Main Idea

Lucy hung her shoulders as she walked into her bedroom. She huffed and puffed as she crawled into bed. It wasn’t fair that she had to go to bed now– she wasn’t tired, she was still hungry, and her favorite band was going to be on T V in twenty minutes. Even though she tried to fight it, mom insisted she go to bed right this minute.

What is the main idea?

• Lucy was not tired

• Lucy was upset that she had to go to bed.

• Lucy's favorite band was going to be on tv.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

Dad pushed the girls down the hill on the sled and ran after them, video camera in hand. The rest of the family cheered from the top of the hill, thrilled to be out in the snow! When the girls reached the bottom, they shouted “Again! Again! I want to do it again!” Dad picked up the sled and they laughed as they began the long hike back up the hill.

What is the main idea?

• The family was having a blast at the sledding hill

• The girls wanted to sled down the hill again

• Dad was videotapping the girls while they went down the hill again.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

Sophia didn’t realize it, but the leather on her shoe had been wearing away for quite a while. She had been hard on her shoes. Wearing them everyday, playing at the park, and stomping in mud puddles had done some damage. But to day was the last day she would ever wear the shoes—just as she was about to head out to catch bugs, she noticed a gaping hole in the toe!

What is the main idea?

• Sophia wore her shoes to the park.

• Sophia was about to go outside to catch bugs

• Sophia had worn her shoes so much that they had a hole!

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

Betsy typed a message into her phone. Meet me at the mall at 6. She waited and waited for a response, but it never came. She sent another one. Are you going to be there? She waited until 5:45, but there was still no response. Betsy went downstairs to tell her mom that she was nervous that her friend wouldn’t be there to meet her, so she didn’t want to go anymore. Just then, her phone buzzed with a message. See you there in ten minutes! Betsy and mom hopped in the car, relieved that the mall trip was still on!

What is the main idea?

• Betsy got in the car to go to the mall.

• Betsy was texting her friend to plan a trip to the mall.

• Betsy told her mom that she was nervous about the trip.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

Every afternoon while her baby napped, Anna relaxed on the couch watching TV and reading the newspaper. She usually fell asleep, too! But today, the baby would not fall asleep. She tried rocking him, singing to him, wrapping him up in blankets, and even putting him in his swing. But no matter what she tried, the baby would not fall asleep. After 45 minutes of trying to get him to sleep, she finally gave up and made herself a cup of coffee. She knew she wasn’t going to get a nap today, either!

What is the main idea?

• Anna's baby wouldn't take a nap today.

• Anna usually took a nap when her baby did.

• Anna tried rocking her baby to sleep.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

Dave had gotten several new games for Christmas, but he was having a hard time finding anybody who would play with him. He asked everyone he could think of—his parents, his siblings, his grandparents, and his aunts and uncles. A few days after Christmas, he looked out the window to see his neighbor sitting alone on his porch sipping hot cocoa. He grabbed his new games and ran over, asking nicely if he would like to play. The man’s eyes lit up, and the two spent all afternoon playing! Dave was thrilled to finally have someone to play his new games with, and so was his neighbor.

What is the main idea?

• Dave asked all of his family members to play games with him.

• There was a lonely man sitting on his porch.

• Nobody would play any of Dave's new games with him.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

Jodi shivered while she waited at the bus stop. The morning seemed to be getting colder and colder, and she could not seem to warm herself up. She bundled up in layers and tried using hand warmers. She began wearing her snow boots to school and eventually even wore her snowsuit. There just wasn’t anything she could do to stay warm in these frigid temps!

What is the main idea?

• Jodi could not stay warm at the bus stop.

• Jodi wore her snow boots and snowsuit to school.

• It was colder and colder every morning.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

The cat had to do two difficult things to get his driver’s license. He had to take a driver’s test to pass and he also had to take the engine apart and put it back together correctly! He is now taking his friends to the beach for the first time. Do you think he passed his test?

What is the main idea?

• When the cat took his driver's test

• What types of tests are popular

• How the cat got his driver's license

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

The cats are going down to the beach to swim in the sea. The sea they are going to is full of salt water. It is not the same as fresh water. Fresh water is found in ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams. Did you know that there are large amount of fresh water found in certain places in the sea?

What is the main idea?

• Why fresh water is found in rivers

• How much saltwater there is

• Where is freshwater and saltwater found

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

Gina nervously gave mom her latest report card. She paced back and forth, anxious to see what grades she had gotten this semester. Last semester, Gina had terrible grades, so she spent months working on improving her math and reading. Her stomach had been churning the whole bus ride home as she waited to give it to her mom. Now it was in her hands, and she hoped it was going to be goo d news. She couldn’t take another three months of nothing but studying!

What is the main idea?

• Gina had gotten terrible grades last semester.

• Her stomach churned the entire bus ride home

• Gina was very nervous about the grades in her report card

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.5.2