Curriculum

• One sheet of paper
• Pencil or crayon

1. Step 1. Read these three paragraphs aloud. Paragraph 1: “On hot days, city trees shade sidewalks. Their leaves block some sunlight and help nearby streets stay cooler.” Paragraph 2: “Tree roots slow rainwater and help soil absorb it. This can reduce water rushing into drains.” Paragraph 3: “Branches give birds places to nest. Flowers and leaves also feed insects.”
2. Step 2. Ask for the main topic across all three paragraphs: city trees help urban neighborhoods in several ways.
3. Step 3. Ask for each paragraph focus: paragraph 1 is cooling and shade; paragraph 2 is managing rainwater; paragraph 3 is supporting wildlife.
4. Step 4. Choose one detail per paragraph and ask how it supports the main idea. Then ask for a connection: slowing and absorbing rain causes less water to rush into drains.
5. Quick check. Read this independent three-paragraph informational text. Paragraph 1: “Community gardens give neighbors space to grow fresh vegetables and herbs.” Paragraph 2: “Garden flowers attract bees and butterflies that help pollinate plants.” Paragraph 3: “People work together in the garden and share what they learn and harvest.” Success means your child states the main topic, names the focus of all three paragraphs, explains how at least two details support the main idea, and describes one connection such as flowers attracting pollinators that help plants grow.

Worked example. Main topic: “City trees help neighborhoods.” Paragraph focuses: cooling streets, slowing rainwater, and supporting wildlife. The detail about leaves blocking sunlight supports the cooling idea. The roots-and-drains facts connect by cause and effect: roots slow and absorb rain, so less water rushes into drains.

Optional challenge. Read this supplied four-paragraph informational text. Paragraph 1: “Rain lands on roofs during a storm.” Paragraph 2: “Gutters guide roof water into barrels.” Paragraph 3: “Barrels store water for gardens during dry weather.” Paragraph 4: “Using stored rainwater can reduce tap-water use and runoff.” Ask for the main topic, each paragraph focus, how three details support the main idea, and two connections among the sequence and cause-effect ideas.

What to notice. Save a short parent note recording the child’s main topic, the focus of each paragraph, one explanation of how a detail supports the main idea, and one quoted connection between events or ideas. A photo of the parent-written note may accompany it without showing the child.