Theme vs. Main Idea

Theme vs. Main Idea

​Remember that....

Theme is the LESSON you learn from a story that you can apply to your own life.

​

• ​Telling the truth is better than lying.

• ​Being prepared will help you succeed.

• ​No one trusts a liar.

​Main Idea is what the story or article is MOSTLY about. It does include character names and events. Theme DOESN'T.

​

​The SUBJECT/TOPIC of a piece of writing would be....

• ​Football

• ​Friendship

• ​Hurricanes

• ​Family

Multiple Choice

Theme or main idea?

Treat others like you want to be treated.

• Theme

• Main Idea

Multiple Choice

One summer, a grasshopper watched the ants work all day and all night storing seeds for the winter. "How boring," he said. "I will never work all day, I only want to play!" When winter came, the grasshopper looked and looked for food, but there was none around. He asked the ants for some food, but they told him that they worked hard for their food and they would not share any.

What's the THEME?

• Sharing is caring.

• You need to work to get what you want.

• The grasshopper was being lazy.

• The ants didn't want to share their food.

Multiple Choice

An octopus isn't fast enough to swim after a fish. The octopus must wait for a fish to swim by.  When the fish comes within reach, the octopus whips out his long arm to grasp it.  Then the octopus has a tasty meal.  

What is the main idea?

• How much fish an octopus eats

• How an octopus gets its food

• Why the octopus likes to eat

• why an octopus has 8 legs

Multiple Choice

Jon held the ball in his hands.  He bounced it slowly on the ground.  Once. Twice. He crouched low and then jumped.  The ball flew into the air.  Up, up, up, it went.  Then down, down, into the basket.  “Yes!” he yelled.  “Nothing but net!”

What's the main idea?

• How to throw a basketball.

• Jon could jump.

• Jon liked basketball.

• Jon makes a basket.

Multiple Choice

Jon held the ball in his hands.  He bounced it slowly on the ground.  Once. Twice. He crouched low and then jumped.  The ball flew into the air.  Up, up, up, it went.  Then down, down, into the basket.  “Yes!” he yelled.  “Nothing but net!”

Which sentence (supporting detail) shows us that Jon making a basket is the main idea?

• Jon held the ball in his hands.

• He crouched low and jumped.

• The ball flew in the air.

• "Nothing but net!"

Multiple Choice

I can't wait until this weekend! We’re going to my grandparents’ house and my entire family will be there. I will spend most of my time playing games with my cousins. We always have such a good time together! The day goes by so fast, and by the end we are all exhausted... but we still don’t want to leave!

What is the main idea?

• Weekends are times to travel.

• The author's grandparents live far away.

• The author enjoys spending time with her family.

• The author is sad to leave her cousins.