Main Idea Skill

What is main idea?

• Specific facts and details in the story

• The theme

• The main thing the author wants to say

• The first sentence of a text

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.2

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

The main idea of a book is "Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer." Which one of the following is NOT a supporting detail?

• Soccer players learn how to dribble.

• They know how to pass the ball.

• Soccer players have fun.

• Soccer players learn how to score.

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RL.3.1

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.1

Which of the following is an example of a main idea of a book?

• Manatees

• Manatees are moving off the endangered species list

• I love manatees!

• Manatees have the nickname of "sea cow"

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.2

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

What is the subject?

• The overall topic a text is about

• Something specific that supports the main idea

• The sequence of events in a text

• The moral

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.2

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

What is the subject of this paragraph:

There are many different kinds of pets. Some people have cats and dogs. Others have fish, hamsters, and birds. Some people even have snakes and spiders.

• Some people have cats and dogs.

• There are many different kinds of pets.

• Pets

• Some people have snakes and spiders.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

What is NOT a strategy for finding main idea?

• Look for repeated words

• Ask yourself "What is the main thing the author wants us to know?"

• Ask yourself "What is my opinion?"

• Look for clues in the first and last lines.

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.2

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

The main idea of an article is "There are many kinds of bears." What could be a supporting detail in this article?

• Bears have sharp teeth to eat with.

• Bear babies are called cubs.

• Bears have big paws.

• There are polar bears, brown bears, black bears, and panda bears living in different places around the world.

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.3.1

CCSS.RL.3.2

What is the main idea of this passage:

When we think of seaweed, we usually picture brown or green plants a foot or so in length. Seaweeds are also of other colors. Some are red. Some kinds grow to lengths of a hundred feet! These form giant seaweed forests, where many kinds of fish take shelter.

• Why some seaweed are so large

• There are different kinds of seaweed

• All seaweed are green

• Fish love seaweed

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.2