Reading for main ideas

- Feathers trap air close to a bird’s body to keep it warm.

- Also, feathers help keep birds dry and protect them from the sun.

- Some birds even use their feathers to help them catch and eat insects.

Which main idea ties all the details together:

• Feathers have uses beyond helping birds fly.

• Birds can use feathers to make their nests

• Birds communicate using various sounds.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

- Gazelles are animals that can run fast to escape from predators.

- In addition, young gazelles can hide in tall grass for protection.

- When they sense a predator nearby, gazelles warn the herd by stomping their feet.

Which main idea ties all the details together:

• Gazelles use their quick speed to avoid different kinds of predators.

• Gazelles are prey for several types of large animals.

• Gazelles use more than one strategy to avoid predators.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

- Moist forest soil is an ideal place for many mushrooms to grow.

- Mushrooms often sprout out of wet tree trunks.

- After a lawn is watered, sometimes mushrooms will grow in the grass.

Which main idea ties all the details together:

• Mushrooms are an important part of the forest.

• Tree trunks provide a great environment for mushrooms to grow.

• Mushrooms grow best in areas that are wet

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

- Graham crackers are used to make a sweet treat called a s'more.

- Crushed graham crackers can be used in brownies instead of flour.

- Graham cracker crumbs can be used to make pie crusts.

Which main idea ties all the details together:

• Graham crackers are used in different desserts.

• All kinds of desserts are easy to make at home.

• You can mix Graham crackers with cereal and marshmallows for a sweet treat.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

- Floodwaters can add nutrients to the soil, improving the land for crops.

- The extra water from floods can help some plants grow more quickly.

- On the other hand, floodwaters can carry dangerous diseases.

Which main idea ties all the details together:

• Floods can have both good and bad effects.

• Floods can destroy buildings and farmland.

• Floods can help new plants grow.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

Small Steps to a Happier Planet

Recycling things like paper, plastic, and metal helps the earth by cutting down on trash. Yet many people throw away their newspapers, bottles, and cans instead of recycling them. The question, then, is how to encourage more people to recycle. One way that works is to put recycling containers in more places. Seeing more recycling bins helps people remember to use them. Another way is to teach people why recycling is important. If we make recycling easier and teach people why it matters, more people will join in.

 

What is the main idea of the passage?

• We can get more people to recycle by putting out more bins and teaching people about why recycling matters.

•   We need to get more people to recycle so that we stop throwing out so much trash.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

Antarctica: Not What You Think

When people think of Antarctica, they think of snow and ice. When they think of deserts, they think of sun, heat, and sand. Yet in spite of its cold temperatures, Antarctica is actually a desert. In fact, it is the largest desert on the planet. A desert is a very dry environment that receives less than ten inches of precipitation yearly. On average, Antarctica gets less than two inches. Most of that precipitation is in the form of snow, but rain or ice can sometimes fall as well.

• Eventhough Antartica is cold and has snow, it is a desert.

• Most precipitation in Antartica is in the form of snow, though it can also get rain or ice.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

Dogs and Wolves

Dogs and wolves are part of the same animal family. Both animals have strong senses of smell and are loyal to their packs. But dogs and wolves are quite different when it comes to people. Dogs are used to living with people and get along well with them. In fact, dogs have been called "man's best friend." Wolves, on the other hand, cannot live with humans. Wolves prefer to live in the wild, where they can hunt for their food. Clearly, dogs belong with people, while wolves do not.

• Dogs are better suited to living with people than wolves are.

• Wolves and dogs are members of the same animal family, so they have many things in common.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

 

Training for the Tour

The Tour de France is one of the most famous bicycle competitions in the world. For twenty-one days, cyclists race through the streets and up the mountains of France. Training for the Tour de France is just as intense. Athletes must prepare for months ahead of time. Some ride their bikes for as many as twenty to thirty hours per week. When not cycling, they exercise and lift weights to build their strength and endurance. In addition, cyclists follow a strict diet to stay in peak condition.

 

What is the main idea of the passage?

• The Tour de France is a race that takes place over several weeks.

•   Cyclists must work hard to prepare for the Tour de France.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

Snowflake Man

You may have heard people say that no two snowflakes are exactly alike. It was Wilson Bentley who first discovered this. Bentley was born in Vermont in 1865. When he was fifteen, he received a microscope for his birthday. The first things he looked at were snowflakes. He wanted to draw them, but the snowflakes melted before he could finish. At last, Bentley discovered that he could capture a picture of a snowflake by using a camera along with his microscope. He spent many hours working in the cold to develop his new technique. Finally, in 1885, he took his first successful picture of a snowflake. Bentley went on to take pictures of more than five thousand snowflakes.

What is the main idea of the passage?

• Wilson Bentley successfully photographed snowflakes after a long process of trial and error.

• Wilson Bentley was one of the first to observe that no two snowflakes are exactly alike.

• When Wilson Bentley first tried to take pictures of snowflakes, he was unsuccessful.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2