Main Idea
What is the main idea of a paragraph?
What the paragraph is mostly about.
The dog was timid, so he hid behind the chair. What does timid mean?
shy or scared
A passage tells steps for planting seeds. What text structure is it?
sequence
A recipe teaches how to bake cookies. Why did the author write it?
inform/explai
A story shows friends helping each other. What is the theme?
friendship matter
A passage tells how bees help flowers grow by spreading pollen. What is the main idea?
Bees help flowers grow.
The river was rapid, moving quickly over rocks. What does rapid mean?
fast
A passage explains why flooding happens and what damage it causes.
cause and effect
A funny story makes readers laugh.
entertain
A boy keeps practicing and finally succeeds.
never give up
Why is the title important for finding the main idea?
It gives clues about what the text is about.
She was exhausted after the race. What does exhausted mean?
tiered
A passage compares cats and dogs.
compare and contrast
A poster says “Save Water Today!”
persuade
A girl lies and loses trust.
honesty is important
A passage gives details about recycling paper, plastic, and glass. What is the main idea?
Recycling helps reuse materials.
The old house was ancient. What does ancient mean?
very tiered
A passage explains a problem with trash and ways to solve it.
problem and solution
A science article explains volcanoes.
inform
A family works together during hard times.
teamwork solves problem
How do supporting details help find the main idea?
They explain and prove the main idea.
The boy was frustrated when the puzzle would not fit. What does frustrated mean?
upset or annoyed
A biography tells events from birth to adulthood.
sequence
A commercial says one cereal is best for kids.
persuade
A character shares food with others in need.
Kindness and generosity matter.