main topic

Main Topic

Good readers gather key details to help them discover the main topic of what they are reading. The facts and examples in a text are key details.

You can represent the main topic as a waffle cone bowl. It holds all of the key details, which are like scoops of ice cream. 

Main Topic #1

 One way to find the main topic of a text is to look for words or ideas that are repeated.

Wigwam homes were used by some Native American tribes many years ago. Some Native American tribes made huts out of wood, straw, reeds, and other materials you can find in nature. The best known Native American home is the teepee.

Main Topic #2

The Plains Indians were nomadic. That means that they moved around. These Native Americans were hunters. They followed herds of animals. The Plains Indians lived in teepees because teepees were easy to take apart and move. People were able to take apart the teepees and carry the pieces wherever they went. Plains Indians were able to move with their houses. 

Open Ended

What is another key detail from the passage that can help us find the main topic? Read the text below to find another key detail.

The Plains Indians were nomadic. That means that they moved around. These Native Americans were hunters. They followed herds of animals. The Plains Indians lived in teepees because teepees were easy to take apart and move. People were able to take apart the teepees and carry the pieces wherever they went. Plains Indians were able to move with their houses.

What is the Main Topic?

Now that we have found all of the key details let's use the details to find the main topic.

Multiple Choice

Choose the main topic that is the best fit for the passage.

The Plains Indians were nomadic. That means that they moved around. These Native Americans were hunters. They followed herds of animals. The Plains Indians lived in teepees because teepees were easy to take apart and move. People were able to take apart the teepees and carry the pieces wherever they went. Plains Indians were able to move with their houses.

• Early American homes on the plains.

• Hunting is essential to living in the plains.

Take Away...

Good readers gather key details to help them discover the main topic of what they are reading. The facts and examples in a text are key details.

You can represent the main topic as a waffle cone bowl. It holds all of the key details, which are like scoops of ice cream. 

Houses In The Great Plains

People’s homes are shaped by their environments. People who live in Florida might have hurricane windows. People who live in the North may have fireplaces. The homes of early settlers and Native Americans were also changed by their environments. The Plains Indians were nomadic. These Native Americans were hunters. The Plains Indians lived in teepees because teepees were easy to take apart and move. The settlers built their homes out of sod. Sod is dug from the ground. Sod kept them cool and protected the people from bad weather. Early Americans worked hard to create homes for themselves and their families. They used whatever they could find to make their lives easier and safer. Sod huts kept settlers in one place, and teepees helped people to move around. Although they were different, they were both safe places that people could call home.