Theme and Main Idea

Theme vs.

Central Idea

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Theme

• The lesson or moral of the text

• Theme is universal (We can all relate to it)

• There can be more than one theme

• We have to infer the theme (make an educated guess) using clues in the text

Central Idea

• The author's main point

• Central idea is specific to the text

• There can be more than one central idea

• We have to infer the central idea (make an educated guess) using clues in the text

What is the BIG difference between theme and central idea?

Theme is universal (we can all relate to it)

It is usually used in fiction.

Central idea is specific to the text (it does not apply to most people)

It is usually used in nonfiction.

Let's Practice!

Answer each question about theme and central idea.

Take your time!

Multiple Choice

There can be more than one theme in a story and there can be more than one central idea idea in a text.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Theme and central idea are not usually:

• Supported by text evidence

• Directly stated in the text

Multiple Choice

There will be clues in the text that help me infer the theme or central idea.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Central Idea usually applies to:

• Fiction (stories, plays, poems, etc.)

• Nonfiction (articles, biographies, etc.)

Multiple Choice

Theme is usually for:

• Fiction (stories, plays, poems, etc.)

• Nonfiction (Articles, biographies, etc.)

Multiple Select

Theme is...

(Select all that apply)

• The universal message/lesson

• The author's main point

• The moral of the text

• Specific to the text

Multiple Choice

Is this a theme or central idea?

Feeding the animals at dawn is best when you live on a farm.

• Theme

• Central Idea

Multiple Choice

Is this a theme or central idea?

Always make sure you have the correct order before leaving McDonalds.

• Theme

• Central Idea

Multiple Choice

Is this a theme or central idea?

Treat others as you wish to be treated.

• Theme

• Central Idea

Multiple Choice

Is this a theme or central idea?

Scientists do not know what happened to many ancient civilizations.

• Theme

• Central Idea

Multiple Choice

Is this a theme or central idea?

Curiosity leads to discovery.

• Theme

• Central Idea

Multiple Choice

Is this a theme or central idea?

Hard work and patience pay off.

• Theme

• Central Idea

Multiple Choice

Is this a theme or central idea?

Treat others with respect and kindness.

• Theme

• Central Idea

Multiple Choice

I can't wait until this weekend! We’re going to my grandparents’ house and my entire family will be there. I will spend most of my time playing games with my cousins. We always have such a good time together! The day goes by so fast, and by the end we are all exhausted... but we still don’t want to leave!
What is the main idea?

• Weekends are times to travel.
• The author enjoys spending time with her family.
• The author's grandparents live far away.
• The author is sad to leave her cousins.

Multiple Choice

A Dog, to whom the butcher had thrown a bone, was hurrying home with his prize as fast as he could go. As he crossed a narrow bridge, he looked down and saw his reflection in the quiet water as if in a mirror. But the greedy Dog thought he saw a real Dog carrying a bone much bigger than his own. If he had stopped to think he would have known better. But instead of thinking, he dropped his bone and sprang at the Dog in the river, only to find himself swimming for dear life to reach the shore. At last he managed to scramble out, and as he stood sadly thinking about the good bone he had lost, he realized what a foolish Dog he had been.
What is the theme?

• Be honest.
• Don't be greedy.
• Always share your things with others.
• Be respectful to others.

Multiple Choice

The theme of a story is the...

• climax
• exposition
• life lesson
• problem

Multiple Choice

The boys never expected to get caught stealing the bag of chips, but the security camera caught their theft.

• Theme
• Main Idea

Multiple Choice

Never give up on something that is important to you.

• Theme
• Main Idea

Multiple Choice

Even if someone has something else that you want, you should still be thankful for what you have.

• Theme
• Main Idea

Multiple Choice

What the story is mostly about

• main idea

• Theme

Multiple Choice

The message, lesson, or moral of a story.

• Main Idea

• Theme

Multiple Choice

What is the difference between THEME and MAIN IDEA?

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

Multiple Choice

Where can you find the main idea?

• The beginning of a paragraph, the end of a paragraph, or ask yourself "what is this story mainly about?".
• The beginning and end of a paragraph
• The beginning of a paragraph, the middle of a paragraph, or the end of a paragraph.
• The main idea cannot be found in a text.

Multiple Choice

What is the main idea of a story?

• the most important idea in a paragraph

• the "message" of life lesson

• to inform the reader

• to entertain the reader

Multiple Choice

What is the theme of a story?

