Main Idea
Bats are fascinating animals. They are not birds, they are flying mammals. Some bats eat fruit, others eat insects. Bats are experts at flying. They use a system called echolocation to fly quickly in the dark.
What is the main idea of this text passage?
Bats are fascinating animals.
Joey put his hands on his ears as he tried to finish his math test. The girl sitting next to him kept tapping her pencil on the table. How does he feel?
annoyed, frustrated, irritated
Bob went to see a football game with his dad. They had been looking forward to this game for months. Their favorite team was playing. Their team ended up losing. Bob was so upset. Based on the text, WHY was Bob upset?
"Their team ended up losing."
Dad thought the spaghetti sauce was too BLAND, so he added more garlic. What does BLAND mean? a) salty b) spicy c) mild
c) mild
Features that help you identify parts of a picture or diagram.
Labels
One of the best-known cartoonists in the world was Walt Disney. Walt Disney made many well-known cartoon characters. As a boy, Disney liked to draw. He moved to Hollywood and there he made cartoons. He was responsible for creating the characters of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto the dog, and others.
What is the main idea?
One of the best known cartoonists in the world was Walt Disney.
Shanay looked around at the huge tanks and could see hundreds of fish, crabs, shrimp, and all other amazing creatures completely surrounding her. She never thought she could feel like she was completely underwater, yet still be completely dry. Where do you think she is?
an aquarium
The girl walked down the street with her head hanging down she had just lost her first soccer game. What detail from the text can tell you how the girl was feeling?
"The girl walked down the street with her head hanging down"
The snow was a MARVEL to look at as it glistened in the bright sun. What does "MARVEL" mean? a.) An awesome sight b.) A comic book c.) a disgusting sight
a.) An awesome sight
Words under a picture that tells you about about the picture.
Caption
A female alligator builds a nest for her eggs on the shore. Alligators are surprisingly tender mothers. After she lays her eggs, she covers the nest to keep it warm. Unlike many other reptiles, the alligator stays to keep them safe. When the babies start making noise, the mother knows they're ready to hatch. She may help by putting the eggs in her mouth and gently breaking the shells apart. Once the babies hatch, the mother gathers them up and puts them in the water. She stays with and protects her young for as long as two years.
What is the main idea?
Alligators are surprisingly tender mothers.
The new girl at school didn't talk to anyone all day. When the teacher called on her she looked down at her desk. From this I can guess that the new girl is probably_____.
Shy, scared, embarrassed
John was a Nascar driver and he had just one his first race. He climbed out of the window of his car and threw his fist up into the air. John was so overjoyed he began to grin from ear to ear. He would never forget the moment he won his very first race. What detail from the text tells you how John feels?
he grinned, threw his fist up into the air
Cheerleaders are a BOISTEROUS group. They spend a lot of time jumping and shouting to energize the players and the fans. What does "BOISTEROUS" mean? a.) noisy b.) depressed c.) friendly
a.) noisy
Feature that lists important dates in chronological order.
Timeline
Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer. Soccer players learn how to dribble and pass the ball. They also learn how to control the ball so they can eventually score. Most importantly, soccer players learn how to work together with their teammates.
What is the main idea?
Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer.
Alex was in a hurry to get home to watch football. He was driving over the speed limit when suddenly, he heard a siren and saw flashing lights, "No! Please not now," he thought. What do you think is happening? How do you know?
Alex is getting a speeding ticket. I know because the siren and flashing lights mean he is getting pulled over.
Kate stared at the giant parking lot. She couldn't remember where she parked her car. This happened every time she went to the mall. "Where could it be?" she said, "I thought it would be right here." She sat down on the ground and began to frown. What detail from the text tells you how she feels?
"She sat down on the ground and began to frown"
Keep your speech concise to save time. We have many students who need to present their reports. What does "CONCISE" mean? What does CONCISE mean?
a.) short b.) exact c.) long
a.) short
Feature that organizes information into columns, rows and additional ways to make information easier to understand.
chart, table or a graph.
Most people say that 20 minutes of exercise 3x a week is all you need. You can get exercise by playing sports or even cleaning the house. Any amount of exercise a day is good. The best way to live a long life is to keep your heart healthy by exercising.
What is the main idea?
The best way to live a long life is to keep your heart healthy by exercising.
"Don't forget your towel!" Mom shouted as she applied sunblock on the baby. William threw the folding chairs in the back of the minivan and shouted through the garage door, "OK Mom!" He then ran up and grabbed his towel. Where are William and his mom going?
beach or pool
My hands felt shaky and I took a deep breath. I knew I had to give a speech in front of the whole school. What detail from the text tells you how I feel?
"My hands felt shaky and I took a deep breath."
Tanya's mother drives slowly when she gets close to the school and is careful to watch for PEDESTRIANS. What would be a synonym for PEDESTRIANS? a) people walking b) pretty scenery c)animals
a) people walking
Feature that helps the reader understand the definitions of important words.
glossary