the outside of the bag. Replace the objects/pictures in the bag and review how the main idea on the outside of the bag tells what all these objects/pictures have in common.5. Continue until all objects/pictures have been pulled from the bag. Line them up so all students can see. Have one student name the main idea and explain his/her thinking. Ask the group if they agree and explain why or why not.6. Continue in this manner using different sets of objects/pictures.

Extension:1. Have students read an appropriate leveled book and discuss as usual.2. Discuss how stories also have a big or main idea. Relate story details to the objects/pictures in the bag.3. Ask students to name an important event that occurred in the story and write it on a strip of paper. Follow the same procedure for several more story events.4. When enough events strips are in the bag, discuss what the main idea of the story is and write it on the outside of the bag.5. After doing this with different stories, students can then complete this activity independently using a leveled book read during guided reading.

Fruit Pictures

Things with Wheels Pictures

Things with Four Legs Pictures