Main Idea
What is a main idea?
A) What the text is mostly about
B) The point of a piece of writing
C) The least important part of a piece of writing
D) Both A and B
D) Both A and B
A main idea is what the text is mostly about; the point of a piece of writing.
True or False?
Supporting Details are additional information that explain, define, or prove the main idea.
True!
Supporting details are additional information that explain, define, or prove the main idea.
What would the Main Idea of the words below be?
Banana, Kiwi, Apple, Strawberry, Grape
Fruit
While the main idea is often stated at the __________________ of a passage, it can also appear at the end as a _____________________.
A) center, paragraph
B) beginning, conclusion
C) pause, period
D) end, title
B) beginning, conclusion
Kangaroos protect themselves in many ways. If a kangaroo senses danger, they will bang their tail on the ground to warn the others.A new born joey is only the size of your thumb.What is the supporting detail?
If a kangaroo senses danger, they will bang their tail on the ground to warn the others.
Below are supporting details. What would the Main Idea of these supporting details be?
Strawberries contain many healthful vitamins and minerals.
Oranges are among the richest sources of vitamin C.
Apples are high-fiber fruits, meaning that eating them could boost heart health and promote weight loss. The pectin in apples helps to maintain good gut health.
Eating fruit is an excellent way to improve overall health.
Which of the following strategies would NOT be helpful for identifying the Main Idea?
A) Re-read passage more than once
B) Don't re-read the passage again
C) Ask general questions about the passage
D) Look for repeated words and phrases
E) Try to summarize the passage in one sentence
B) Don't re-read the passage again
The rest are all great strategies to use when identifying the Main Idea.
Re-read passage more than once, Ask general questions about the passage, Look for repeated words and phrases, Try to summarize the passage in one sentence
Kangaroos are strange looking animals. Some kangaroos act as guards to protect the mob. They have small front legs and huge hind legs with great big feet.What is the supporting detail in the paragraph?
They have small front legs and huge hind legs with great big feet.
Below are supporting details. What would the Main Idea of these supporting details be?
"Reduce, reuse, and recycle," follow the three "R's" to conserve natural resources and landfill space.
Conserve water; the less water you use, the less runoff and wastewater that eventually end up in the ocean.
Volunteer for cleanups in your community.
There are many things we can do to help protect our Earth.
The Main Idea is in Italic below. What is one of the supporting details in the passage below?
Dolphins are mammals that live in the ocean. Mammals are different than fish, reptiles or birds. As a mammal, dolphins breathe oxygen, even though they live in water. Because they are mammals, a dolphin mother gives birth to a live baby, unlike reptiles and birds who lay eggs. A dolphin mother also feeds her baby milk like other mammals.
"As a mammal, dolphins breathe oxygen,"
"Because they are mammals, a dolphin mother gives birth to a live baby",
"A dolphin mother also feeds her baby milk like other mammals."
What is the Main Idea of the passage?
Snowflakes form in clouds, and their different journeys to the ground affect their shape and size, giving each snowflake its own unique identity.
The shape of the ice crystal is determined by the temperature of the cloud.
The amount of moisture in the cloud determines the size of the ice crystal.
Clouds with different temperatures and moisture levels shape each snowflake in a unique way.
Snowflakes form in clouds, and their different journeys to the ground affect their shape and size, giving each snowflake its own unique identity.
It is estimated that over twenty million pounds of candy corn are sold in the US each year. Brach’s, the top manufacturer, sells enough candy corn to circle the earth 4.25 times if each piece were laid end to end. That’s a lot of candy corn, but that’s nothing compared to Tootsie Roll production. Over 64 million Tootsie Rolls are produced every day! But even Tootsie Rolls have got nothing on the candy industry’s staple product, chocolate. Confectioners manufacture over twenty billion pounds of chocolate in the United States each year. Now that’s a mouthful!
What is the Main Idea of the passage above?
A) The United States only produces candy corn.
B) The United States produces many types of candies in large amounts.
C) It is estimated that over twenty million pounds of candy corn are sold in the US each year.
D) But even Tootsie Rolls have got nothing on the candy industry’s staple product, chocolate.
B) The United States produces many types of candies in large amounts.
What is a synonym for the word support in supporting details?
back up, hold up, etc.
What is the main idea of the passage below?
Marine animal experts are on a mission. They want to save Hawaiian monk seals from becoming extinct. Extinct means "no longer existing."
Today, about 1,100 seals live near the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Experts fear that the population will drop in the next five years. "The clock is ticking," says scientist Jen Palmer.
Experts worry that the seals are not getting enough food. Many of the pups are thin and are not living past their first few years. Scientists are trying to figure out why.
Other scientists are monitoring the monk seals’ habitat for pollution. A habitat is a place in nature where an animal or a plant lives. "Every person takes a very tiny bit of the puzzle, and you hope at some point you...put it all together and it makes a pretty clear picture," says scientist Charles Littnan.
Marine animal experts are on a mission. They want to save Hawaiian monk seals from becoming extinct.