Lesson on Main Idea

Sample Small Group Strategy Lesson: Main Idea

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Main Idea

Have you ever listened to a person talk and you just wanted to know what the main point of their speech was? Well, today we are going to talk about discovering the main idea.

Main Idea

• Today we are going to learn how to determine the main idea in a passage or paragraph.

• We will know that we are successful when we have been able to correctly identify the main idea of a text.

Main Idea

• The main idea is the author’s central idea or main point that he or she wants to say about a topic.

• To determine the main idea of a text, read the passage, determine the topic, and then decide what the author was mainly trying to say about that topic. That is the main idea.

• You can tell if your main idea is correct because it will be supported by the other details in the passage. Make sure that your answer is the main idea and not one of the supporting details.

Multiple Choice

Leaves

Trees are a vital part of our survival here on Earth. Like other plants, trees use photosynthesis to produce oxygen that is released into the air for us to breathe. Branches grow out of the trunk with twigs at their ends. These twigs transport water and nutrients from the trunk to the leaves or needles. The leaves and needles are positioned on the twigs to capture the maximum sunlight that they will use to produce food for the entire tree. The leaves use the energy from the sun to absorb carbon dioxide from the air and use the water and nutrients from the soil to make sugars to feed the tree. This process is known as photosynthesis. As a byproduct, trees produce the gas that is vital for our survival. They release oxygen that we breathe.

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

• Roots spread out far into the soil and anchor the tree in the ground so that it can stand straight.

• The leaves and needles are positioned to capture maximum sunlight to produce food for the entire tree.

• The trunk is covered with a tough outer layer of bark that protects the inner layers of the tree.

• The tree’s main stem, the trunk, gives it shape and

  supports the crown.

Multiple Choice

Long ago, people believed that Earth was at the center of the universe. They believed that the sun and planets moved around Earth. It certainly appeared that way. Everyday the sun rose in the east and set in the west. For centuries, people believed that the Earth did not move.

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

• The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

• The Earth controls the other planets and stars.

• The moon, stars, and planets revolve around the sun.

• People believed the Earth is at the center of the universe.

Multiple Choice

Although many people think a koala is a bear, it is not. The koala is a type of mammal called a marsupial. A kangaroo is also a marsupial. These mammals carry their babies in a pouch. The kangaroo’s pouch is on her stomach, but the koala’s pouch is on her back. Both feed their babies milk and keep them secure in their pouch until they are strong enough to survive on their own.

The main idea of the paragraph is:

• The koala is not a bear.

• The kangaroo is nothing like the koala.

• The kangaroo and koala are mostly alike but have some differences.

• The kangaroo and koala are exactly alike.

Multiple Choice

Lucy would never get her room clean. It looked like a tornado had hit it. She couldn’t believe how much damage her friends had done. They pull everything out and didn’t put anything back. Glue was spilled all over her rug, and fingernail polish was spilled on her new bedspread. They had even wiped their chocolate covered fingers on her curtains. Wow! What a mess.

The main idea of the paragraph is:

• There is glue on the rug.

• Lucy's friends are messy.

• A tornado hit the house.

• Lucy's friends ate chocolate.

Multiple Choice

Tim and his family went fishing today. They stopped on the way to the lake and bought all of their favorite snacks. When they got to the lake, they ate and then started fishing. Tim caught four fish, and his brother caught three. They laughed and gave each other a high-five every time they caught a fish. The whole family had a great time. Maybe they would go fishing again soon.

The main idea of the paragraph is:

• Tim caught four fish.

• He ate his favorite snack.

• The family had a great time.

• They ate fish for supper.

Main Idea

Today we have been able to determine the main idea of a text in a passage. As you read through text, make sure that you identify the topic and what the author is mainly trying to say. Here is an example of an SOL question on that skill.