Main Idea 1
What is main idea?
What the story is mostly about.
I can't wait until this weekend! We’re going to my grandparents’ house and my entire family will be there. I will spend most of my time playing games with my cousins. We always have such a good time together! The day goes by so fast, and by the end we are all exhausted... but we still don’t want to leave!
The main idea of this passage is:
A. Weekends are times to travel.
B. The writer enjoys spending time with family.
C. The writer’s grandparents live far away.
D. The writer is sad to leave her cousins.
Choice B
What is theme?
The moral or lesson to be learned in a story.
The snow was a marvel to look at as it glistened in the bright sun. What does "marvel" mean?
To be amazed; an incredible sight.
The three students decided to collaborate on the project, since they all had different talents to share.
What does "collaborate" mean?
What is the difference between main idea and theme?
Theme teaches a moral but main idea tells what a story is mostly about.
I have a dog named Boots. I taught him lots of tricks. When I tell him to, Boots will sit or lie down. He can also wave his paw to greet people. When I say, “Dance, Boots”, he will stand up on two legs and walk. What is the main idea of this paragraph?
Boots knows tricks because he's been trained.
Where in a story are you most likely to find the theme being mentioned?
The end
Joe felt anguish when his dog died. He'd had his dog for 13 years. What does "anguish" mean?
Extreme pain, sadness and suffering.
This school has a lot of diversity. We have students from many races, religions and cultural backgrounds. What does "diversity" mean?
A variety in things/people
Where are you most likely going to find the main idea of a paragraph?
Within the first or last couple of sentences.
Jim's dog does not like to get wet. He avoids water at all cost. When Jim has to give his dog a bath, the dog tries to run away. The dog does not even like it when it rains.
What is the main idea?
Jim's dog likes water.
Give one theme from the story The Sand Castle.
Answers Vary
Joe pledged his allegiance to his new team even though he missed many members of his old team.
What does "allegiance" mean?
Loyalty or devotion
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?
To be loud or energetic
When searching for the main idea of a passage, you can find support for it by finding what in the paragraph..???
Supporting details
There are many ways for people to get from one place to another. The most common way to travel is by a motorized vehicle. If you are traveling with your family and not going far you may take a car. If you are going a longer distance with more people you may ride in a van or bus. If you need to travel through water, you would need to take a boat. Many people choose to ride in an airplane when they need to go far away and get there quickly.
What is the main idea?
There are many ways to travel
Why can there be more than one theme in a story?
A. Authors want people to learn different messages
B. Readers think differently.
Readers think differently
We had to make a chronological time line during Social Studies when we studied the events leading up to the Revolutionary War.
What does "chronological" mean?
Going in order of time (first to last)
The auditorium looks like it is filled to capacity. I don't think we will find an empty seat. What does "capacity" mean?
The largest amount possible.
What was the main idea of Brown Girl Dreaming?
Answers will vary
Main Idea: Kangaroo tails are muscular, long and thick at the base. Which is a supporting detail?
A. Their tails help them balance and turn when they're hopping.
B. Kangaroos also have a pouch, were they carry their babies.
Choice A
Jason's mom worked hard for what they had. His father passed away years ago, and their tiny apartment on the third floor seemed to get smaller every day. Every day that he went to school, he was jealous of the fancy clothes other kids had. That night he talked to his mom and understood their situation. He then watched the news and saw how others had less than him. What is a possible theme for this story?
Be thankful for what you have
To satisfy the nervous new parents, the doctor performed a painstaking exam of the baby, to ensure it was healthy.
What does "painstaking" mean?
To be careful or thorough
Nina was completely inept at cooking. She seemed to burn everything she tried to cook. What does "inept" mean?
To have little or no skill.