Giant pandas live in bamboo forests in China, but their habitat is disappearing. The average giant panda eats about 30 pounds (14 kg) of bamboo each day. Unfortunately, the forests are being cut down and the giant panda is losing its habitat. What is the main idea of this paragraph?

Giant pandas are losing their habitats.

Giant pandas eat a lot of bamboo.

Guinea pigs may be pets in the United States, but in Peru, they are dinner. Guinea pigs are a good source of protein for many people who live in Peru. They can also be a much needed source of income for people who raise them to sell. What is the main idea of this paragraph?

In Peru, many people eat Guinea pigs.

Guinea pigs are a good source of protein.

Guinea pigs are cute and fluffy.

Strong magnets are put into some roller coasters. They are also put into the end of the track. As the coaster approaches the end of the track, the attracting forces of the magnets bring it to a gentle stop. What is the main idea of this paragraph?

Some kinds of roller coasters use magnets to make them stop.

Roller coasters stop at the end of the track.

The Maasal people in East Africa depend on their cattle for most of their food. They sell cattle to outsiders to pay for the things that they need. They spend most of their time tending to their cows. What is the main idea of this paragraph?

The lives of the Maasai people are centered around their cattle.

The Maasai spend most of their time tending their cattle.

The Maasai people live in East Africa.

Before toothbrushes were invented, people cleaned their teeth with small twigs. The first toothbrushes were made from bones and bristles from boars, horsehairs or even feathers. Today the bristles on most toothbrushes are made from nylon. What is the main idea of this paragraph?

Before toothbrushes were invented, people used natural objects to clean their teeth.

People used to clean their teeth with twigs.

Most toothbrushes are made from nylon.

Rabbits live together in burrows. Their babies are born blind and without fur. Hares live alone above ground. Their babies are born with fur and are not blind. In addition, hares are usually bigger than rabbits. What is the main idea of this passage?

Hares and rabbits are not the same.

Rabbits live together in burrows.

In Washington State, the Department of Fish and Wildlife gives each participating classroom 500 salmon eggs. When the eggs hatch, the children care for baby salmon and learn about their lifecycle. When the salmon are big enough, the class goes on a field trip to release the salmon into a stream or river. What is the main idea of this passage?

School children in Washington State are raising salmon.

The salmon are released into streams and rivers.

Each class gets 500 salmon eggs.

One day in Switzerland a man named George de Mestral decided to take his dog for a walk. When he got back to his house, he saw that there were many small burrs clinging to his dog's fur. He examined under a microscope how the burrs were sticking and ended up using what he saw to invent Velcro. Velcro is now a very popular sticking material used on shoes and other products. What is the main idea of this paragraph?

The idea for velcro came from nature.

George de Mestral invented velcro.

George de Mestral's dog had burrs cling to its fur, when it went for a walk.

Christopher Paolini was just 15 years old when he wrote the first draft to the fantasy book, Eragon . His parents helped him to self publish and to promote the book in schools and libraries. Three years later, Knopf Books for Young Readers asked Christopher's family if they could publish the book. Today, Eragon is a best seller! What is the main idea of this paragraph?

Christopher Paolini became an author at a young age.

Christopher Paolini wrote Eragon.

Eragon was published by Knopf Books for Young Readers.

A shark may have up to 3,000 teeth at one time. Shark teeth grow in rows. When a shark loses a tooth, it is replaced by a new tooth from the row behind it. A shark may have over 20,000 teeth over the course of its life. What is the main idea of this paragraph?

A shark may have up to 3,000 teeth.

Troglobites are creatures that live in total darkness for their entire lives. They often live in caves and never come out. Some troglobites do not even have eyes! Troglobites include spiders, flatworms, cave fish and blind salamanders. What is the main idea of this paragraph?

Animals that live in darkness their entire lives are called troglobites.

Some troglobites do not have eyes.

Blind salamanders are troglobites.

It all started in 1904 at the St. Louis World's Fair when an ice cream vender ran out of dishes for his ice cream. A man named Ernest Hamwl was selling waffles in the booth next door. He helped his neighbor out by making cone-shaped waffles to hold the ice cream. The rest, as they say, is history. What is the main idea of this paragraph?

