Supporting Your Child’s Literacy Development: Key Ideas and Details in Informational Texts

Tamara Braxton
Dec 28, 2024
3 min read

Nonfiction texts, whether they’re articles, textbooks, or reports, offer valuable insights into the world around us. For children, being able to identify the main ideas and key facts in these types of texts is essential not only for reading comprehension but also for schoolwork and real-world learning.

Today, we’ll be exploring Key Ideas and Details in informational texts through a fun and simple activity called Fact Finder. This strategy will help your child strengthen their ability to find and recall key information from nonfiction texts in just a few minutes!

What Is Key Ideas and Details in Informational Texts?

When it comes to nonfiction reading, Key Ideas and Details focuses on understanding the main points and the essential facts that the text conveys. This could be anything from an article about animals, a science textbook, or a history report. In school, students are often required to read informational texts to gather knowledge and support their learning in different subjects. Being able to identify the main ideas, key facts, and important details is crucial for understanding and remembering what’s been read.

By strengthening this skill, your child will be able to navigate nonfiction texts more confidently and efficiently. They’ll know how to extract the most important information, whether they’re studying for a test or just trying to learn about a new topic. This skill is useful not only for school but also for everyday life, whether they’re reading the news, an instruction manual, or a recipe.

Strategy: Fact Finder

The Fact Finder strategy is a quick and engaging way to help your child practice identifying key ideas and details in nonfiction texts. Here’s how to do it in just seven minutes:

Step 1: Choose a Nonfiction Text

Pick a short nonfiction text that’s interesting and relevant to your child’s interests. This could be an article about animals, a science topic, or even something related to a hobby they enjoy. The key is to choose something engaging so your child will stay interested while practicing the skill. You can find nonfiction texts in magazines, online articles, or even a short chapter from a nonfiction book.

Step 2: Read Together

Spend the first 1-3 minutes reading the nonfiction text together. You can read aloud to your child or take turns reading. As you read, encourage your child to pay attention to the key points in the text. Keep the pace relaxed and engaging, making sure to focus on understanding the content rather than rushing through it.

Step 3: Ask Key Questions

After reading, take 1-2 minutes to ask questions that focus on the key ideas and facts in the text. Here are a few questions you can ask to guide your child:

“What is this text mostly about?”
“What are three interesting facts you learned from this reading?”

These questions will help your child identify the main points of the text and the details that stand out. Encourage them to think about what they found interesting and what was most important in the text. This helps them focus on the core content and enhances their understanding.

Step 4: List or Draw the Facts

In the final 2-3 minutes, have your child make a quick list or drawing of the facts they learned from the text. This could be as simple as jotting down three key facts or creating a drawing that represents something interesting they learned. This step reinforces the information they’ve gathered and adds a creative element that helps solidify their understanding.

Download your Fact Finder Parent Pack HERE.

Why This Works

The Fact Finder strategy is effective because it encourages your child to engage actively with nonfiction texts. By asking them to recall key facts and main ideas, you’re helping them practice organizing information and summarizing what they’ve learned. The creative component, listing or drawing the facts—reinforces their comprehension and makes the process fun.

This strategy also helps make nonfiction reading more interactive and enjoyable. Instead of simply reading the material, your child is encouraged to actively explore the text, identify important details, and reflect on what they found interesting. This process not only strengthens their reading skills but also encourages a deeper curiosity about the world around them.

Video: Watch and Learn!

To see the Fact Finder strategy in action, check out our model lesson video! In this video, we demonstrate how to implement the strategy with a child. It’s a great way to visualize the process and learn how to make nonfiction reading more engaging and productive.

The Fact Finder strategy is a fantastic way to help your child practice identifying key ideas and details in nonfiction texts. By making reading more interactive and encouraging critical thinking, you’re setting your child up for success in school and beyond. Try out the Fact Finder activity today and watch your child’s nonfiction reading skills grow!

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