Main Idea and Central Message

​Main Idea, Theme and Topic

​Knowing what is what and being able to accurately tell the difference

​Main Idea

​What is a Main Idea?

The main idea is the author's message about the topic.

It tells us what the story or article is mostly about.

The Main idea is always a sentence.​

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​Examples:

There are different ways to grow pumpkins.

​The tourism Paris gets is because of the Eiffel Tower.

​Penguins are one of the only birds able to survive in the Antarctic.

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Theme will always be a sentence.

Theme will never include character names or events about. the story

Theme is a broad, not specific​

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​Parts of a theme

Theme is the moral or lesson of the story.

It is what the story aims to teach us and apply to our own life.

Its part of a big picture! (not just the story​.

You do not have to agree with the.theme to find it!​

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​What is a theme?

​Theme

​Topic

​Definition of Topic:

noun: a matter dealt with in a text, discourse, or conversation; a subject.

In other words, it is the big item of discussion. ​

It is typically only a couple of words if not 1 word.​

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Examples: ​

Pumpkins, Eiffel Tower, Penguins, Dogs, Friends​

Match

Match the following word to their definition

• The subject of what an author is talking about

• The lesson or moral of the story

• What the article is specifically about for the most part

Topic

Theme

Main Idea

• Topic

• Theme

• Main Idea

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Open Ended

After reading or listening to this audio, what is the LESSON of the story? Explain using details from the story.

Audio Response

What do you think the LESSON of the story was and why? Use Details from the story to help you down.

Open Audio Recorder

Multiple Choice

Are all rocks the same? No way! Rocks can be different shapes, sizes, textures, and colors. There are 3 different types of rocks that can affect what a rock looks and feels like. The three types of rocks are sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic. Sedimentary rocks are a mixture of dirt, rocks, mud, shells, and other materials that are on the bottoms of oceans and other bodies of water, and get compacted together over many years. Sometimes you can even see different layers in sedimentary rocks. The second type of rock is the igneous rock. These rocks are created from magma that cools and hardens. Many rocks start out as igneous rocks. Igneous rocks have glass crystals filled with minerals in them. They do not usually have layers, and are very smooth. The third type of rock is the metamorphic rock. These rocks are formed when the other types of rocks are subjected to intense heat and pressure to change them. Metamorphic rocks are hard and smooth, like igneous rocks.

What is the TOPIC?

• There are 3 different types of rocks

• Rocks

• Most rocks start as igneous rocks

• Don't touch. rocks.

Multiple Choice

Are all rocks the same? No way! Rocks can be different shapes, sizes, textures, and colors. There are 3 different types of rocks that can affect what a rock looks and feels like. The three types of rocks are sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic. Sedimentary rocks are a mixture of dirt, rocks, mud, shells, and other materials that are on the bottoms of oceans and other bodies of water, and get compacted together over many years. Sometimes you can even see different layers in sedimentary rocks. The second type of rock is the igneous rock. These rocks are created from magma that cools and hardens. Many rocks start out as igneous rocks. Igneous rocks have glass crystals filled with minerals in them. They do not usually have layers, and are very smooth. The third type of rock is the metamorphic rock. These rocks are formed when the other types of rocks are subjected to intense heat and pressure to change them. Metamorphic rocks are hard and smooth, like igneous rocks.

WHAT IS THE MAIN IDEA?

• There are 3 different types of rocks

• Rocks

• Most rocks start as igneous rocks

• Don't touch. rocks.

​WARNING: TAKE NOTES ON THIS STORY WHILE IT IS GOING! YOU WILL NEED THEM!

Draw

Draw what the TOPIC of the story was.

Open Ended

What was the main idea of the story? Explain why and use clues from the text to support your main idea. (remember at least 3 details from the text)