The ice cream cone was invented in 1904 at the World's Fair.

They ran out of ice cream at the World's Fair.

Here is something fun to try! Lay an egg on its side and try to make it spin. If it is not hard-boiled the shifting liquid inside will make it spin poorly. If it is hard boiled the Solid inside will make it spin faster and longer. What is the main idea of this paragraph?

You can tell if an egg is hardboiled by spinning it.

The shifting liquid inside eggs makes it hard to spin them.

A hardboiled egg will spin faster and longer than a regular egg.

A pygmy marmoset monkey is only about 5 inches (13 cm) tall and weighs just 4 ounces. The pygmy marmoset is smaller than any other kind of monkey. Pygmy marmosets live in the Amazon rainforest in South America. What is the main idea of this paragraph?

The smallest monkey in the world is a pygmy marmoset.

A pygmy marmoset is about 5 inches tall.

Pygmy marmosets live in the Amazon.

A mother octopus lays thousands of eggs in a den. Once the eggs are laid she guards them constantly and does not leave the den. When the eggs hatch, the tiny baby octopuses float away. Then the mother dies. What is the main idea of this paragraph?

A mother octopus takes good care of her eggs.

A mother octopus does not leave the den.

A mother octopus lays thousands of eggs.

Solar ovens use energy from the sun, which makes them a great option in poor, developing countries. When a family uses a solar oven to cook their food, they do not have to collect wood for fuel or spend money to buy fuel. Solar ovens are a good option for many families in developing countries. What is the main idea of this praragraph?

In many developing countries, people are using solar ovens.

Solar ovens use energy from the sun.

People who use solar ovens to not need to buy fuel.

The Atacama Desert is located on a plateau in northern Chile. It almost never rains in the Atacama Desert. In fact, there are some areas of the desert where rainfall has never been recorded. The average yearly rainfall in the Atacama is just one millimeter. Nowhere else on Earth is dryer than the Atacama Desert! What is the main idea of this paragraph?

The Atacama Desert is the driest place on earth.

Rainfall has never been recorded in some parts of the Atacama Desert.

The Atacama Desert is in northern Chile.

Main Idea Task Cards

Authored by John Sents

English

3rd Grade

CCSS covered

Used 29+ times

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MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Incense cedar wood is used for making pencils because it does not break easily, but is soft enough to be sharpened without splintering. It also wont bend or warp in hot temperatures. Incense cedar trees are grown in California and Oregon.

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

Incense cedar trees are grown in California and Oregon.

Incense cedar wood is perfect for making pencils.

Incense cedar wood will not splinter when sharpened.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.2.2

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Kangaroos spend most of their time in groups called mobs. Kangaroos communicate with each other with clicks, coughs, hisses and growls. They also groom each other by picking dirt, insects and dead skin from each other's fur.

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

Kangaroos groom each other.

Kangaroos are very social animals.

Kangaroos live in groups called mobs.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RI.2.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

When most animals look into a mirror, they think that the reflection is another animal. A few animals do recognize themselves. These include: elephants, dolphins, chimps and great apes.

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

A dolphin can recognize itself in a mirror.

Most animals do not recognize themselves in a mirror.

Most animals do not like to to look in mirrors.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RI.2.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

When beavers build a dam across a river, they dramatically change the environment. The dam creates a pond or even a lake. Land that was once dry gets covered in water. The new lake becomes a home for birds, fish and other kinds of wildlife.

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

Beavers build dams across rivers.

Beavers make dramatic changes to the environment.

Beavers create new ponds and lakes.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RI.2.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.2.2

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

The thick, white coat of the Arctic fox keeps it warm in freezing temperatures. It also helps the fox to blend into the snowy landscape so that it can hide from predators and sneak up on prey without being seen.

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

The thick, white coat of an Arctic fox has two important jobs.

Arctic foxes blend into the snowy landscape.

Arctic foxes have thick coats.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RI.2.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.2.2

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Julia Butterfly Hill climbed a giant Redwood tree on December 10, 1997. She stayed in the tree, which was located in Northern California, for two years. Many people helped her by bringing her food and supplies. She did not come down until the logging company promised never to cut the tree down.

