Main Idea Practice

What is the main idea?

• The author's point of view

• What the passage is mostly about

• The sequence of the story

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

There are many fun things to do at the beach. Swimming is one thing that can be done at the beach. Snorkeling is another thing that can be enjoyed. Playing beach volleyball can be a lot of fun. It is also fun to look for shells. Some people simply like to sunbathe.

What is the main idea?

• There are many fun things to do at the beach.

• It is also fun to look for shells.

• Some people simply like to sunbathe.

• Going to the beach to swim can be fun.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

Sharks can lose up to 30,000 teeth in their lifetime. Sharks have teeth arranged in rows inside their mouths. These teeth do not have roots like human teeth do, so they fall out easily. When a shark takes a powerful bite into its food, several teeth are lost. When these teeth are lost, new ones push forward from the back rows to replace them. Luckily, sharks continually grow new teeth to replace the thousands they lose.

What is the main idea?

• What shark teeth look like

• Sharks lose many teeth over their lifetime.

• Sharks are carnivorous predators.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

If you are feeling sad, you can make yourself feel better by doing a few simple things. You can take a walk (or get another form of exercise), you can talk to a friend, or you can write down your feelings. Writing down the good things in your life will help too. Doing something good for someone else will also help you feel better. If you still feel a little sad, act happy. It works like magic to make you feel better!
What is the main idea?

• Sometimes people feel sad.
• You should do good things for others.
• We're not always happy.
• There are many ways to make yourself feel better. 

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

Benjamin Franklin invented many things that made life easier in the late 1700’s. He invented the lightning rod that saved many homes from fires. He also invented the Franklin stove. The stove could heat a room better than a fireplace and saved people a lot of fuel. He also invented a special kind of glasses called bifocals. This new kind of glasses helped people to read better.

What is the main idea?

• Benjamin Franklin thought reading was important.

• Benjamin Franklin was not afraid of fire.

• Benjamin Franklin was a great inventor.

• A Franklin stove can heat a whole room.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

Irish immigration to the U.S. began during the early development of the American colonies. It is estimated that 200,000 Irish came to the U.S. in the 17th and 18th centuries. The numbers swelled from 1820 to 1850 to almost 2 million Irish immigrants. Most of these were fleeing the potato famine from 1845 until 1852. Steady numbers continued to arrive during the late 19th and 20th centuries. Today, over 36 million Americans claim some level of Irish ancestry.
What is the main idea?

• The potato famine caused many Irish to immigrate to the U.S.
• The U.S. is a country of immigrants.
• The Irish are coming to the U.S. still today.
• The Irish came in large numbers to the U.S.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

The Constitution of the U.S. has been amended several times to allow more citizens the right to vote. The 15th Amendment, ratifi ed in 1870, extended voting rights to former slaves. The 19th Amendment, ratifi ed in 1920, gave women the right to vote. In 1971, the 26th Amendment granted voting rights to those 18 years and older, changing the requirement that voters must be 21 years old.
What is the main idea?

• The Constitution has been amended many times.
• Women didn’t vote until 1920 but men could vote since the founding of the country
• Today, almost anyone can vote.
• The Constitution has been amended several times to grant more citizens the right to vote.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2