Main Idea
What is the main idea?
“A paragraph explains how plants need sunlight, water, and air to grow.”
Plants need certain things to grow
What does “enormous” mean?
Very big
What is an inference?
A smart guess based on clues
A character learns to share his toys and becomes happier. What is the theme?
Sharing brings happiness / It’s good to share.
Identify the figurative language:
“The leaves danced in the wind.”
Personification
What helps you find the main idea?
Looking for repeated ideas/details
What strategy helps figure out unknown words?
Context clues
If a character is shivering, what can you infer?
They are cold
A girl keeps practicing piano even when it’s hard and finally succeeds. What is the theme?
Practice leads to success / Perseverance pays off.
What is the effect of this figurative language?
“The night wrapped around the town like a thick blanket.”
It creates a feeling of darkness, quiet, or comfort
True or False: The main idea is always the first sentence.
False
“She was reluctant to speak.” What does “reluctant” mean?
Unsure or unwilling
What 2 things do you use to make an inference?
Text clues + background knowledge
A boy lies to his friends and loses their trust. What is the theme?
Honesty is important / Lying can hurt relationships.
Identify the figurative language AND explain its meaning:
“Her words were a double-edged sword.”
Metaphor — her words can both help and hurt
What is the main idea of a story mostly about teamwork winning a game?
Teamwork helps achieve success
Which word is a synonym for “sabotage”?
to deliberately destroy or obstruct
A character slams the door and stomps away. What can you infer?
They are angry
A family works together to rebuild their home after a storm. What is the theme?
Teamwork helps overcome challenges.
Which type of figurative language is used, and why?
“The car complained as it climbed the steep hill.”
Personification — gives human qualities to the car to show struggle
What is the difference between main idea and supporting detail?
Main idea = big idea; details = support it
Which word is an antonym for “ancient”?
Modern
After losing the game, Marcus quietly packed his bag, avoided his teammates, and stared at the ground as he walked off the field. What can you infer about how Marcus is feeling, and why?
Marcus is likely feeling disappointed or upset because he avoids others and looks down, showing negative emotions.
A character judges someone unfairly but later learns the truth. What is the theme?
Don’t judge others too quickly / Look beyond first impressions.
Read the sentence and answer the question:
“The test was a mountain standing in front of him, impossible to climb.”
What does this figurative language suggest about the character’s feelings?
He feels overwhelmed and thinks the test is very difficult