This mini-lesson plan focuses on teaching 7th grade students how to write a strong main idea or thesis sentence for informative writing. In just 20 minutes, students learn what a main idea sentence is, why it’s important, and how to craft one effectively. The lesson begins with a brief discussion to spark curiosity, followed by direct instruction on the key components: a specific topic, a controlling idea, and clear, concise language. Through guided practice, students collaborate to create a main idea sentence for a sample paragraph, and then move to independent practice by writing one of their own. The lesson closes with a quick recap and an extension activity where students identify or write main idea sentences from real articles. By the end, students gain a foundational skill that strengthens their ability to summarize and organize their informative writing.
