Summarizing Main Idea and Theme

What is the main idea of a story?

• the most important idea in a paragraph

• the "message" of life lesson

• to inform the reader

• to entertain the reader

What is the theme of a story?

• the "life lesson" or moral

• to persuade

• the central idea

• to inform

The author's purpose is to...? Choose all that apply.

• entertain

• persuade

• write

• inform

Read the passage.

Kittens need special care. You have to feed kittens twice a day. They have a lot of energy. You need to play with them often. Kittens will chew on almost anything they find. You have to watch them closely.

Choose the main idea.

• Kittens will chew on almost anything.

• Kittens need special care.

• Kittens liked to be rubbed.

• Kittens are man's best friend.

Read the passage.

The puppy began to eat, but then he stopped. He yawned and stretched. He chased his tail. He rolled over and barked. He licked his paw. Finally, he went back to his dish and finished eating.

What's the main idea?

• The puppy likes to eat.

• The puppy takes a long time to eat.

• The puppy was tired.

• The puppy chased his tail.

Choose the main idea.

Spots was a large grey and white cat. Spots lived in a barn on a farm. Spots liked living in the barn. It was warm in the winter and cool in the summer. There were many mice for Spots to chase. Best of all, Spots had a soft place to sleep in the corner of the barn.

• The barn was dirty.

• Spots was grey and white.

• The barn was a good place for Spots to live.

• Spots often slept outside when it rained.

What is the main idea?

Sully had always dreamed of getting a Jack Russell terrier puppy, and she reminded her mother of this frequently. On Sully’s birthday one year, Sully’s mother, Ms. Reyes, met her daughter after school and told her they had to pick up a few things for dinner. The market was right next to a pet store! But Ms. Reyes bought only sugar, milk, and eggs for a birthday cake, and then they drove home without so much as a glance at the pet store. When they arrived home, Ms. Reyes said, “Why don’t you go play in your room? I think there might be a surprise in there for you.” Sully rushed to her room and flung open the door. Sure enough, on her bed was a puppy—but it was a stuffed toy. Sully was delighted with the toy and thanked her mother, but she still longed for a real, live pet. That night after dinner, after Sully had opened presents from her sister and friends, Ms. Reyes said, “Sully, would you go into the pantry and bring me some paper towels?” Sully rose from the table and opened the pantry door. There on the floor was a tiny baby dog! “Surprise!” shouted her family from the table, and they all got up to see their new pet. Sully finally had the puppy for which she had always wished.

• Sully finally got the dog she wanted!

• Sully's mother didn't like dogs.

• Sully's birthday party had a puppy cake.

• Sully's dog was made out of paper towels.

Choose the main idea.

Do you remember when Mom, Dad, you, and I used to gather around the radio after dinner? That was the best. We would listen to all those great shows with our favorite superheroes. We'd sing along to the theme songs we used to know by heart--in fact, I still know most of them. Then there were the science-fiction shows, with all their marvelous sound effects and crazy situations. The comedy shows were always Dad's favorite. He would laugh enormously at every joke, and get the whole family laughing, too.

• The whole family enjoyed listening to the radio together.

• The whole family sang along with the radio.

• Dad loved the comedy shows.

• The whole family watches Netflix now.

Last summer, Alphonse worked at a bakery. He had to get up early in the morning, before sunrise, and walk to the bakery when the streets were still empty. His job was to help bake rolls and pastries. After Alphonse and the baker put the large metal trays in the oven, the rich smell of rolls baking would fill the shop and make them hungry. Then they would eat their breakfast together. The baker was a kind man, and the pastries Alphonse learned to make were delicious!

What would be a good title for this passage?

• My Summer with Alphonse

• Working at Night

• Alphonse’s Job Last Summer

• Making Rolls and Pastries

Choose the main idea.

The piano as we know it today is roughly the same as it always has been. A piano is actually a string instrument, though it’s played by striking keys attached to the strings. The first piano, known as a clavichord, was a version of a harp turned on its side and enclosed in a small box. You can still see examples of a clavichord, which looks like an oblong box with a keyboard running nearly the length of one long side. A clavichord would fit on your lap, while a modern piano is much larger. Since about 1450, keyboards have remained the same, except that the placement of the black and white keys was reversed. But with that single exception, there are representations of pianos as they look today dating back to the fourteenth century. The instrument works so well that there has been little reason to modify it over time.

• The piano has not changed much over time.

• The piano was known as the clavichord.

• The piano is cool to play.

• The piano has black and white keys.