Main Idea

Many people have not heard giraffes make noises.  Giraffes do use sounds to "talk" with each other.  When hurt, giraffes make a low moo, something like a cow.  When frightened, they make a short, high sound.
What is the main idea?

• Giraffes do make noises.
• Giraffes talk all the time.
• Cows and Giraffes talk to each other.

You probably never thought of this, but your thumb is a very handy thing to have.  Try writing your name or tying your shoe without using your thumb.  Can you zip a zipper without your thumb?  Be nice to your thumb. It will do lots of things for you.
What is the main idea?

• We need our thumbs.
• Writing your name is hard.
• Zippers have thumbs.

Many people want to build their own homes.  They can learn how by going to school.  There are schools that teach people how to build houses all over the country.  People are proud of the homes they build themselves.
What is the main idea?

• Schools teach people.
• People buy homes.
• People like to build their own homes.

How do birds stay warm in the winter?  Their feathers keep their bodies warm.  The feathers keep the cold wind out.  Sometimes the birds sit down and cover their legs with their feathers.
What is the main idea?

• Feathers keep birds warm in winter.
• Birds like winter.
• Many birds fly south.

An old dead tree often becomes an apartment house.  Birds make their homes near the top.  Raccoons and squirrels make their homes below the birds.  Skunks, rabbits, and chipmunks dig rooms under the tree.
What is the main idea?

• Birds can fly high.
• Some animals like to dig.
• Animals often use trees for places to live.

The big turtle wanted to lay some eggs.  She dug a large hole.  The turtle left more than forty eggs ad covered them with sand.  In three months, many baby turtles crawled out of the ground.
What is the main idea?

• The turtle puts its eggs under the ground to hatch.
• The eggs took one month to hatch.
• Baby turtles are born without shells.

Your body has a lot of water and salt in it. Sometimes you eat too much salt.  Then you need more water.  You drink water so that your body does not have too much salt.
What is the main idea?

• Salt makes food taste better.
• Your body must have the right parts of water and salt.
• Milk has a lot of salt in it.