Close Reading Close Reading TechniquesTechniques

Ch. 1 The First AmericansCh. 1 The First Americans

Topics & Main IdeaTopics & Main Idea

• What is a main idea?• BrainPOP Video:

http://www.brainpop.com/english/writing/mainidea/

• Main Idea: point the author is trying to make

• Smaller Ideas are called details

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• Topic: Native Americans

• Big Idea: Native Americans came from Asia

• Key Vocab: – Native: belong to a place since birth or

childhood

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• Topic: Native Americans

• Main Idea: Native Americans were the first people in America.

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• Topic: Native American Differences

• Main Idea: Native Americans had difference cultures.

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• Topic: Northwest Native Americans

• Main Idea: Northwest Native Americans used trees to build and fish to eat.

• Key Vocab: – Canoe: long wooden boat

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• Topic: Southwest Native Americans• Main Idea: Southwest Native Americans had almost no

rain, animals, or fish so they had farms.• Key Vocab:

– Cotton: plant used to make clothes

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• Topic: Midwest Native Americans• Main Idea: Midwest Native Americans live in a flat area

and used the buffalo for food and supplies.• Key Vocab:

– Great Plains: a name for the flat, middle part of North America

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• Topic: Eastern Native Americans• Main Idea: Eastern Native Americans

lived in forests and hunted turkeys and grew vegetables.

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• Topic: Native American Similarities

• Main Idea: Native Americans loved the land and plants and animals.

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• Topic: Native American Tools

• Main Idea: Native Americans made tools out of stones and bones.

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• Topic: Native American Teaching

• Main Idea: Native Americans taught Europeans to grow food and make medicine.

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• Topic: Native Americans Today

• Main Idea: Native Americans still continue some of their traditions today.