Vocabulary
What is a text?
A text is a piece of written work.
Where can we find the main idea of a text?
We can find the main idea in the beginning or the end of a text.
What is the main idea of this text?
Bats are mammals. They have fur on their bodies like other mammals. They also drink milk from their mothers. Baby bats are born live too.
The main idea of this text is "Bats are mammals."
Where can we find the supporting details of a text?
We can find the supporting details in the middle of the text.
What is one supporting detail of this text?
It is not fun to be sick. It hurts when you cough. You have to go to the doctor's office and get medicine. You also have to drink soup and stay in bed.
One supporting detail of this text is "It hurts when you cough."
What is the main idea?
Can the main idea be one or two words?
No, the main idea cannot be one or two words. It would not be specific and clear enough if it was only one or two words. Only the topic can be this short.
What is the main idea of this text?
Many things happen in the winter. It gets very cold and it snows. The trees do not have leaves. Children play in the snow. People celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Some animals sleep and others go to warm places.
The main idea of this text is "Many things happen in the winter."
Can supporting details be one or two words?
No, the supporting details cannot be one or two words. They would not be specific and clear enough if they were only one or two words. Only the topic can be this short.
What is one supporting detail of this text?
There are many sports that you can play in the winter. You can go skiing. You can also go sledding. You can ice skate too.
One supporting detail of this text is "You can go skiing."
What are supporting details?
Supporting details are the key points that support and help describe the main idea.
Can the main idea be a question?
No, the main idea cannot be a question. It must be a statement.
What is the main idea of this text?
Plants have four main parts, and each part has a very important job. One part are the roots. They grow underground and hold the plant in place. They also get water and minerals from the soil. A second part is the stem. The stem supports the plant. It also moves water and minerals from the roots to the leaves. The leaves are another part. They make food for the plant. They also help the plant breathe. The last main part is the flower, which makes seeds for the plant.
The main idea of this text is "Plants have four main parts, and each part has a very important job."
Can supporting details be questions?
No, supporting details cannot be questions. They must be statements.
What is one supporting detail of this text?
Being a farmer is hard. Farmers have a lot of work to do, so they have to get up very early in the morning. This means that they do not get to sleep in. Farmers also have to work all day, so they do not get long breaks. Farmers have to work in bad weather too, like rain, snow, and wind.
One supporting detail of this text is "Farmers have to get up very early in the morning."
What is fiction?
Fiction is a type of text created from the imagination.
Can this statement be the main idea for these supporting details?
Statement: Regular exercise is important for many reasons.
Supporting details:
1. Regular exercise helps people build strong bones and muscles.
2. Regular exercise helps people reduce their risk of health problems.
3. Regular exercise improves people's quality of sleep.
Yes, this statement can be the main idea for these supporting details. All of the supporting details explain this statement.
What is the main idea of this text?
Do you know how Ancient Egyptians made mummies? It was a long process. First, they took the organs out of the body. They dried the organs and put them in jars. Then, they washed the inside of the body. Next, they packed it with sawdust and sewed it shut. After that, they covered the body with a salt-like chemical. This dried the body. Finally, they wrapped the body in linen and laid it in a coffin.
The main idea of this text is "Making mummies was a long process."
Can these statements be the supporting details for this main idea?
Main idea: There are three main steps to build a snowman.
Supporting details:
1. First, you have to roll three big snowballs. Put them on top of each other to build the body.
2. Next, you need two sticks for the arms.
3. After that, you need carrots for the nose and rocks for the face.
Yes, these statements can be the supporting details for this main idea. These statements explain this main idea.
What is one supporting detail of this text?
Crows are much more clever than you might think. For example, crows actually make their own tools. They do this by bending wire or making sticks sharp. Crows have also been known to remember people’s faces. This can help them warn other crows about people who might hurt them. Crows make changes to fit in with a group as well. For example, when a crow moves from one group to another, it might change the way is caws. It does this to better match the sounds that the crows in the group make.
One supporting detail of this text is "Crows actually make their own tools."
What is non-fiction?
Non-fiction is a type of text created from facts.
What could be the main idea for these supporting details?
1. Social media can be addicting.
2. Social media can be distracting.
3. Social media can lead to online bullying.
The main idea for these supporting details could be "the dangers of social media," "why social media can be dangerous," or "there are many reasons why social media can be dangerous."
What is the main idea of this text?
All living things depend on the environment for life, so it is important to protect it. There are many ways you can protect the environment. One way is conserving energy. You can conserve energy by turning off electronics when you are not using them. Another way is saving water. You can save water by taking shorter showers and fewer baths. You can also protect the environment by recycling. Put anything that is recyclable in the recycling bin.
The main idea of this text is "There are many ways you can protect the environment."
What could be a third supporting detail for this main idea?
Main idea: It is important to do your homework.
Supporting details:
1. Doing your homework helps you develop strong study skills.
2. Doing your homework improves your concentration.
3. ?
A third supporting detail could be: "Doing your homework helps you learn."
What is one supporting detail of this text?
Penguins are very interesting birds. Penguins are birds that cannot fly. Instead of having wings for flying like other birds, penguins have flippers. The flippers help them swim in the water. Penguins can also live in cold and warm habitats. In cold temperatures, penguins huddle together to keep warm. Penguins like to play with each other too. They like to slide on their tummies through the snow and ice. They also like to dive in the water.
One supporting detail of this text is "Penguins are birds that cannot fly."