Main Idea and Supporting Details #9

On April 10, 1912, the Titanic left England for New York. The great ship had all the latest safety features and had been declared unsinkable. But on April 14, lookouts spotted an iceberg. The crew swerved to miss it, but it was too late. A few hours later, the Titanic sank, and 1,595 of the 2,340 people aboard perished.

What is the main idea?

• No ship can survive being hit by an iceberg.

• The Titanic's crew caused it to sink.

• No ship is totally unsinkable.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

For more than 14,000 years, dogs have been helping humans. They’ve been used to hunt for food and to herd animals. They’ve pulled carts and sleds, and rescued people from all kinds of dangers. They’ve delivered messages and chased down criminals. On top of all this, they’ve been loyal companions. Is there a better animal anywhere?

What is the main idea?

• Dogs are better than cats.

• Dogs are valuable to humankind.

• Dogs help people because they want to be their companions.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

Phillis Wheatley was born in Africa in 1753. In 1761, she was purchased as a slave by John Wheatley of Boston. The Wheatley family treated Phillis kindly. They taught her English and how to read and write. Soon Phillis began writing poetry. Her poems were so popular that George Washington asked to meet her after reading a poem she wrote about him.

What is the main idea?

• Phillis Wheatley was born in Africa and sold into slavery.

• Phillis Wheatley was a slave and a poet.

• Phillis Wheatley got to meet George Washington.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

The word “limey” actually has its roots in the wisdom of Benjamin Franklin. He recognized the value of fruit. He even coined the phrase, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Following his advice, the British navy began giving each sailor a lime a day. The limes prevented scurvy, a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C. Since then, Englishmen are often called “limeys.”

What is the main idea?

• To explain where the word "limey" came from

• To describe the wisdom of Ben Franklin

• To learn how to prevent scurvy

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

Organ wrens are known for their beautiful song, which actually sounds like an organ playing. There are several legends surrounding the organ wren. One is that when it starts to sing, all the other birds stop to hear it. Another is that the organ wren brings good luck. Still a third is that the organ wren is actually a god turned into a bird.

What is the main idea?

• Organ wrens are named after the sound they make.

• When an organ wren sings, other birds sop to hear it.

• Organ wren sing so beautifully that people have created legends about them.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

When’s the last time you bought something for a few pennies? Can you remember? That’s one reason some people think pennies should no longer be made. People don’t really spend pennies anymore. Also, you can’t use pennies in vending machines. Finally, it costs more than a penny to make a penny. So the government’s actually losing money by making pennies.

What is the main idea?

• The government is going to stop making pennies.

• There are several reasons pennies shouldn't be made.

• The government should stop making pennies because it's too expensive.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

Da-Marr was upset. Uncle Theo had given him a stamp-collecting kit for his birthday. Da-Marr had no interest in collecting stamps. Now he was supposed to send Uncle Theo a thank-you note. Da-Marr didn’t feel like thanking him. Then he remembered that Uncle Theo probably didn’t have a lot of money to spend. Da-Marr picked up his pen.

What is the main idea?

• Sometimes people give gifts that others don't appreciate.

• When someone gives a gift, the other person should say thank-you, no matter what the gift is.

• People deserve more thanks for stamp collecting kits.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

In the 1800, passenger pigeons were the most numerous bird in North America. By 1914, humans had hunted them to extinction. They killed young birds in the summer, so few birds grew up. They killed the adults all year, so few young were born. In 1900, a 14-year-old boy shot the last wild passenger pigeon. In 1914, the last one in captivity died.

What is the main idea?

• Over-hunting can lead to extinction.

• Humans should not hunt for food.

• Passenger pigeons were once the most numerous bird in North America.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

Crows like to eat walnuts. However, walnuts have extremely hard shells, so crows drop the nuts in front of cars. When a car drives over a walnut---instant nutcracker! What happens if the car misses the nut? The crow simply moves it somewhere else on the road. So the next time you refer to someone as a “bird brain,” you might just be complimenting them!

What is the main idea?

• Crows use cars to break walnuts.

• Crows are intelligent birds. They have amazing problem solving skills.

• Bird brain is a compliment, because all birds are smart.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

Nike was the Greek goddess of victory. Her name actually means “victory” in Greek and is pronounced NEE-kay. Nike went to war with the Greeks and helped them win battles. She also led them to victory in other areas, including athletics. Today we know Nike best from a line of athletic products that had borrowed her name.

What is the main idea?

• To explain that Nike helped the Greeks win wars

• To explain that Nike led the Greeks to victory in athletics

• To explain who Nike was

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.5.2