Unit Plan 7 (Grade 6 ELA): Central Idea and Objective Summary
Grade 6 informational reading unit: students identify a text’s central idea, select key supporting details, and write concise, objective summaries. They also interpret visuals or media to explain how each contributes to understanding, citing clear evidence without personal opinions.
Focus: Determining central idea; summarizing without opinion
Grade Level: 6
Subject Area: English Language Arts (Reading Informational; Speaking & Listening)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
Informational reading isn’t a scavenger hunt for random facts—it’s about grasping the central idea and showing it clearly in an objective summary. This week, students distinguish topic vs. central idea, trace key details that build the idea, and write concise summaries without opinions or filler. They’ll also interpret a short media source (chart/video) and explain how it contributes to understanding.
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to…
- Identify a text’s central idea and explain how key details convey it (RI.6.2).
- Cite textual evidence (quote/paraphrase) to support central-idea claims and inferences (RI.6.1).
- Interpret information from a visual or audio source and explain how it contributes to the topic (SL.6.2).
- Produce a concise objective summary that is accurate, complete, and free of opinion (RI.6.2).
Standards Alignment — CCSS Grade 6
- Reading Informational 6.2 (RI.6.2): Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
- Reading Informational 6.1 (RI.6.1): Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
- Speaking & Listening 6.2 (SL.6.2): Interpret information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how it contributes to a topic, text, or issue under study.
Success Criteria — student language
- I can state the central idea in one precise sentence.
- I can select key details that truly build the central idea (not trivia).
- I can write an objective summary with no opinions or off-topic details.
- I can explain how a graphic/video adds to my understanding.