Main Idea
What is the main idea of a story?
What the story is mostly about.
The baby let out a loud wail because she was hungry. What does 'wail' mean?
Cry.
What does the suffix -ful mean in 'hopeful'?
Full of hope.
What does the prefix un- mean in 'unhappy'?
Not.
What are supporting details?
The small facts that tell more about the main idea.
What is the main idea? Sam loves to paint. He paints pictures of his dog, his family, and even the sky. He wants to be an artist when he grows up.
Sam loves to paint and wants to be an artist.
What clue in the sentence helps you know what 'wail' means?
The words 'loud' and 'because she was hungry'.
What does 'careless' mean? What does -less tell you?
Without care. The suffix -less means 'without'.
What does 'redo' mean?
To do again. 'Re-' means again.
Dogs are great pets. They are friendly, they can learn tricks, and they love to play. Name two supporting details.
They are friendly. They love to play.
Why is it important to find the main idea in a story?
It helps us understand what the story is mostly about and why the details are important.
The boy was so famished, he ate three sandwiches. What does 'famished' mean and how do you know?
Famished means very hungry. He ate three sandwiches, so he must have been very hungry.
What does the suffix -ly mean in a word like 'quickly'?
It means 'in a certain way.' 'Quickly' means in a quick way.
How does the prefix change the meaning of 'preheat'?
Pre- means before, so 'preheat' means heat before.
Why do writers use supporting details?
To explain or prove the main idea and help readers understand more.
Maria has a garden. She grows tomatoes, carrots, and beans. She waters them every day. What is the main idea?
Maria takes care of her garden.
Mom told us to bundle up because it was chilly outside. What does 'chilly' mean?
Cold.
What does 'joyful' mean? What does the suffix -ful tell you?
'Joyful' means full of joy. -ful means full of.
What does the word 'misbehave' mean?
To behave badly. 'Mis-' means wrong or bad.
Sara loves to read. She goes to the library every week and checks out five books. What is a supporting detail?
She goes to the library every week.
What question can you ask to find the main idea?
What is the story mostly about?
The lion is a fierce animal. It hunts and roars loudly. What does 'fierce' mean?
Very strong or wild.
What does 'kindness' mean? What does the suffix -ness mean?
'Kindness' means being kind. -ness means a state or quality.
What does 'impossible' mean? What does the prefix 'im-' mean?
'Impossible' means not possible. 'Im-' means not.
Why are supporting details important?
They help explain or give examples of the main idea.