Main Idea
What is the main idea of a text?
What the text is mostly about.
What does it mean to put events in sequence?
Put them in the order they happened.
This genre tells a made-up story with characters, a setting, and events.
Fiction
You are asked: “What is this passage mostly about?” What reading skill should you use?
Main Idea
A text has characters, a setting, and made-up events. What genre is it?
Fiction
Dogs need food, water, exercise, and love to stay healthy. What is the main idea?
Dogs need several things to stay healthy.
Mia put bread in the toaster. Next, she spread butter on it. Finally, she ate it. What happened second?
She spread butter on the toast.
This genre gives facts and teaches you about a real topic.
Informational / Nonfiction
You are asked: “What happened right after Maya opened the door?” What reading skill should you use?
Sequence of Events
First, Ava mixed the ingredients. Next, she poured the batter into a pan. Finally, she baked it. What happened after Ava mixed the ingredients?
She poured the batter into a pan.
Bees collect nectar from flowers. They carry pollen from flower to flower. This helps plants make seeds. Which detail supports the idea that bees help plants?
They carry pollen from flower to flower.
First, Ava planted a seed. Next, she watered it each day. Soon, a small green sprout appeared. Why did the sprout appear?
Ava planted and watered the seed.
This genre often has animals that act like people and teaches the reader a lesson or moral.
Fable
You are asked: “Is this text fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, a fable, or a recipe?” What reading skill are you using?
Identifying Genre
You read a passage about how spiders build webs. It gives facts about spiders and explains the steps they use. What genre is it?
Informational / Nonfiction
Penguins have thick feathers and a layer of fat. These help keep them warm in freezing temperatures. What is the main idea?
Penguins have adaptations that help them stay warm.
Marcus forgot to put his homework in his backpack. When he arrived at school, he couldn't turn it in. What is the cause?
Marcus forgot to put his homework in his backpack.
This genre is written to be performed. It may include characters' names, dialogue, and stage directions.
Drama / Play
You are asked: “Which sentence from the passage BEST supports the main idea?” What reading skill should you use?
Supporting Details / Main Idea
Polar bears have thick fur and a layer of fat that keeps them warm. Their large paws help them walk on ice and swim. What is the main idea?
Polar bears have body features that help them survive in their environment.
Sea turtles spend most of their lives in the ocean. Female turtles return to beaches to lay their eggs. After hatching, baby turtles crawl toward the ocean. Give the main idea AND one supporting detail.
Main idea: Sea turtles depend on both the ocean and beaches during their life cycle. Supporting details will vary.
First, the class researched plants. Then they chose seeds and planted them. After several weeks, they measured the plants. Why did they have to plant the seeds before measuring the plants?
The seeds needed time to grow into plants before they could be measured.
This genre may use lines, stanzas, rhythm, rhyme, and descriptive language to express ideas or feelings.
Poetry
You are asked: “Which event happened FIRST, and which event happened LAST?” What reading skill should you use?
Sequencing / Order of Events
First, Mia planted a seed. Next, she watered it every day. Soon, a small green sprout appeared. Finally, the sprout grew into a tall sunflower. Put these events in order: the sprout appeared, Mia watered the seed, the sunflower grew, Mia planted the seed.
1. Planted → 2. Watered → 3. Sprout appeared → 4. Sunflower grew