Main Idea and Supporting Details
A main idea table: the tabletop is the big idea, and three supporting details from the text hold it up as the legs. If a leg is missing, the table will not stand.
How to use this chart
- After reading a paragraph, write the main idea in the tabletop first, in one sentence, then hunt the text for three details that support it.
- If students can only find one or two legs, say the table "wobbles", it is a memorable prompt to go back and reread for a third detail.
- Works for a whole passage or a single paragraph; for a multi-paragraph text, draw one table per paragraph.
Where this chart is taught
Teaching units