• the "life lesson" or moral

• to persuade

• the central idea

• to inform

Multiple Select

The author's purpose is to...? Choose all that apply.

• entertain

• persuade

• write

• inform

Multiple Choice

Read the passage.

Kittens need special care. You have to feed kittens twice a day. They have a lot of energy. You need to play with them often. Kittens will chew on almost anything they find. You have to watch them closely.

Choose the main idea.

• Kittens will chew on almost anything.

• Kittens need special care.

• Kittens liked to be rubbed.

• Kittens are man's best friend.

Multiple Choice

Read the passage.

The puppy began to eat, but then he stopped. He yawned and stretched. He chased his tail. He rolled over and barked. He licked his paw. Finally, he went back to his dish and finished eating.

What's the main idea?

• The puppy likes to eat.

• The puppy takes a long time to eat.

• The puppy was tired.

• The puppy chased his tail.

Multiple Choice

Choose the main idea.

Spots was a large grey and white cat. Spots lived in a barn on a farm. Spots liked living in the barn. It was warm in the winter and cool in the summer. There were many mice for Spots to chase. Best of all, Spots had a soft place to sleep in the corner of the barn.

• The barn was dirty.

• Spots was grey and white.

• The barn was a good place for Spots to live.

• Spots often slept outside when it rained.

Multiple Choice

What is the main idea?

Sully had always dreamed of getting a Jack Russell terrier puppy, and she reminded her mother of this frequently. On Sully’s birthday one year, Sully’s mother, Ms. Reyes, met her daughter after school and told her they had to pick up a few things for dinner. The market was right next to a pet store! But Ms. Reyes bought only sugar, milk, and eggs for a birthday cake, and then they drove home without so much as a glance at the pet store. When they arrived home, Ms. Reyes said, “Why don’t you go play in your room? I think there might be a surprise in there for you.” Sully rushed to her room and flung open the door. Sure enough, on her bed was a puppy—but it was a stuffed toy. Sully was delighted with the toy and thanked her mother, but she still longed for a real, live pet. That night after dinner, after Sully had opened presents from her sister and friends, Ms. Reyes said, “Sully, would you go into the pantry and bring me some paper towels?” Sully rose from the table and opened the pantry door. There on the floor was a tiny baby dog! “Surprise!” shouted her family from the table, and they all got up to see their new pet. Sully finally had the puppy for which she had always wished.

• Sully finally got the dog she wanted!

• Sully's mother didn't like dogs.

• Sully's birthday party had a puppy cake.

• Sully's dog was made out of paper towels.

Multiple Choice

Choose the main idea.

Do you remember when Mom, Dad, you, and I used to gather around the radio after dinner? That was the best. We would listen to all those great shows with our favorite superheroes. We'd sing along to the theme songs we used to know by heart--in fact, I still know most of them. Then there were the science-fiction shows, with all their marvelous sound effects and crazy situations. The comedy shows were always Dad's favorite. He would laugh enormously at every joke, and get the whole family laughing, too.

• The whole family enjoyed listening to the radio together.

• The whole family sang along with the radio.

• Dad loved the comedy shows.

• The whole family watches Netflix now.

Multiple Choice

Last summer, Alphonse worked at a bakery. He had to get up early in the morning, before sunrise, and walk to the bakery when the streets were still empty. His job was to help bake rolls and pastries. After Alphonse and the baker put the large metal trays in the oven, the rich smell of rolls baking would fill the shop and make them hungry. Then they would eat their breakfast together. The baker was a kind man, and the pastries Alphonse learned to make were delicious!

What would be a good title for this passage?

• My Summer with Alphonse

• Working at Night

• Alphonse’s Job Last Summer

• Making Rolls and Pastries

Multiple Choice

Choose the main idea.

The piano as we know it today is roughly the same as it always has been. A piano is actually a string instrument, though it’s played by striking keys attached to the strings. The first piano, known as a clavichord, was a version of a harp turned on its side and enclosed in a small box. You can still see examples of a clavichord, which looks like an oblong box with a keyboard running nearly the length of one long side. A clavichord would fit on your lap, while a modern piano is much larger. Since about 1450, keyboards have remained the same, except that the placement of the black and white keys was reversed. But with that single exception, there are representations of pianos as they look today dating back to the fourteenth century. The instrument works so well that there has been little reason to modify it over time.

