Summarizing Main Idea and Theme

Theme

Summary

Main Idea

Multiple Choice

One summer's day, a merry Grasshopper was dancing, singing and playing his violin with all his heart. He saw an Ant passing by working hard to store food for the winter. “Come and sing with me instead of working so hard,” said the Grasshopper “Let’s have fun together.” “I must store food for the winter,” said the Ant,“ and I advise you to do the same.” “Don’t worry about winter, it’s still very far away,” said the Grasshopper, laughing at him. But the Ant wouldn’t listen and continued to work. When winter came, the starving Grasshopper went to the Ant’s house and humbly begged for something to eat. “If you had listened to my advice in the summer you would not now be in need,” said the Ant. “I’m afraid you will have to go without supper,” and he closed the door.
What is the theme?

• share with your neighbor
• work before you play
• be respectful
• don't be greedy

Multiple Choice

During a baseball game, Tanner tried to tag a player leaving first base. When the umpire called the player out, Tanner immediately informed the umpire that he in fact did not tag the runner. Two weeks later, the very same umpire was at another one of Tanner’s baseball games. Tanner was playing short stop and tagged a runner as they approached third base. When the umpire called the player safe, Tanner didn’t say a word, but the umpire noticed the surprised look on Tanner’s face. “Did you tag the runner?” she asked Tanner. When Tanner told her that he did tag the runner, the umpire changed her decision and called the player out. The coaches and parents were furious, but the umpire stood by her decision.
What is the theme?

• You should cheat to win.
• Always work hard.
• It pays to be honest.
• Teamwork is best.

Multiple Choice

Which of these things is not related to the "theme" in a story?

• how a character is feeling
• a "life lesson" the main character learns
• a big idea that people from any culture or any place can understand
• the moral of the story

Multiple Choice

Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer.  Soccer players learn how to dribble and pass the ball.  They also learn how to control the ball so they can eventually score.  Most importantly, soccer players learn how to work together with their teammates.
What is the main idea?

• They also learn how to control the ball so they can eventually score.
• Soccer players learn how to dribble.
• They learn how to work together as teammates.
• Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer.

Multiple Select

Cindy and Matthew are sister and brother. They both love watching tv when they are not doing homework or playing with their friends. One day Matthew was watching tv in the living when Cindy came in and changed the channel without asking. Matthew was in the middle of his favorite tv show, Henry Danger, but Cindy really wanted the tv because there was a new episode of Cupcake Wars on. Matthew and Cindy argued about who can watch tv when they were interrupted by their dad. Their dad told them they had to learn how to share. They wanted their dad to help them decide who could watch but he thought it was better for them to figure it out on their own. Cindy and Matthew were upset that they had to solve the issue on their own. They both really wanted to watch tv and did not want to give it up for the other person. Cindy sat down on the couch and held the remote in her hand. Matthew begged her to change the channel but she would not. They began arguing all over again until Matthew decided that he did not care anymore because he missed the entire episode anyway. Cindy felt bad that Matthew did not get to see his show, she knows that if it was her she would be really sad as well so she thought on a way where they both could watch their shows without interrupting the other. Cindy told Matthew her idea which was they could both record their shows and watch them at different times. They each had one hour to watch tv and then had to switch with the other person. This way everyone could watch what they wanted, whenever they had the time. After creating the plan, Matthew and Cindy never argued about who could watch tv after that and their dad was really proud of them for fixing the issue on their own.

What is the main idea?

• Learning how to compromise is important

• Matthew's favorite TV show is Henry Danger

• Their dad did not help solve the issue

• Cindy came up with an idea

Multiple Choice

A summary does what?

• nothing
• tells an opinion
• makes an educated guess
• is a shorter way to explain a text with important information or key points

Multiple Choice

Tomorrow is Jill's birthday. She is excited because she gets to pick where she will eat dinner. Will it be Mexican food at the Big Enchilada House? Or will it be fried chicken at the Chicken Shack, or a big cheeseburger at Al's Hamburger Palace. She just couldn't decide. Then there was always the Pizza Shop with that great pepperoni pizza. How would she ever decide? Maybe she would just flip a coin.
The Summary of this passage is:

• Jill has many restaurants to choose from for her birthday.
•  Jill loves Mexican food.
• The Pizza Shop has the best pizza in town.
•  Jill will choose a place by flipping a coin.

Multiple Choice

Which best describes a summary?

• a really long detailed piece of writing

• the entire text told in your own words

• a thing that teachers make you write

• the main ideas and important details of a text

Multiple Choice

Mark wanted to be a great skater. But he didn't want to spend the hours practicing. He wished he could just do the tricks easily. Mark's dream was to have everyone stop and stare when he entered the skate park. He wanted them to say, "Mark is the best skater in the whole world."

What is the summary?

• Mark wants everyone to think he's a great skater without doing the hard work.

• Mark practices very hard to become a great skater.

• Mark is the best skater at the park.

• Mark wants to learn how to skate so he can compete.

Multiple Choice

During a baseball game, Tanner tried to tag a player leaving first base. When the umpire called the player out, Tanner immediately informed the umpire that he in fact did not tag the runner. Two weeks later, the very same umpire was at another one of Tanner’s baseball games. Tanner was playing short stop and tagged a runner as they approached third base. When the umpire called the player safe, Tanner didn’t say a word, but the umpire noticed the surprised look on Tanner’s face. “Did you tag the runner?” she asked Tanner. When Tanner told her that he did tag the runner, the umpire changed her decision and called the player out. The coaches and parents were furious, but the umpire stood by her decision.
What is the theme?

• You should cheat to win.
• Always work hard.
• It pays to be honest.
• Teamwork is best.

Multiple Choice

What is the main difference between THEME and MAIN IDEA.

• Theme is a universal lesson, and main idea is what a story is about.

• Theme is what a story is about, and main idea is the universal lesson it teaches.

Multiple Choice

There are many fun things to do at the beach.  Swimming is one thing that can be done at the beach.  Snorkeling is another thing that can be enjoyed.  Playing beach volleyball can be a lot of fun.  It is also fun to look for shells.  Some people simply like to sunbathe.
What is the main idea?

• There are many fun things to do at the beach.
• It is also fun to look for shells.
• Some people simply like to sunbathe.
• Going to the beach to swim can be fun.

Multiple Choice

The best definition of theme is...

• The lesson the author is teaching.

• The message the author is sending.

• A word that summarizes the story.

• The character's main problem.

Multiple Choice

Do you ever wonder how you taste things? You owe your sense of taste to your taste buds. We have 9,000 taste buds just on the tongue alone. There are also taste buds on the roof of your mouth. You even have taste buds on the back of your throat.
What does the author want you to learn from the passage?

• Why we can taste only certain things.
• That we taste through our noses
• Where taste buds are found
• We have taste buds on our tongues

Multiple Choice

Read the following sentence.

Friendship helps people get through hard times.

The sentence above is an example of a _________________.

• plot

• character

• main idea

• theme

Multiple Choice

Read the following sentence.

A woman risks her life to spy for the Union during the Civil War.

The sentence above is an example of a __________________.

• plot

• character

• main idea

• theme

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of THEME?

• Carry your laptops with two hands at all times.

• Cereal is the healthiest food you can eat.

• How much wood a woodchuck could chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood.

• Life is short; make the most of it.

Multiple Choice

One way you could figure out the theme is to...

• Skim through the story

• Just read the beginning of the story

• Think about what the character has learned

• Read the ending of the story