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.