Main Idea and Key

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.

If you can't figure out the main idea of a passage, what should you do?

• Try to recall every specific detail from the passage

• Ask yourself general questions about the passage

• Read the passage over and over until you have it memorized

• Read the passage once and don't look at it again.

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.

If you are feeling sad, you can make yourself feel better by doing a few simple things. You can take a walk (or get another form of exercise), you can talk to a friend, or you can write down your feelings. Writing down the good things in your life will help too. Doing something good for someone else will also help you feel better. If you still feel a little sad, act happy. It works like magic to make you feel better!

What is the main idea?

• Sometimes people feel sad.

• You should do good things for others.

• We're not always happy.

• There are many ways to make yourself feel better.

Ashtyn wanted to surprise her sister E'Zhara for her birthday. She decided to plan a picnic for her sister. She made two sandwiches and put them in a bag. Then she put some cookies and bottles of water in the bag. When Ashtyn told E'Zhara about the surprise, E'Zhara gave Ashtyn a big hug. Then the girls walked to the park. What is the main idea?

• The girls walked to the park

• Ashtyn planned a picnic to surprise her sister

• Ashtyn told E'Zhara about the surprise

• Ashtyn put some cookies and water in a bag

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

• Omari got lots of gifts.

• Allen got lots of gifts.

• Allen had a great birthday.

• Tyland had a great birthday.