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

The tree was located in Northern California.

Julia Butterfly Hill lived in a giant Redwood tree for two years to keep it from being cut down.

The logging company did not cut down the tree.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RI.2.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.2.2

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

In Australia, cattle and sheep are raised on ranches called stations. Most stations are very big. A station may be so large that low-flying helicopters are used to herd the animals. You could drive for several days in one direction and never leave the station.

What is the main idea of the paragraph?

In Australia, cattle and sheep are raised in huge ranches called stations.

There are a lot of cattle in Australia.

Helicopters are used to herd animals in Australia.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RI.2.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.2.2

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Main Idea Task Cards

Incense cedar wood is used for making pencils because it does not break easily, but is soft enough to be sharpened without splintering. It also wont bend or warp in hot temperatures. Incense cedar trees are grown in California and Oregon.What is the main idea of this paragraph?

Kangaroos spend most of their time in groups called mobs. Kangaroos communicate with each other with clicks, coughs, hisses and growls. They also groom each other by picking dirt, insects and dead skin from each other's fur.What is the main idea of this paragraph?

When most animals look into a mirror, they think that the reflection is another animal. A few animals do recognize themselves. These include: elephants, dolphins, chimps and great apes.What is the main idea of this paragraph?

When beavers build a dam across a river, they dramatically change the environment. The dam creates a pond or even a lake. Land that was once dry gets covered in water. The new lake becomes a home for birds, fish and other kinds of wildlife.What is the main idea of this paragraph?

The thick, white coat of the Arctic fox keeps it warm in freezing temperatures. It also helps the fox to blend into the snowy landscape so that it can hide from predators and sneak up on prey without being seen.What is the main idea of this paragraph?

In Australia, cattle and sheep are raised on ranches called stations. Most stations are very big. A station may be so large that low-flying helicopters are used to herd the animals. You could drive for several days in one direction and never leave the station.What is the main idea of the paragraph?

Giant pandas live in bamboo forests in China, but their habitat is disappearing. The average giant panda eats about 30 pounds (14 kg) of bamboo each day. Unfortunately, the forests are being cut down and the giant panda is losing its habitat.What is the main idea of this paragraph?

Guinea pigs may be pets in the United States, but in Peru, they are dinner. Guinea pigs are a good source of protein for many people who live in Peru. They can also be a much needed source of income for people who raise them to sell.What is the main idea of this paragraph?

Strong magnets are put into some roller coasters. They are also put into the end of the track. As the coaster approaches the end of the track, the attracting forces of the magnets bring it to a gentle stop.What is the main idea of this paragraph?

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Incense cedar wood is used for making pencils because it does not break easily, but is soft enough to be sharpened without splintering. It also wont bend or warp in hot temperatures. Incense cedar trees are grown in California and Oregon.

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

Kangaroos spend most of their time in groups called mobs. Kangaroos communicate with each other with clicks, coughs, hisses and growls. They also groom each other by picking dirt, insects and dead skin from each other's fur.

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

When most animals look into a mirror, they think that the reflection is another animal. A few animals do recognize themselves. These include: elephants, dolphins, chimps and great apes.

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

When beavers build a dam across a river, they dramatically change the environment. The dam creates a pond or even a lake. Land that was once dry gets covered in water. The new lake becomes a home for birds, fish and other kinds of wildlife.

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

The thick, white coat of the Arctic fox keeps it warm in freezing temperatures. It also helps the fox to blend into the snowy landscape so that it can hide from predators and sneak up on prey without being seen.

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

Giant pandas live in bamboo forests in China, but their habitat is disappearing. The average giant panda eats about 30 pounds (14 kg) of bamboo each day. Unfortunately, the forests are being cut down and the giant panda is losing its habitat.

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

Guinea pigs may be pets in the United States, but in Peru, they are dinner. Guinea pigs are a good source of protein for many people who live in Peru. They can also be a much needed source of income for people who raise them to sell.

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

Strong magnets are put into some roller coasters. They are also put into the end of the track. As the coaster approaches the end of the track, the attracting forces of the magnets bring it to a gentle stop.

What is the main idea of this paragraph?