New York State Elementary Test Prep- ELA 4- 2nd GradeImportant and Unimportant detailsl

Click on the arrow to read along and listen.

Have you ever wondered what details you should be reading or listening for in an article?
Some details are important and others are unimportant or less important!

Kids of the World Line

The important details in an article would be:
	Who or what is the article about.
	What it is you are trying to learn from the article (main idea).
	What details help you better understand the specific question you are being asked.

The unimportant details in an article would be:
	Information that is NOT specific to the question being asked.
	Details that are very minor and offer little to NO information about the question.
	Information that doesn't offer support for the main idea.

Let's look at the article below on birds.
From this article we want to know
about the nests and eggs of birds.

Can you find the important and unimportant information?

All About the
Nests and Eggs of Birds
Enchanted Learning

Birds bear their young in hard-shelled eggs which hatch after some time. Some birds, like chickens, lay eggs each day, others may go for years between laying eggs.

Birds build nests for breeding in trees, on cliffs, or on the ground. Most birds are taken care of by at least one parent until they are able to fly and get their own food.

The incubation period of bird eggs varies from species to species. There's also some variability due to the temperature.

Some birds, like cuckoos and some cowbirds, lay their eggs in other bird's nests. The non-related adult bird takes care of the cuckoo's egg unwittingly. Some cuckoos even kill the other eggs in the nest to insure that their egg gets enough food.

Birds mostly use their keen eyesight to find food. They use their beak and their claws to get bugs, worms, small mammals , fish, fruit , grain, or nectar.

Some birds can fly. Birds have a very strong heart and an efficient way of breathing - these are necessary for birds to fly. Birds also use a lot of energy while flying and need to eat a lot of food to power their flight.


	Important information about eggs and nests.
bear their young in hard-shelled eggs
like chickens, lay eggs each day, others may go for years between laying eggs.
nests for breeding in trees, on cliffs, or on the ground
incubation period of bird eggs varies from species to species
cuckoos and some cowbirds, lay their eggs in other bird's nests
	Unimportant information relating to other things besides eggs and nests.
taken care of by at least one parent until they are able to fly
keen eyesight to find food
beak and their claws to get bugs, worms, small mammals , fish, fruit or grain
very strong heart
use a lot of energy while flying and need to eat a lot of food to power flight

Let's practice finding important and unimportant information!

Click on the bird below to practice!

Graphics by PC Hugware