B5 English Language · Term 3 Week 2: Paragraph Development

Lesson notes

Learning Objectives

Indicator: B5.4.3.1.2 - Identify the main idea and minor ideas/supporting details in a paragraph

By the end of the lesson, learners can:

Define the terms “main idea”, “topic sentence”, and “supporting details” in their own words.
Identify the topic sentence that reveals the main idea of a given paragraph.
Underline and label the topic sentence in a model paragraph.
Distinguish between the main idea and the minor ideas/supporting details in a paragraph by listing them separately.
Write a short paragraph of 4 to 6 sentences that contains a clear topic sentence and supporting details.

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Curriculum details

Strand: Writing (Strand 4)
Sub-strand: Paragraph Development (4.3)
Content standard: B5.4.3.1 - Develop, organise and express ideas cohesively in writing and representing for a variety of purposes, audience and context
Indicator: B5.4.3.1.2 - Identify the main idea and minor ideas/supporting details in a paragraph
Suggested placement: Term 3, Week 2 (Week 26 of the year)
Our suggestion, laid out in curriculum order across three terms of twelve weeks. NaCCA does not fix the week, so follow your school's scheme of learning.
Curriculum reference: English Language Curriculum (Basic 4-6), 2019, p. 123
Transcribed from the official NaCCA publication. Check this page against the source.

Exemplars (from the NaCCA curriculum)

- Display a Model Paragraph, e.g. The children of Boti go to great lengths to seek the power of education and reading. For example, they build their own school at the beginning of the year! To do this, they use mud to make bricks to build the walls and desks. They use grass and saplings and make a roof. Also, the children of Boti work very hard studying during the school year. Every day they learn something new. Finally, at the end of the year, their minds become fat with knowledge. This is how the children of Boti work hard to seek the power of education and reading.
- Have learners read it (or read it to them). Have them do Think- Pair-Share and answer the questions: i. What is this paragraph about? ii. How do you know?
- Guide learners towards the idea that the main idea of the paragraph is revealed in the first sentence. Underline the first sentence of the paragraph and write "Topic Sentence" in the margin next to it.
- Guide learners to identify the details of the paragraph and the sentences that contain these details.
- Repeat the same process for other sentences.
- Have learners write their own paragraphs (Guide them to select a topic). Move round to support them.