Main Idea
This is what a text is mostly about.
What is the main idea?
These clues help readers figure out the meaning of unknown words.
What are context clues?
“The classroom was a zoo.” This is an example of this figurative language.
What is a metaphor?
The root aqua means this.
What is water?
What kind of animal is Crenshaw?
What is a cat?
If a paragraph talks about how bees make honey, collect pollen, and help plants grow, the main idea is about this.
What is how bees help plants / bees and pollination?
If a sentence says “The desert is very arid, meaning it gets very little rain,” what does arid mean?
What is dry?
“The wind whispered through the trees.” This gives human qualities to something not human.
What is personification?
The root ped means this body part.
What is foot?
Crenshaw is not real to other people. He is this type of character.
What is an imaginary friend?
If the details describe animals losing homes because of trees being cut down, the main idea is about this problem.
What is deforestation / animals losing habitats?
“The puppy was exhausted after running all day.” What does exhausted mean?
What is very tired?
“Her smile was as bright as the sun.” This is an example of this comparison.
What is a simile?
The root bene means this
What is good / well?
What is the name of the boy who sees Crenshaw?
Who is Jackson?
A paragraph explains that dolphins are very smart, can communicate with each other, and work together to find food. What is the main idea of the paragraph?
What is dolphins are intelligent animals?
If a character whispers during a movie so others can hear, whisper means this.
What is speaking very quietly?
“Boom! Crash! Bang!” These are examples of this sound word.
What is onomatopoeia?
The root auto means this.
What is self?
Jackson’s family struggles with this big problem.
What is money problems / homelessness?
A good reader finds the main idea by looking at the topic and these supporting parts.
What are details?
“The lake was gigantic, much larger than the small ponds nearby.” What does gigantic mean?
What is very large / huge?
“The backpack weighed a thousand pounds!” This exaggeration is called this.
What is hyperbole?
If something is inspect, it means to do this carefully.
What is look at closely?
Crenshaw often appears when Jackson feels this strong emotion.
What is stress, worry, or fear?