Main Idea and Supporting Details

Jake's family went on a camping trip. They went to a park by the ocean. They rode their bikes around the park and cooked their food over a fire outside. They saw some deer. They came home Sunday afternoon. 
What is the main idea? 

• They saw some deer
• Jake's family likes to camp
• Jake's family went on a camping trip
• They cooked their food outside

Eva wanted to surprise her sister Cindy for her birthday. She decided to plan a picnic for her sister. She made two sandwiches and put them in a bag. Then she put some cookies and bottles of water in the bag. When she told Cindy about the surprise, Cindy her sister a big hug. Then the girls walked to the park. 
What is the main idea?

• The girls walked to the park
• Eva planned a picnic to surprise her sister
• Eva told Cindy about the surprise
• Eva put some cookies and water in a bag

Hummingbirds love pink or red flowers. They guard their favorite flowers and try to keep other birds away. They fight one another for food. Their wings make a whirring sound when they hover over flowers to sip nectar. The tiny birds fly long distances to go to a warmer climate for the winter. They make their tiny nests in shrubs or trees. 
What is the main idea?

• Hummingbirds are interesting birds
• They hover over flowers to sip nectar.
• They fly long distances to travel to warmer climates in the winter
• They guard their favorite flowers

Juan loves to play games. His favorite game is chess because it requires a great deal of thought. Juan also likes to play less demanding board games that are based mostly on luck. He prefers Monopoly because it requires luck and skill. If he's alone, Juan likes to play action video games as long as they aren't too violent. 
What is the main idea? 

• Juan dislikes violence
• Juan likes to think
• Juan enjoys Monopoly
• Juan enjoys playing games

Maria is watching too much television. A toddler shouldn't be spending hours staring blankly at a screen. Worse yet, some of her wild behavior has been inspired by those awful cartoons she watches. We need to spend more time reading books with her and pull the plug on the TV. 
What is the main idea? 

• Watching a lot of television isn't good for Maria
• Books are good
• All cartoons are bad
• Some cartoons are bad for Maria

Samantha, I can't eat or sleep when you are gone. I need to hear your scratchy voice and see your lovely toothless smile. I miss that special way you eat soup with your fingers. Please come home soon. 
What is the main idea?

• Samantha has bad manners
• Samantha should see a dentist
• Someone misses Samantha
• Samantha is gross

What is a statement that tells what a passage is mostly about called?

• Topic

• Claim

• Main Idea

• Transitional sentence

True or False: The main idea does not need supporting details.

• True

• False

The reader should determine the main idea BEFORE reading the passage.

• True
• False

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

• Who is the main character?
• What is the main event?
• What is one important detail?
• What point is the author trying to make?