Main Idea

The main idea of a text is....

• what the text is a little bit about

• what the text is never about

• what the text is sometimes telling you

• what the text is mostly or mainly about

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer.  Soccer players learn how to dribble and pass the ball.  They also learn how to control the ball so they can eventually score.  Most importantly, soccer players learn how to work together with their teammates.
What is the main idea?

• They also learn how to control the ball so they can eventually score.
• Soccer players learn how to dribble.
• They learn how to work together as teammates.
• Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

The main idea is supported by what?

• concluding sentences

• details

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.3.8

The earth's surface is constantly changing.  All over the world everyday there are earthquakes, floods and volcanoes that quickly change our world. Some changes are too small to see.  Others cause tremendous damage and costs millions of dollars to clean up.
What is the main idea?

• It is expensive to clean up the damage
• Sometimes we can't see the changes. 
• The Earth's surface is always changing.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

Key details give important information to support the main idea.

• True
• False

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

A bat can fly at night or even with its eyes closed.  But if you cover its ears, it can't fly very well.  Bats make sounds that people can't hear.  The bats find their way by listening to these sounds as they echo off things.  Bats even locate insects to eat by following the sounds that bounce off the bugs.  People use their eyes, but bats use their ears to know where they're going.  This paragraph mainly tells:

• how bats use sound
• what things bats often eat as food
• how bats fly toward people
• how people can hear the sounds of bats

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

What is the best question to ask yourself when you are trying to find the main idea?

• Who is the main character?

• Are there pictures?

• What is one important detail?

• What point is the author trying to make?

Which sentence is a supporting detail that recycling is important?

• There are many landfills available for waste.
• Recycling paper saves trees from being cut down.
• Clean jars before recycling them.
• Separate your paper, cans, and glass jars before recycling.

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.2.8

Perhaps one of the largest flowers grown is the sunflower. These giants grow up to 10 feet high. The flower itself is very large. It gets its name from the way it follows the sun. The face of the flower moves from east to west so that it is always facing the sun. The main idea is:

• To discuss large flowers.
• To describe the importance of the sunflower.
• To tell how the sunflower got its name.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

Lisa went to the farm. There were animals on the farm. Lisa liked the chickens and horses. She also liked the cows and kittens. Lisa would like to live on a farm.

The main idea is:

• Lisa worked on a farm.

• Lisa lives in the city.

• Lisa liked the farm.