• The piano has not changed much over time.

• The piano was known as the clavichord.

• The piano is cool to play.

• The piano has black and white keys.

Multiple Choice

Choose the main idea.

Susan’s jacket was her trademark. She wore it everywhere, and it was one of a kind. The jacket was styled like a men’s sport coat. It was made of green sharkskin with gold-and-black leopard-print lapels. The lining was made of the same fabric as the lapels. Sometimes leopard-print jackets can be expensive. Embroidered on the back of the jacket was a gold pyramid with a single eye on top, like the design on a dollar bill. Everyone knew Susan by her jacket.

• Susan's jacket was one-of-a-kind.

• Susan's jacket had a hood.

• Susan wore her jacket everywhere.

• Susan's jacket was ugly.

Multiple Choice

Read the passage.

Computers have gotten much smaller and more useful over time. The first computer was very different from the computers we use today. First of all, it was much larger—the size of a whole room—and it did only mathematical computations. Some people like to do math in their heads. A computer correctly predicted that Eisenhower would win the 1952 election, even when opinion polls predicted a landslide victory for the other candidate. Computer usefulness grew to the point that Time magazine selected the computer as “Man of the Year” in 1982—although the author of the article wrote his piece on a typewriter.

What is the main idea?

• Computers have gotten much smaller and more useful over time.

• Computers have now been replaced by cellphones.

• Computers can only do math problems.

• Computers have become human, as they were in Time magazine.

Multiple Choice

My friend Randolph plays in the school band with me and he is a lot of fun to have in class. He distracts me from playing sometimes and makes our teacher, Mr. Antonio, get angry with us. But he makes me look forward to band rehearsal, which is not an easy thing to do at all.

Randolph and Mr. Antonio don't get along very well because of Randolph's antics. Just yesterday, Tammy, the girl that plays trumpet with me and Randolph, was being noisy in class. Instead of blaming Tammy for distracting the class, he kept scolding my friend. I didn't think it was very fair, and neither did Randolph.

What would be a good title for this passage?

• Randolph the Wise

• Band Rehearsal

• Tammy and her Trumpet

• My Friend Randolph

Multiple Choice

What is this letter about?

Dear Mom,

I'm writing you from the fabulous city of Santiago. It's amazing to see the Andes Mountains covered in snow in June. I am so happy to be staying with the Alero family. Their house is on the outskirts of town, and it has a large yard where we can play outside on the days it isn't raining.

Outside my window I can see a beautiful persimmon tree. The persimmons look like orange balls hung all over the tree. I tried to eat a persimmon for dessert one night, but it made my tongue go numb! I don't think I'll try it again, but it was fun to taste something that I'd only read about in books. It's not too cold here yet, but we've had a lot of rain.

I can't wait to see you again when I get home. I hope your summer is warm and sunny!

• She is lonely and wants to come home.

• She is telling her mom about her visit in Santiago.

• She wants her mom to come visit the Alero family.

• She is giving an opinion about Santiago.

Multiple Choice

Everyone knows the story of the fisherman who one day pulled a magic fish from the river. Not only was the fish huge, but it could also talk. It said in a small voice, "Fisherman, throw me back into the river, and I'll grant you three wishes."

"I don't need any wishes," the man said. "My life is great just the way it is." And he threw the fish back into the river.

The next day another fisherman came along. Again, the magic fish was caught. "Fisherman," said the huge fish in a small voice, "throw me back into the river and I'll grant you three wishes."

"Hmm, let's see," said the man. "How about some lunch, fresh bait for my hook, and a new pair of boots without holes in them?" The fish granted the man his wishes and leapt back into the river.

The next day yet another fisherman came along. News of the magic fish had spread throughout the village. All day he fished, and he caught lots of huge fish to feed his hungry family. But not a single one of them could talk.

After a while, he started getting hungry too. Finally, he decided not to wait any longer. He would just have to choose -- eat well tonight or go hungry wishing for things he didn't have? When he thought about it that way, he decided to go home to his family.

Choose the main theme.

• A fisherman learns the value of what he already has.

• A magic fish tries to find the river where it came from.

• A kind fisherman helps a magic fish.

• Three men get wishes.

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

5. What is the difference between THEME and MAIN IDEA?

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

• The theme is what the story is about and main idea is the universal lesson it teaches.