Main Idea and Supporting Details Lesson

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. 

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.

The main idea is what the story is ______________ about.

• mostly

• only

• never

• very

One dinosaur had a brain that weighed about as much as three pencils. Its body weighed ten tons and was over twenty feet in length. As you can guess, this dinosaur did not think too clearly. It wasn't the world's brightest dinosaur! What is the main idea of this paragraph?

• How big one dinosaur was

• What one dinosaur's brain was like

What is the main idea of this passage?

It was backwards day at school. The students had to do things backwards. Some wore their t-shirts backwards. Dessert was served first at lunch. They turned their papers upside down to write. They tried to write backwards.

• Dessert comes after lunch.

• The students had backwards day at school.

Sally went shopping after school on Friday and all day Saturday. She bought a lot of new outfits. On Sunday, her mother took her to the outlet mall so she could finish buying clothes for the new school year. She also bought school supplies, so she would be prepared for her classes. 
What is the main idea?

• Sally bought new clothes

• Sally shopped all weekend

• Sally got school supplies

• Sally's mom shopped on Sunday

Which sentence is a supporting detail that you should get enough sleep?

• Many people sleep later on the weekends.

• Caffeine keeps some people awake at night.

• Dark rooms are best for sleeping.

• Seven to nine hours keeps you refreshed the next day.

Which supporting detail best supports this topic sentence?
It takes a lot of hard work to become a professional athlete.

• The pros live the good life.

• People like professional football players make a lot of money.

• Professional athletes spend countless hours practicing their sports.

• All of us can be professional athletes. 

Which supporting detail best supports this topic sentence?
Subway is a healthier option than McDonald's.

• It's best to just cook food at home.

• A lot of people choose to eat Subway for lunch and dinner.

• McDonald's french fries are salty and delicious.

• Subway uses fresh ingredients whereas McDonald's has processed fried food.

Main Idea:
Harry Houdini became a famous magician for his escapes from impossible traps.

What supporting detail would go with this main idea?

• Houdini liked to travel to England to perform his magic tricks.

• Houdini was a very mysterious man.

• Houdini liked to do tricks with water.

• Houdini once escaped a straightjacket whilesuspended high in the air.