Main Idea Practice

Before toothbrushes were invented, people used natural objects to clean their teeth. People cleaned their teeth with small twigs. The first toothbrushes were made from bones and bristles from boars, horse hairs, or even feathers. Today the bristles on most toothbrushes are made from nylon.

• People used to clean their teeth with twigs.

• Most toothbrushes are made from nylon.

• Before toothbrushes were invented, people used natural objects to clean their teeth.

Beavers make dramatic changes to the environment. When beavers build a dam across a river, they create a pond or even a lake. Land that was once dry gets covered in water. The new lake becomes a home for birds, fish, and other kinds or wildlife.

• Beavers make dramatic changes to the environment.

• Beavers create new ponds and lakes.

• Beavers build dams across rivers.

Christopher Paolini became an author at a young age. He was just 15 years old when he wrote the first draft to the fantasy book Eragon. His parents helped him to self-publish and to promote the book in schools and libraries. Three years later, Knopf Books for Young readers asked Christopher's family if they could publish the book. Today, Eragon is a best seller.

• Christopher Paolini wrote Eragon.

• Christopher Paolini became an author at a young age.

• Eragon was published by Knopf Books for Young Readers.

A mother octopus takes good care of her eggs. She lays thousands of eggs in a den. Once the eggs are laid she guards them constantly and does not leave the den. When the eggs hatch, the tiny baby octopuses float away. The the mother dies.

• A mother octopus takes good care of her eggs.

• A mother octopus does not leave the den.

• A mother octopus lays thousands of eggs.

In Australia, cattle and sheep are raised on huge ranches called stations. A station may be so large that low-flying helicopters are used to herd the animals. You could drive for several days in one direction and never leave the station.

• Helicopters are used to herd animals in Australia.

• In Australia, cattle and sheep are raised in huge ranches called stations.

• There are a lot of cattle in Australia.

Sharks have a lot of teeth. A shark may have up to 3,000 teeth at one time. Shark teeth grow in rows. When a shark loses a tooth, it is replaced by a new tooth from the row behind it. A shark may have over 20,000 teeth over the course of its life.

• Sharks have a lot of teeth.

• Shark teeth grow in rows.

• A shark may have up to 3,000 teeth.

The smallest monkey in the world is the pygmy marmoset. A pygmy marmoset is only about 5 inches (13 cm) tall and weighs just 4 ounces. Pygmy marmosets live in the Amazon rain forest in South America.

• A pygmy marmoset in about 5 inches tall.

• Pygmy marmosets live in the Amazon.

• The smallest money in the world in a pygmy marmoset.

Little Johnny Wiggins fell down a well on the farm.  His family looked for him.  Finally, at sundown, Mr. Wiggins found Johnny.  He had been trapped in the well for three hours.
CAUSE: Johnny Wiggins fell down a well.
What was the EFFECT?

• He was trapped for three hours.
• His mother found him at sundown.
• He was visiting the farm.

A mother octopus takes good care of her eggs. She lays thousands of eggs in a den. Once the eggs are laid she guards them constantly and does not leave the den. When the eggs hatch, the tiny baby octopuses float away. The the mother dies.

• A mother octopus takes good care of her eggs.

• A mother octopus does not leave the den.

• A mother octopus lays thousands of eggs.