Main Idea in Nonfiction Text

What is the main idea?

While bats seem mysterious or even scary to some, these night flyers are actually helpful creatures. Bats eat insects that can be harmful to plants, animals, and even people. A solitary bat can eat 1,000 mosquito-sized insects in just one hour. Bats also spread pollen among flowering plants. This allows plants to make seeds, and seeds make more plants. In addition, bats produce droppings that make excellent fertilizer. The fertilizer mixes with the soil and makes it richer, which helps plants grow. More plants mean more food for people and animals. (Passage from STAAR Grade 4 Reading Released 2018)

• Bats eat insects that can be harmful to plants.

• Bats also spread pollen among flowering plants.

• Bats are helpful creatures.

• More plants mean more food for people and animals.

What is the main idea?

Because bats sleep upside down, bat houses need to have something the bats can grab onto while they sleep. The houses must be painted black on the inside so that they are dark inside. This allows the bats to sleep comfortably during the day. Bat houses should also have access to water and plants so that the bats have something to eat and drink. The houses should be located in high places so that they are off the ground, where predators can’t reach them. Giving a bat a home is a great way to help these useful creatures. (Passage from STAAR Grade 4 Reading Released 2018)

• Bat houses have special features to help bats.

• This allows the bats to sleep comfortably during the day.

• Bat houses should also have access to water and plants.

• Because bats sleep upside down, bat houses need to have something the bats can grab onto while they sleep.

What is the main idea?

Many of the fruits and vegetables that humans and other animals eat cannot grow without the help of honeybees. Honeybees carry pollen among plants. The plants need pollen to grow and produce more seeds. Without the help of honeybees, we would not have as many of the plants we depend on for food. (Paragraph taken from STAAR Grade 4 Reading Released 2018 Test)

• Honeybees carry pollen among plants.

• The plants need pollen to grow.

• The plants need pollen to grow and produce more seeds.

• Honeybees are very important to the food we depend on.

What is the main idea?

There are some things humans can do to help honeybees. People can grow flowers and plants that honeybees like, such as cabbage, sunflowers, and strawberries. People can also build beehives so that more bees will live in their area. In fact, some schools have initiated beekeeping programs to teach students about bees and to provide homes for bees that pollinate local plants. (Paragraph taken from STAAR Grade 4 Reading Released 2018 Test)

• There are some things humans can do to help honeybees.

• People can grow flowers and plants that honeybees like, such as cabbage, sunflowers, and strawberries.

• People can also build beehives so that more bees will live in their area.

• In fact, some schools have initiated beekeeping programs to teach students about bees.

What is the main idea?

First of all, dogs are very intelligent. Dogs listen to their owners and can learn simple commands and tricks. It has been proven that dogs can learn up to 250 different words and gestures and have the average intelligence of a human two-year old! This means a dog owner always has a companion around who is ready to listen to his/her next command. Dogs are so intelligent, they can do everything from the basic commands like sit and stay, to retrieving items for the owner, to sniffing out health problems, or even attacking an intruder!

• Dogs listen to their owners and can learn simple commands and tricks.

• Dogs are very intelligent.

• It has been proven that dogs can learn up to 250 different words and gestures.

• They can do everything from basic commands to sniffing out health problems.

What is the definition of 'main idea'?

• How the text is written.

• A lesson the author wants you to learn.

• What the text is mostly about.

• Facts that the author shares.

Which of the following is a strategy for finding the main idea?

• Read the Title

• Look at the Pictures

• Read the First and Last Sentence

• All of the above are strategies

All About Sharks Teeth

Which detail below does not support the main idea above?

• Sharks have very sharp teeth.

• Sharks hunt other living creatures for food.

• Sharks have an unlimited supply of teeth that always grow back when one is lost.

• A shark can go through as many as 20,000 teeth in it's lifetime.

Did you know that frogs and toads look alike but that they are actually very different? Frogs need to live near the water. Frogs have long legs to help them jump. They also have smooth, thick skin. Frogs are good swimmers because of their webbed feet. Toads live on land. They have shorter legs to help them hop. Their skin is rough and dry. Toads are not good swimmers. Many people do not know the difference between frogs and toads.

What would be a good title for this paragraph?

• Frogs

• Toads

• Comparing Frogs and Toads

• Living in Water

Milk

Cry

Bottle

Diaper

Sleep

Rattle

Blanket

These words all fit with which main idea below?

• Child

• Night

• Baby

• Food