Grade 4 · ELA
Goal
Find the main idea of the text and the key details that support it.
You'll need
Scissors, a glue stick, and crayons.
Help with the hands, not the answer
Add these words to the student's AAC device before the lesson
bee, hive, flower, dance, waggle, direction, far, food, follow, fly, share, main idea, detail
Words from the check are left out on purpose.
What's in this packet
Standards the check measures
CA Common Core ELA RI.4.1: Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
CA Common Core ELA RI.4.2: Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key details; summarize the text.
CA Common Core ELA L.4.2.d: Spell grade-appropriate words correctly, consulting references as needed.
These are California's standards. Outside California, check the code and wording against your state's framework before citing them in an IEP.
Activity answers
Color the answer. What is the main idea? Bees dance to share. Where does the dance happen? In the hive.
Where does it happen?. In the hive: Bee dances; Bees follow dancer; Waggle shows direction. Outside the hive: Bee finds flowers; Bees fly out; Bees gather food
How the message travels. 1. Bee finds flowers 2. Bee returns to hive 3. Bee does a dance 4. Others find the flowers
What does it show?. Waggle direction: which way to fly. Waggle length: how far to fly. The whole dance: helps gather food
Spell the word. HIVE
Honeybees cannot speak, but they can share exact directions. When a worker bee finds flowers, she flies back to the hive.
Inside the hive, she does a special dance. The direction of her waggle shows which way to fly. The length of her waggle shows how far away the flowers are.
Other bees follow the dancer closely. Then they fly out and find the flowers. This dance helps the whole hive gather food.
Color the right box.
What is the main idea?
Where does the dance happen?
Sort the cards.
In the hive
Outside the hive
Cut out along the dashed lines
Put them in order.
Cut out along the dashed lines
Match each one.
Cut out along the dashed lines
Spell this word.
Cut out along the dashed lines
How the student chose answers (mark one)
Independent, adult could not see
Independent, adult could see
With touch, a held device, or cues
Mark the last one if anyone touched the student, held anything for them, or cued them while they chose. Help with cutting or gluing after they chose doesn't count as support, but an adult who saw the choice means "adult could see."
Help after the student chose
Results
Date ____________ Check run by (role) ____________________
| Item | Standard | Student's answer | Right? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RI.4.2 | ||
| 2 | RI.4.2 | ||
| 3 | RI.4.1 | ||
| 4 | RI.4.1 | ||
| 5 | L.4.2.d | ||
| 6 | L.4.2.d |
Each question with four choices can be guessed right 1 time in 4. These 6 items are too few to conclude from alone. The on-screen report waits for 20 items at a level.
Elephants make many sounds, but some of their calls are too low for people to hear. These low rumbles can travel for miles. The sound also moves through the ground. Scientists think elephants may feel these rumbles through their feet. A rumble can warn the herd of danger or help a lost calf find its family. In this way, low sounds help elephants stay together and stay safe.
Choose your answer, then color its box.
Which sentence best states the main idea of this text?
Which detail best supports the main idea?
Choose your answer, then color its box.
According to scientists, how may an elephant sense a rumble?
Why do people miss some elephant calls?
Spell the word for a large group of elephants. Choose each letter. Glue them on the strips.
Cut out along the dashed lines
Spell the word for the body parts elephants stand on. Choose each letter. Glue them on the strips.
Cut out along the dashed lines
Keep this away from the check, and use it only for scoring afterward.
| Item | Standard | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RI.4.2 | Which sentence best states the main idea of this text? | Low rumbles help elephants stay in touch |
| 2 | RI.4.2 | Which detail best supports the main idea? | A rumble can help a lost calf find family |
| 3 | RI.4.1 | According to scientists, how may an elephant sense a rumble? | By feeling it through its feet |
| 4 | RI.4.1 | Why do people miss some elephant calls? | The calls are too low to hear |
| 5 | L.4.2.d | Spell the word for a large group of elephants. | HERD |
| 6 | L.4.2.d | Spell the word for the body parts elephants stand on. | FEET |