main idea and supporting details

Main Idea Definition 

• what the text is mostly about

Supporting Details Definition 

Details provide information to prove the main idea. 

Read the sentence below.

On Monday, when it was cold and windy, it snowed outside.

* Think about what details are in the sentence.

~It was cold on Monday.

~It was windy on Monday.

~When it was cold and windy, it snowed.

~It snowed on Monday.

~It snowed outside.

Now, read the sentence below.

On Monday, when it was cold and windy, it snowed outside.

*Think about all of the details in the sentence. What is the sentence mostly about?

~The details in the sentence all have to do with weather. They tell you what the weather was like on Monday. The main idea or central idea of the sentence is " What the weather was like on Monday."