Main Idea

Main Idea

What is the main idea of a paragraph?

• Tells us what the paragraph is mostly about

• Use the anchor chart below to learn some important clues to discovering main ideas

Multiple Choice

Which tells the definition of the main idea?

• Setting, Plot, Characters

• The Beginning. middle, and ending

• What a paragraph or text is mostly about

Multiple Choice

What is the main idea of this picture?

• Insects

• Sports

• Fruit

Multiple Choice

What is the main idea of this picture?

• A few students read alone,

• A student gives an important speech.

• A teacher is leading a small group activity.

Clues for Main Idea

• Look for a topic sentence (usually the first or last sentence)
• Look for repeated words, illustrations, or headings.
• Ask yourself if it was even discussed?
• Read all of your answer choices.

Multiple Choice

What kind of sentence tells the main idea of a paragraph?

• supporting detail

• example sentence

• topic sentence

Multiple Choice

If you wanted to find the main idea of an article, where should would you look first?

• In the first sentence

• in the second paragraph

• there is no place to look

Multiple Choice

If you can't figure out the main idea of a passage, what should you do?

• Try to recall every specific detail from the passage

• Read the passage over and over until you have it memorized

• Ask yourself general questions about the passage

Titles and Subtitles

• Always tell us the topic of the paragraph or section
• Details in the paragraph or section will match the title
• For examply

Use titles and headings to help you guess what the section is about,

• What is the name of the newspaper?
• What is the title of this section?
• What is the subheading?
• What do you think the article is about?

Multiple Choice

What might be the main idea of a book titled "Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables?"

• Tomatoes are hard to grow.

• It is important to eat vegetables and fruit.

• Spinach is good for your bones.

Multiple Choice

Which chapter would have information about lions, tigers, and snow leopards?

• Big Cats of the World

• Lion, King of the Jungle

• Save the Snow Leporards

Multiple Choice

If you read an essay about how important recycling is to our environment, what is the topic?

• littering

• recycling

• paper

Practice Text #1

There are many fun things to do at the beach. Swimming is one thing that can be done at the beach. Snorkeling is another thing that can be enjoyed. Playing beach volleyball can be a lot of fun. It is also fun to look for shells. Some people simply like to sunbathe.

Multiple Choice

What is the main idea?

• There are many fun things to do at the beach.

• It is also fun to look for shells.

• Some people simply like to sunbathe.

Multiple Choice

What would be a good title for this short passage?

• At the Beach with Dad

• Fun Things to Do at the Beach

• Sleeping in the Moonlight

Multiple Select

What supporting details did the author use to describe fun things at the beach?

Hint: Choose more than two, but less than four

• sleeping

• volleyball

• swimming

• playing in the sand

• snorkeling

Practice Text #2

Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Brown are bakers. They work at a store called Baked Goods to Go. Mrs. Jones works nights. She bakes cakes, cookies, and pies. Mrs. Brown works in the daytime. She bakes bread and rolls. Both Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Brown are very good bakers.

Multiple Choice

What is the main idea?

• Mrs. Jones bakes pies.

• Mrs. Brown bakes rolls.

• Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Brown are bakers.

Multiple Choice

What would be a good title for this short text?

• Meet the Women

• Meet the Bakers

• Meet the Teachers

Multiple Select

What characters were in the story? Hint: Pick more than 1, but less than three

• Mrs. Smith

• Mrs. Jones

• Mrs. Brown

• Mrs. Gray