Main Idea Worksheet

Landon wanted to be a great skater. But he didn't want to spend the hours practicing. He wished he could just do the tricks easily. Landon's dream was to have everyone stop and stare when he entered the skate park. He wanted them to say, "Landon is the best skater in the whole world."

What is the main idea?

• Landon wants everyone to think he's a great skater without doing the hard work.

• Landon practices very hard to become a great skater.

• Landon is the best skater at the park.

• Landon wants to learn how to skate so he can compete.

What is the main idea of a reading selection?

• The supporting ideas in a text that show proof.

• What the text is mainly about.

• A conclusion statement

• A full and complete sentence.

What does the main idea of a story tell the reader?

• a specific detail from the story

• The conflict of the story

• What the story is about

• The universal truth, moral, or idea the author wants to express

Jenny visited her grandmother in the hospital.  She saw how kind and helpful the nurses were to her grandmother.  Now she wants to be a nurse when she grows up.  She wants to help sick people get well. 
What is the main idea?

• Jenny got sick.

• Jenny wants to be a nurse.

• Her grandmother was in the hospital.

• Jenny was glad the nurses were being kind to her grandmother.

Key details give important information to support the main idea.

• True

• False

Main Idea:
Frogs are amazing jumpers.

What supporting detail would go with this main idea?

• Frogs use their tongue to catch flies.

• A tadpole is the name of a young frog.

• Frogs have long, powerful legs which help them leaplong distances.

• The Fire-belly Toad has slightly warty skin.

A SUPPORTING detail explains the main idea in a paragraph. What does SUPPORT mean?

• to search and find

• to hold up and help

• to end

• to write

If you read an essay about how important recycling is to our environment, what is the main idea?

• People shouldn't make so much plastic.

• People should pick up trash.

• People should eat healthy food.

• Recycling is important to protect the environment.

What is the main idea?

• There are many fun things to do at the beach.

• It is also fun to look for shells.

• Some people simply like to sunbathe.

• Going to the beach to swim can be fun.

John and Matt want to be firemen.  They want to ride on the big fire truck.  John wants to climb ladders and rescue people from fires.  Matt wants to hold the big hose and spray water on the fires to put them out.
What is the main idea?

• John wants to climb a ladder.

• John and Matt want to be firemen

• Matt wants to hold a fire hose.

• They want to ride on the big fire truck.