Character Feelings & Story Clues
Maya’s team lost the championship game by one point in the last second. On the bus ride home, Maya stared out the window with tears in her eyes and refused to talk to anyone. How is Maya feeling?
What is disappointed / sad / upset?
Read this short passage: "Pencils, pink erasers, notebooks, and rulers are packed tightly into colorful pencil pouches. Students across the school get their supplies ready for the first day." What is this passage mainly about?
What is getting school supplies ready for school?
True or False: A supporting detail gives evidence, facts, or examples that help explain the main idea of a text.
What is True?
Find the sentence that does NOT support the main idea:
"Basketball is an exciting sport to play. Players dribble down the court and pass to teammates. Soccer balls are usually black and white. Shooting a three-pointer takes lots of practice."
What is "Soccer balls are usually black and white"?
What are the four ways to find the main idea?
What is looking at the first and last sentence, the title, the pictures, and repeated words and phrases?
Ben had to stay inside during recess to finish his math worksheet while all his friends were laughing and playing kickball outside. What emotion is Ben most likely feeling?
What is jealous / left out / annoyed?
Read this short passage: "Honeybees fly from flower to flower gathering nectar. As they move, pollen sticks to their fuzzy bodies and gets carried to other plants, helping new flowers grow." What is the main idea?
What is how honeybees help flowers grow / pollinate plants?
The main idea of a paragraph is that "Cheetahs are built for speed." Name ONE detail that supports this main idea.
What is their long legs, flexible spines, large nostrils, or ability to run up to 70 mph?
Find the sentence that does NOT support the main idea:
"Our class trip to the zoo was full of learning. We saw giant elephants eating hay and watched playful monkeys swing from ropes. My favorite shoes are blue sneakers. We even learned what sea lions eat."
What is "My favorite shoes are blue sneakers"?
Read these two details:
Polar bears have thick layers of blubber to stay warm in freezing winds.
Desert camels have long eyelashes to keep blowing sand out of their eyes.
What main idea do BOTH of these details support?
What is animals have special adaptations that help them survive in harsh environments?
Leo’s mom asked him to take out the trash. Leo groaned loudly, slammed the back door, and stomped his feet all the way to the curb. What emotion do Leo’s actions show?
What is frustrated / irritated / angry?
Which of these titles best fits a passage about choosing a dog, buying food, and training it to sit?
A) The Best Pet Stores in Town
B) How to Care for a New Puppy
C) Why Dogs Love Playing Fetch
What is B) How to Care for a New Puppy?
Read this text: "Recycling helps protect our environment. Reusing plastic bottles keeps trash out of oceans, and recycling paper saves trees." Name TWO supporting details mentioned in the text.
What are reusing plastic bottles keeps trash out of oceans and recycling paper saves trees?
In a passage about how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, why does the sentence "Spaghetti is a delicious Italian dinner" NOT belong?
What is because spaghetti has nothing to do with making a PB&J sandwich?
"When the tornado warning sounded, the family immediately headed to the basement. They grabbed their emergency kit, which had flashlights, bottled water, and a radio. They stayed away from all windows until the storm passed."
Which sentence BEST expresses the main idea without leaving out key information?
A) Tornadoes are dangerous natural disasters.
B) The family took safety precautions during a tornado warning.
C) Emergency kits should always contain bottled water and flashlights.
What is B) The family took safety precautions during a tornado warning? (A is too broad, and C is too narrow!)
Before her piano recital, Sophia’s hands were shaking, her stomach felt full of butterflies, and she kept biting her nails. What emotion is Sophia experiencing?
What is nervous / anxious?
Which title best fits a story about a girl who practices free throws every day until she finally makes the winning basket for her team?
A) Hard Work Pays Off
B) How to Play Basketball
C) The Broken Basketball Hoop
What is A) Hard Work Pays Off?
If a passage's main idea is "Preparing for a blizzard requires a lot of hard work," which added sentence would support it?
A) People stock up on extra water, canned food, and heavy blankets.
B) Summer is a great season to go swimming at the beach.
What is A) People stock up on extra water, canned food, and heavy blankets?
Find the sentence that does NOT support the main idea:
"Owls are incredible nocturnal hunters. They have special feathers that allow them to fly silently through the night air. Their sharp talons help them catch small mice in the dark. Sunflowers grow best in bright sunlight."
What is "Sunflowers grow best in bright sunlight"?
Read this paragraph:
"The bakery was buzzing early Saturday morning. Tim checked the timer on the huge oven, Sarah carefully piped pink frosting onto dozens of cupcakes, and Mr. Davis carried heavy sacks of flour from the storage room."
What is the implicit main idea (the main idea not directly stated in one sentence)?
What is the bakery workers were busy preparing baked goods for the morning?
At first, Liam thought camping in the rain would ruin his weekend. But when his dad set up a tent inside the living room and lit the fireplace for s'mores, Liam smiled and said, "This is actually awesome!" How did Liam’s feelings change?
What is he went from disappointed/upset to happy/excited?
Read this paragraph: "At the end of the long hike, the campers finally reached the mountain peak. They dropped their heavy backpacks, took in the breathtaking view of the valley below, and cheered together." Which statement best summarizes the main idea of this paragraph?
What is the campers felt accomplished and happy when they finally reached the top of the mountain?
Read this text: "Solar panels are a clean way to produce electricity. They capture energy directly from sunlight without creating pollution, making them great for the planet." Select THREE details that tell us about solar panels.
What are 1) they produce electricity, 2) they capture energy from sunlight, and 3) they do not create pollution?
In a story about a boy struggling to fix his flat bicycle tire, why does the sentence "His sister bought a new video game yesterday" NOT belong?
What is because his sister's video game is an unrelated detail that does not help explain his bike problem?
Read this short passage:
"Video games can be a fun way to relax after school. However, playing them for too many hours can cause eye strain, sleep problems, and poor grades."
Is the author's main point that video games are great, terrible, or that they require balance? Explain why.
What is they require balance (or have both pros and cons), because the text mentions they are fun but also warns about the negative effects of playing too much?