Four short read-aloud texts, on frogs, rain, firefighters, and owls, give kindergarten students repeated practice with Common Core RI.K.2. After each passage they answer two picture-choice questions. One asks for the main topic, and one asks for a key detail, such as what frogs eat or where owls sleep. The firefighter text asks for two details instead of one. A teacher note at the top explains how to guide listening, and the answer key lists all eight answers.
RI.K.2
“With prompting and support, identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.”
Each text has a main topic question (1, 3, 5, and 7) and a key detail question (2, 4, 6, and 8).
Tadpoles, hopping, and long sticky tongues. Students pick the frog over a bird as the topic, and bugs over apples as the food.
Rain falls from dark clouds and helps plants grow. Students choose rain from sun and snow, then the umbrella as the detail that keeps people dry.
Firefighters with yellow coats, helmets, and hoses. Students pick the firefighter from a baker and a teacher, then check two details: the fire truck and the helmet, not the stethoscope.
Owls with huge round eyes that catch mice at night. Students pick the owl from a duck and a penguin, then a tree over a bed as the place owls sleep.
One text a day
At six pages, the set works best across a week. One passage and its two questions take about ten minutes with discussion.
Same idea, two phrases
The questions switch between "main topic" and "mostly about". Use both phrases yourself so students hear that they mean the same thing.
Two boxes on question 6
Question 6 is the only one that needs two checks. Read the direction twice, because many students check the fire truck and stop.
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