4.6.G 4.7.C* 4.7.G 4.9.D*

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Key Ideas & Details
Grade:	4th Grade
Standard:	4.6.G
Description:	evaluate details read to determine key ideas;
Standard:	4.7.C*
Description:	use text evidence to support an appropriate response;
Standard:	4.7.G
Description:	discuss specific ideas in the text that are important to the meaning.
Standard:	4.9.D*
Description:	recognize characteristics and structures of informational text, including: (i) the central idea with supporting evidence; (ii) features such as pronunciation guides and diagrams to support understanding; and (iii) organizational patterns such as compare and contrast;

Key Ideas and Details

Main Idea, Key Ideas, and Details: The main idea of a passage is what the passage is mostly about. Passages may have a main idea and additional key ideas that develop it. The details in a passage support the main idea and/or key ideas. This means they give the reader more information about these important ideas.

When you read, try to identify the main point the author is trying to make—this is the main idea. Then, try to find the key ideas and/or details the author uses to add more information about the main idea.

Read the following paragraph. Try to determine its main idea. What key ideas and details support the main idea? When you're ready to continue, click the button.

Owls' nearly silent flight helps them locate and capture their prey. Normally, flapping wings create a lot of noise. This noise can interfere with hearing and scare away prey. However, owls have features that allow them to fly very quietly. First, they have large wings for their body size. This allows them to glide slowly. They don't have to flap their wings as much as other birds. Additionally, owls' feathers have a soft, velvety texture. As air moves over their feathers, the softness dampens the sound. Also, on the wing feathers of these silent hunters are two special features — combs and fringes. The front edges of their wings have comb-like structures, and the back edges have soft fringes. These structures break up the air flow and soften the sound. In combination, an owl's wing size, soft feathers, and the combs and fringes on its wing feathers allow it to be a very stealthy predator.

Main Idea: Owls hunt well because they have features that allow them to fly silently.

Key Idea: Owls have large wings for their body size.

Key Idea: Owls’ feathers have a soft, velvety texture.

Key Idea: Owls’ wing feathers have combs and fringes.

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Go to the next page to practice finding main ideas, key ideas, and details.

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)

Key Ideas & Details

4.6.G

evaluate details read to determine key ideas;

4.7.C*

use text evidence to support an appropriate response;

4.7.G

discuss specific ideas in the text that are important to the meaning.

4.9.D*

recognize characteristics and structures of informational text, including: (i) the central idea with supporting evidence; (ii) features such as pronunciation guides and diagrams to support understanding; and (iii) organizational patterns such as compare and contrast;

recognize characteristics and structures of informational text, including:
(i) the central idea with supporting evidence;

(ii) features such as pronunciation guides and diagrams to support understanding; and

(iii) organizational patterns such as compare and contrast;