Central Idea with Details
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Lesson 4: Arlington Cemetery
Reading - Central Idea with Details
Lesson 4: Arlington Cemetery
Reading
Common Core Content Activities
By Erica Price and Christina Willoughby
© Price and Willoughby, LLC 2010-2012
© SymbolStix 2003-2012
Dim
A
Reading ▪ Central Idea with Details
Name: _______________________
Arlington Cemetery
Sara and Tony are excited about
their next destination in Washington
D.C. – the Arlington Cemetery. It is a
cemetery visited by more than four
million people every year. People from
all over the country come to pay their
respect to the heroes of the United
States.
1. Determine the central idea in this paragraph.
a. Sara and Tony are going to visit the Arlington Cemetery.
b. It is a cemetery visited by more than four million people
every year.
c. People from all over the country come to pay their respect.
© Price and Willoughby, LLC 2010-2012
© SymbolStix 2003-2012
1
CCCA, Reading, Central Idea with Details
Lesson 4, Arlington Cemetery, Dim A
Reading ▪ Central Idea with Details
Upon arrival, the family planned on first stopping at the Visitor
Center. It took Father a little while to find a parking spot, but he finally
managed. The Visitor Center is located by the entrance and it sells maps and
guidebooks. Mother and Father get all the information needed to take a self
guided tour. They even received a map that included all the grave locations.
2. Determine the central idea of this paragraph.
a. it took father a little while to find a parking spot
b. The family planned on first stopping at the Visitor Center
c. They even received a map.
© Price and Willoughby, LLC 2010-2012
© SymbolStix 2003-2012
2
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Lesson 4, Arlington Cemetery, Dim A
Reading ▪ Central Idea with Details
Tony picked up a brochure at the Visitor Center and he starts reading in
it: “Arlington was officially designated as a military cemetery in June of 1864
by Edwin M. Stanton. More than
300,000 people are
buried at Arlington cemetery.”
Sara responds: “Wow that is a
lot of people buried here!”
“Veterans from all the nation’s wars
are buried in the cemetery. It says that it has heroes from the American
Revolution, as well as from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. That is just so
amazing! Here, and listen to this: Pre-Civil War dead were reentered after
1900”, Tony continues.
3. Determine the central idea in this paragraph.
a. Arlington was designated as a military cemetery in June of 1864.
b. More than 300.000 people are buried at Arlington cemetery
c. Tony reads interesting facts about Arlington Cemetery
© Price and Willoughby, LLC 2010-2012
© SymbolStix 2003-2012
3
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Lesson 4, Arlington Cemetery, Dim A
Reading ▪ Central Idea with Details
Mother and father decided to take the twins to the Tomb of the
Unknown soldiers first. It is one of the more visited sites at Arlington. Sara
flips through the guidebook and explains: “the tomb is made from Yule
marble quarried in Colorado. The tomb consists of seven pieces, with a total
weight of 79 tons.”
Tony grabs the book from his sister and says:
“Let me see the book! The tomb opened to the
public April 9, 1932 and the cost of the tomb was
$48,000!”
4. Determine the central idea in this paragraph.
a. The twins visit the Tomb of the Unknown soldiers first
b. The tomb is made from Yule.
c. The tomb opened to the public April 9, 1932
© Price and Willoughby, LLC 2010-2012
© SymbolStix 2003-2012
4
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Lesson 4, Arlington Cemetery, Dim A
Reading ▪ Central Idea with Details
Sara reaches for the book, but Tony continues reading: “Three unknown servicemen are buried at the Tomb of the Unknowns.”
The tomb is located on a hill overlooking
Washington, D.C. Sara finally reaches the
guidebook and explains that the tomb contains remains of soldiers from World War I,
World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
5. Determine the central idea of this paragraph.
a. Sara reaches for the book.
b. The tomb is located on a hill overlooking Washington.
c. Three unknown servicemen are buried at the Tomb of the
Unknowns.
© Price and Willoughby, LLC 2010-2012
© SymbolStix 2003-2012
5
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Lesson 4, Arlington Cemetery, Dim A
Reading ▪ Central Idea with Details
They are at the tomb just in time to watch the guard ceremony.
They learned that the tomb is guarded 24 hours a day. Each hour, in the
summer even every half an hour, the guards change. Their ceremony includes a special march and a salute. Tony and Sara were very happy to get
to see this special guard ceremony and Father took a bunch of pictures.
6. Determine the central idea in this paragraph.
a. The tomb is guarded 24 hours a day.
b. They watch the guard ceremony.
c. It includes a special march and a salute
© Price and Willoughby, LLC 2010-2012
© SymbolStix 2003-2012
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Lesson 4, Arlington Cemetery, Dim A
Reading ▪ Central Idea with Details
Once the ceremony was finished, the family turns around and headed
to the Arlington house. It is the former home of Robert E. Lee. It is located
atop a hill and it provides the best views in Washington D.C. Of course
this is a must see for father to have the opportunity to take some great
pictures. The house is now a memorial for Robert E. Lee who helped to heal
the nation after the Civil War.
7. Determine the central idea in this paragraph.
a. The family heads to the Arlington House
b. It is the former home of Robert E. Lee.
c. The house is a memorial.
© Price and Willoughby, LLC 2010-2012
© SymbolStix 2003-2012
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Lesson 4, Arlington Cemetery, Dim A
Reading ▪ Central Idea with Details
All the pictures were taken so now Sara and Tony want to see the
memorial for John F. Kennedy. They
check out the map to determine the
correct graveside.
Sara informs the family that there are
only two U.S. presidents buried at
Arlington
William
National
Howard
Taft
Cemetery.
is
the
other
president resting in Arlington.
After the death of John F. Kennedy, his
wife exressed the desire to mark the grave with an eternal flame, so a gas
company installed a gas line to fulfill her wish.
8. Determine the central idea in this paragraph.
a. All pictures are taken.
b. They check out the map to determine the correct graveside.
c. Sara and Tony go to see the memorial for John F. Kennedy.
© Price and Willoughby, LLC 2010-2012
© SymbolStix 2003-2012
8
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Lesson 4, Arlington Cemetery, Dim A
Reading ▪ Central Idea with Details
The twins have seen everything that they wanted to see in Arlington.
The family has covered quite some distance walking around in Arlington. All
of them are very exhausted and ready to head back to the hotel. On their
way to the hotel they grab a bite to eat and then rest up to take on the next
site the following morning.
9. Determine the central idea in this paragraph.
a. The twins are tired.
b. The family leaves Arlington.
c. They get a bite to eat.
© Price and Willoughby, LLC 2010-2012
© SymbolStix 2003-2012
9
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Lesson 4, Arlington Cemetery, Dim A