Summarizing the Main Idea pt. 2

Summarizing the Main Idea

Open Ended

Why is it important to think about the main idea of a text?

Open Ended

How would you summarize 'Old Mother Hubbard'?

Multiple Choice

While summarizing, do you have to include all the details?

• Yes

• No

Open Ended

Summarize Jack and Jill in one or two sentences.

Multiple Choice

What was the main idea in this text?

• Tobias' teacher was boring.

• Tobias was in geography class.

• Tobias was tired.

Open Ended

Which supporting details in the text show you the main idea?

Now, your turn!

Read the following passage and think about the main idea. There will be a question after each paragraph, so read carefully!

Whales are the biggest creatures that have ever lived on the earth. They are even bigger than the biggest dinosaurs were. Scientists think that whales once walked on land. They believe this because whales are not fish—they are mammals

Multiple Choice

What is the main idea of the first paragraph?

• Whales are bigger than the dinosaurs were.

• Whales are the biggest creatures on earth.

• Whales are mammals.

Not only are whales the biggest creatures on earth, they also are some of the smartest. They live in family groups. They communicate with each other, and hunt for food in groups. Mother whales keep their babies close by, and give them gentle taps to guide them in the right direction. Sometimes a whale will lift its head out of the water just to take a look around.

Multiple Choice

What is the main idea of the second paragraph?

• Whales are some of the smartest creatures on earth.

• Whales live in family groups.

• Mother whales keep their babies close by.

Because whales are mammals, they must breathe air. They breathe through a blowhole on their back. However, they can hold their breath for a very long time. Some kinds of whales can hold their breath for two hours at a time. Whales never really sleep. Instead, they swim along with their blowhole above the water.

Multiple Choice

What is the main idea of the third paragraph?

• Some kinds of whales can hold their breath for a very long time

• Whales must breathe air.

• Whales breathe through a blowhole.

Many kinds of whales migrate to warmer waters during the winter months. During the summer, they build up a layer of fat so that during migration they do not have to eat. Bears also eat during the summer to build up a layer of fat so that they can sleep during the winter. Some scientists think the prehistoric whales may have looked like gigantic bears.

Multiple Choice

What is the main idea of the fourth paragraph?

• Bears sleep during the winter.

• Whales do not eat while they are migrating.

• Many kinds of whales migrate for the winter.

Open Ended

What do you think should be the title of this passage?