Main Idea Review

Main Idea

What is it?

Main Idea

If the author is repeating some other words, then obviously they are important.

Words like: the, and, an, because, are, is, if, etc. are not key words

Used

Word

Times

Who

What

Where

Why

When

*You won’t always be able to identify all of the 5 W’s in a passage

Multiple Choice

What are the 5 W's?

• Who, what, when, where, why

• Who, what, when, where, why, how

• Whom, when, where, what, how, will

• Whose, which, how, when, where

Reorder

Reorder the following steps for finding the main idea.

• Read the passage

• Reread the passage and highlight repeated words

• Write the repeated words

• Use the repeated words to find the 5 W's

• Use the 5 W's to write your main idea sentence

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

​Finding repeated words and 5 W's can assist you with determining main idea.

In reality it will really help you to remember what you read about in the passage.

Multiple Choice

What is the 'WHO' in the following passage?

Liam trained for weeks to run in the school's 5K race. On Saturday morning, he arrived at Lincoln Park, nervous but excited. His family cheered from the sidelines as he sprinted across the finish line. Liam ran because he wanted to beat his personal best time.'

• Liam

• Ran in a 5K race

• Saturday morning

• Lincoln Park

• To beat his personal best time.

Multiple Choice

What is the 'WHAT' in the following passage?

On a rainy Thursday afternoon, Mia visited the public library downtown. While browsing the shelves, she found a book signed by her favorite author! Mia borrowed the book because she couldn’t wait to read the special message inside.

• Mia

• Found a signed book

• Rainy Thursday afternoon

• Public Library downtown

• She wanted to read the special message

Multiple Choice

What is the 'WHEN' in the following passage?

Last Friday, the fifth-grade class volunteered at the local animal shelter. They washed dogs, cleaned cages, and played with lonely cats. The students worked hard because they wanted to help the animals feel loved and cared for.

• Fifth grade class

• Volunteered at an animal shelter

• Last Friday

• Local animal shelter

• To help the animals feel loved and cared for

Multiple Choice

What is the 'WHERE' in the following passage?

Liam trained for weeks to run in the school's 5K race. On Saturday morning, he arrived at Lincoln Park, nervous but excited. His family cheered from the sidelines as he sprinted across the finish line. Liam ran because he wanted to beat his personal best time.'

• Liam

• Ran in a 5K race

• Saturday morning

• Lincoln Park

• To beat his personal best time.

Multiple Choice

What is the 'WHY' in the following passage?

On a rainy Thursday afternoon, Mia visited the public library downtown. While browsing the shelves, she found a book signed by her favorite author! Mia borrowed the book because she couldn’t wait to read the special message inside.

• Mia

• Found a signed book

• Rainy Thursday afternoon

• Public Library downtown

• She wanted to read the special message

Categorize

Options (5)

Sarah and Mr. Adams

Found Sarah's lost lunchbox

Yesterday during lunch

On the school bus

Sarah was very hungry and needed her lunch

Identify the 5 W's of the following passage.

Yesterday during lunch, Sarah realized she had left her lunchbox on the school bus. She quickly told Mr. Adams, the bus driver, who helped her find it. They searched the bus together and found it under a seat. Sarah was grateful because she was very hungry after a long morning of classes.

Who

What

When/Where

Why

Multiple Choice

What is the main idea of the following passage?

"Bees are important pollinators for many types of plants. Without bees, crops like apples, almonds, and blueberries would not thrive. Farmers sometimes rent beehives to help their fields grow strong and healthy."

• Bees are dangerous to crops.

• Farmers dislike bees.

• Bees are important for plant growth and farming.

• Blueberries are hard to grow.

Multiple Choice

What is the main idea of the following passage?

"Bicycles are becoming a popular way to travel in cities. They are cheap, environmentally friendly, and good for personal health. Many cities are building special bike lanes to make riding safer."

• Riding bikes can cause health problems

• Cities are banning bicycles

• More people are using bicycles because they are affordable and healthy

• Cars are better than bikes.

Now for the details.

• The details in a paragraph should support the central idea.

• Details are proof that you have the correct central idea.

Multiple Select

Supporting details prove the value of the main idea. What are they here?

Main idea: Homeless people have many problems.

Homeless people have many problems. In winter, it’s hard to stay warm and it gets too hot in summer. It’s also hard to keep things safe without a home. Worst is the lack of privacy.

• Homeless people have many problems.

• In winter, it’s hard to stay warm and it gets too hot in summer.

• t’s also hard to keep things safe without a home.

• Worst is the lack of privacy.

Multiple Choice

“Maria offered to help her mother clean the house. She vacuumed the living room and dusted the furniture. She picked up the toys

in the playroom. She ate a ham sandwich for

lunch. Then, she mopped the kitchen floor.”

Which sentence does not support the main idea that Maria helped her mother clean the house?

• Maria offered to help her mother clean the house.

• She vacuumed the living room and dusted the furniture.

• She picked up the toys

  in the playroom.

• She ate a ham sandwich for

  lunch.

• Then, she mopped the kitchen floor.

Multiple Choice

Find the sentence that does not support the main idea…

“Winter provides the opportunity for many

outdoor activities. Many people enjoy ice skating on a pond. Swimming in the pond in summer can also be fun. Skiing can be a thrilling experience too. After a new snowfall, you can even build a snowman!”

• Many people enjoy ice skating on a pond.

• Swimming in the pond in summer can also be fun.

• Skiing can be a thrilling experience too.

• After a new snowfall, you can even build a snowman!”

Multiple Choice

What detail supports that bees are important for crops?

"Bees are important pollinators for many types of plants. Without bees, crops like apples, almonds, and blueberries would not thrive. Farmers sometimes rent beehives to help their fields grow strong and healthy."

• Bees can fly long distances.

• Farmers rent beehives to help crops grow.

• Bees are very noisy.

• Bees are colorful insects.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is a supporting detail about why bicycles are popular?

"Bicycles are becoming a popular way to travel in cities. They are cheap, environmentally friendly, and good for personal health. Many cities are building special bike lanes to make riding safer."

• Bicycles are dangerous on roads.

• Cars are faster than bikes.

• Bicycles are cheap and good for the environment.

• Riding bikes can be boring.