Unit Plan 33 (Grade 1 ELA): Summarizing & Retelling Key Ideas

Grade 1 informational reading unit: students identify the main topic and key details, then create short oral or visual summaries that explain the gist using friendly frames and media support.

Unit Plan 33 (Grade 1 ELA): Summarizing & Retelling Key Ideas

Focus: Main topic + key details; oral/visual summaries

Grade Level: 1

Subject Area: English Language Arts (Reading Informational • Speaking/Listening • Writing)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–60 minutes per session


I. Introduction

Informational readers show understanding by naming the main topic and key details, then turning them into a short oral or visual summary. This week, students practice spotting the topic using titles, pictures, and repeated words; collecting 2–3 big details; and sharing a one-sentence “gist” using friendly frames. They’ll listen to short media to check and clarify understanding before publishing a tiny summary card.


II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to…

  1. Identify the main topic of an informational text and retell key details (RI.1.2).
  2. Ask and answer questions about key details presented orally or through media to support a summary (SL.1.2).
  3. With guidance, recall information from a text or media and write/dictate a one-sentence summary using a simple frame (W.1.8).

Standards Alignment — CCSS Grade 1

  • RI.1.2 Identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.
  • SL.1.2 Ask and answer questions about key details presented orally or through other media.
  • W.1.8 With guidance and support, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.

Success Criteria — student language

  • I can say what the text is mostly about (the main topic).
  • I can name 2–3 key details that teach about the topic.
  • I can ask or answer a question about a key detail I heard or saw.
  • I can share a one-sentence summary that fits the text: “This text is about ___. It tells ___, ___, and ___.”