Identifying the Main Idea

Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Brown are bakers.  They work at a store called Bake Goods to Go.  Mrs. Jones works nights.  She bakes cakes, cookies, and pies.  Mrs. Brown works in the daytime.  She bakes bread and rolls.  Both Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Brown are very good bakers.
What is the main idea?

• Mrs. Jones bakes pies.

• Mrs. Brown bakes rolls.

• Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Brown are bakers

• They work at a store called Bake Goods to Go.

An octopus isn't fast enough to swim after a fish. The octopus must wait for a fish to swim by. The octopus can alter its color and skin texture to blend into its surroundings. That way, its prey does not notice the octopus. When a fish comes within reach, the octopus whips out his long arm to grasp it. Then the octopus has a tasty meal.

What is the main idea?

• How much fish an octopus eats

• Why the octopus likes to eat fish

• The octopus uses camouflage to get its food

Floods can cause tremendous damage.  They can ruin houses, roads and buildings. Floodwaters can carry away people, livestock and vehicles. Floods can take down trees and cause mudslides and often leave mud, sand and debris behind.  It can take months to clean up after a flood.
 What is the main idea?

• Floods can cause a lot of damage.

• Floods cause mudslides.

• Floods damage houses and roads. 

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.

WHAT IS THE MAIN IDEA?

• 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.

Most animals do not recognize themselves in a mirror. They think that the reflection is another animal. As a result, some animals attack the 'stranger' in the mirror, while others try to befriend their reflection. However, a few species do recognize themselves: elephants, dolphins, chimps and great apes. WHAT IS THE MAIN IDEA?

• A dolphin can recognize itself in a mirror.

• Most animals do not like to look in mirrors.

• Most animals do not recognize themselves in a mirror.

Dolphins are very smart animals. They even have their own language. They talk to each other with clicks, whistles, and grunts. Dolphins are so smart that each dolphin has a unique whistle, that is its 'name'. Dolphins use their names to identify and call one another. Scientists have been studying this dolphin language. They hope that in the future, people and dolphins will be able to talk to each other.

This paragraph mainly tells:

• How dolphins communicate with people

• Dolphins are very intelligent creatures.

• How dolphins are like humans

• Which scientists study languages

Weather reporters have to give out a lot of information. That's why they use pictures. The pictures help them tell us about the weather without using so many words. Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is. They need to know where the warm air is. They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area. Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short. The pictures help weather reporters get the information out in a fast way.
Which sentence best describes the main idea of the paragraph?

• Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is

• Pictures help weather reporters get information out quickly

• Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short

• They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area

What is a statement that tells what a passage is mostly about called?

• Topic

• Main Idea

• Claim

• Transitional sentence

What is the best question to ask yourself when you are trying to find the main idea?

• Who is the main character?

• What is one important detail?

• What is the author's main point/message in this text?

• What is the event being discussed in the text?

What is the main idea?

• The church has a choir.

• Sandy goes to church.

• Sandy is a great singer.

• Sandy sang a solo each week.