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Mr. A's Writing Tools
writingtools.org
Writing Assignment
Why We Recycle
Standard: Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
What to Do
Let's learn about recycling! You'll read about how recycling Why We Recycle
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Every day, people throw away a lot of trash. Much of that trash ends up in big piles called landfills. But there is something we can do to make less trash. It is called recycling.
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Recycling means turning old things into new things. When you put a plastic bottle in the recycling bin, it can be made into something new, like a park bench or a jacket. Old newspapers can be turned into new paper. Glass jars can be melted down and made into new glass bottles.
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Recycling helps our planet in many ways. First, it saves natural resources. Trees are used to make paper. When we recycle paper, fewer trees need to be cut down. Second, recycling saves energy. It takes less energy to make something from recycled materials than to make it from scratch. Third, recycling keeps trash out of landfills, which means less pollution.
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Kids can help by recycling at home and at school. Look for recycling bins and sort your trash. You can also reuse things instead of throwing them away. An old jar can become a pencil holder. A cardboard box can become a toy fort!
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Every time you recycle, you are helping to take care of the Earth. Word Bank
Writing Steps
1
What Is This Passage About?
After reading the passage, answer these questions:
1. Topic: What is this passage mostly about? (1-3 words) 2. Important facts: List 2-3 important facts from the passage. You can use bullet points: - Fact 1: ... - Fact 2: ... - Fact 3: ... The passage is about: recycling
The topic is what the whole passage is about. You can usually say it in just a few words. As you read, start noticing the important facts the author tells you.
Scoring Guidance — Step 1
Look for:
Main Idea Detail / Evidence 1 Detail / Evidence 2 Detail / Evidence 3
2
Find the Main Idea
Write the main idea of the passage.
1. Main idea: Write one sentence that tells the most important thing the author wants you to learn. 2. How do you know? Tell us why you think this is the main idea. Try starting with: - "The main idea is that..." - "The author wants us to learn that..." The main idea is the most important thing the author wants you to learn about recycling.
What is the most important thing the author wants you to learn about recycling? 📘 Main idea or just the topic?: The topic is what the passage is about. The main idea tells you something ABOUT the topic.
- Topic: Apples - Main idea: Apples are healthy fruits that come in many colors and flavors.
Scoring Guidance — Step 2
Look for:
Sentence Starters
In the text, the author shows that ___.
The author writes, "___," which shows ___.
This is important because ___.
Overall, the text shows that ___.
3
Find the Key Details
Find 2-3 key details from the passage that support the main idea:
- Detail 1: ... - Detail 2: ... - Detail 3: (if you can find one more!) Great job finding the main idea! Now let us find the key details - the important facts that help explain the main idea.
Scoring Guidance — Step 3
Look for:
Sentence Starters
In the text, the author shows that ___.
The author writes, "___," which shows ___.
This is important because ___.
Overall, the text shows that ___.
4
How Do Details Help?
Pick one of your key details and explain how it supports the main idea:
1. The detail: Write one of your key details. 2. How it helps: Explain how this detail helps us understand the main idea. Try starting with: - "This detail helps because..." - "This fact shows us that..." You found great details! Now let us think about HOW they help us understand the main idea.
Ask yourself: Why did the author include these facts?
Scoring Guidance — Step 4
Look for:
Sentence Starters
In the text, the author shows that ___.
The author writes, "___," which shows ___.
This is important because ___.
Overall, the text shows that ___.
5
Tell What You Learned
Write 2-4 sentences telling what you learned from this passage.
Your sentences should: 1. Tell the main idea 2. Include at least one key detail from the passage 3. Use your own words Try starting with: - "I learned that..." - "This passage taught me that..." - "The most important thing about recycling is..." Amazing work! Now let us put everything together.
Pretend you are telling a friend the most important things you learned!
Scoring Guidance — Step 5
Look for:
Sentence Starters
In the text, the author shows that ___.
The author writes, "___," which shows ___.
This is important because ___.
Overall, the text shows that ___.
How Did I Do?Circle one box for each step. 2Find the Main Idea
3Find the Key Details
4How Do Details Help?
5Tell What You Learned
Before You Turn InI did every step
I checked my spelling
I am proud of this work
ReflectionWhat was hard? What are you proud of?
For the Teacher
Teacher Guide — Why We RecycleRI.3.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea. · Grade 3 · ~20 min
The student pages use short directions and a How Did I Do? star self-check instead of a printed rubric — most readers at this grade can't parse rubric language yet. Walk through the stars together after the last step. Score finished work against the full rubric below. Scoring Rubric
Step-by-Step Coaching Notes
Step 1 — What Is This Passage About?
Step 2 — Find the Main Idea
Step 3 — Find the Key Details
Step 4 — How Do Details Help?
Step 5 — Tell What You Learned
Students on devices? Coach this assignment live.
Scan the code — or visit the link — for the AI-coached version: step-by-step feedback on every draft, auto-scored on the rubric, no answer key to grade. Free for teachers.
writingtools.org/free/mainideas3_recycling_v1
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