Main Idea and Details

What is main idea?

• The supporting ideas in a text.

• What the text is mostly about.

• A complete sentence.

• The first sentence of a text.

True or false.

Main idea is the most important idea about a topic.

• True

• False

What are supporting details?

• What the text is mainly about.

• Something you learn while reading.

• Details that support the main idea.

• Your opinion about the main idea of a text.

Select all that apply.

Supporting details tell...

• Who

• Why

• What

• When

• Where

Which of the following is NOT an example of a tip for finding the main idea of a text.

• Read the title.

• Look at the first and last sentence.

• Think about your opinion on the text.

• Look for repeated words.

Read the following passage.

There are hundreds of thousands of flower species in the world that we know of. But even though there are so many types, not all of them can grow in one place. You may already be familiar with a lot of different kinds, such as the ones that may grow in your local park or even in your garden, but there are a lot that you will only see if you go to the country where that flower is found. For instance, the beautiful flower Alpinia is only found in the tropical Pacific region, as well as on the continents of Asia and Australia. Another flower that is extremely popular but that cannot grow in the United States is the orchid. Orchids grow only in the climates which are found in Central and South America. Finally, a third beautiful flower - which is also very rare - is known as Parrot's Beak. This plant only grows in the Canary Islands but people have known about it since the 1880s.

Use the passage to answer the following question:

What is the main idea of the passage?

CCSS.RI.4.2 |© http://www.englishworksheetsland.com

Read the following passage.

There are hundreds of thousands of flower species in the world that we know of. But even though there are so many types, not all of them can grow in one place. You may already be familiar with a lot of different kinds, such as the ones that may grow in your local park or even in your garden, but there are a lot that you will only see if you go to the country where that flower is found. For instance, the beautiful flower Alpinia is only found in the tropical Pacific region, as well as on the continents of Asia and Australia. Another flower that is extremely popular but that cannot grow in the United States is the orchid. Orchids grow only in the climates which are found in Central and South America. Finally, a third beautiful flower - which is also very rare - is known as Parrot's Beak. This plant only grows in the Canary Islands but people have known about it since the 1880s.

Use the passage to answer the following question:

List one supporting detail from the passage that supports your main idea.

CCSS.RI.4.2 |© http://www.englishworksheetsland.com

Read the following passage.

There are hundreds of thousands of flower species in the world that we know of. But even though there are so many types, not all of them can grow in one place. You may already be familiar with a lot of different kinds, such as the ones that may grow in your local park or even in your garden, but there are a lot that you will only see if you go to the country where that flower is found. For instance, the beautiful flower Alpinia is only found in the tropical Pacific region, as well as on the continents of Asia and Australia. Another flower that is extremely popular but that cannot grow in the United States is the orchid. Orchids grow only in the climates which are found in Central and South America. Finally, a third beautiful flower - which is also very rare - is known as Parrot's Beak. This plant only grows in the Canary Islands but people have known about it since the 1880s.

Use the passage to answer the following question:

List another supporting detail from the passage that supports your main idea.

CCSS.RI.4.2 |© http://www.englishworksheetsland.com

Read the following passage.

There are hundreds of thousands of flower species in the world that we know of. But even though there are so many types, not all of them can grow in one place. You may already be familiar with a lot of different kinds, such as the ones that may grow in your local park or even in your garden, but there are a lot that you will only see if you go to the country where that flower is found. For instance, the beautiful flower Alpinia is only found in the tropical Pacific region, as well as on the continents of Asia and Australia. Another flower that is extremely popular but that cannot grow in the United States is the orchid. Orchids grow only in the climates which are found in Central and South America. Finally, a third beautiful flower - which is also very rare - is known as Parrot's Beak. This plant only grows in the Canary Islands but people have known about it since the 1880s.

Use the passage to answer the following question:

List one more supporting detail from the passage that supports your main idea.

CCSS.RI.4.2 |© http://www.englishworksheetsland.com

Why is it important to find the main idea of a text?

• You will make an A on the test.

• You can learn more about the topic.

• It does not help you to find the main idea of a text.

• It will help you understand the text better.