Main Idea
Find those Details
Cause/Effect
Purpose of
TEXT FEATURES
Mix it Up
100

The Storm

The rain began early in the morning.  It fell as hard drops, one after another.  The sky was full of dark purple clouds.  Thunder began as a soft rumble and became louder and louder. Lightning crashed every few minutes, making the sky a brilliant white.


WHAT IS THE MAIN IDEA?

The storm was very strong. 

100

The Storm

The rain began early in the morning.  It fell as hard drops, one after another.  The sky was full of dark purple clouds.  Thunder began as a soft rumble and became louder and louder. Lightning crashed every few minutes, making the sky a brilliant white.

List 3 supporting details of the main idea. 

You had to list at least three of the below answers for your points.  

1. The dark clouds were purple.

2. The thunder became louder and louder.

3. The raindrops fell one after another.

4. THe raindrops were hard.

5. The lightning crashed every few minutes.

100

CAUSE: Dark clouds appeared in the sky. 

WHAT IS THE EFFECT???

EFFECT: It began to storm. 

100

What is the purpose of a GLOSSARY?

Define words

100

Explain the jobs of the author, illustrator, and publisher. 

Author - write the story

Illustrator - works on the pictures/drawings

Publisher - put the book together 

200

Saturday at the Carnival


James and his sister, Anna, went to the carnival on 

Saturday. They rode the merry-go-round, the roller coaster and the Ferris wheel. James ate popcorn and a hot dog. 

Anna drank lemonade and ate an apple. They saw many exciting shows. They were tired when they went home.


What is the MAIN IDEA?

James and Anna did many things at the carnival. 

200

Saturday at the Carnival


James and his sister, Anna, went to the carnival on 

Saturday. They rode the merry-go-round, the roller coaster and the Ferris wheel. James ate popcorn and a hot dog. 

Anna drank lemonade and ate an apple. They saw many exciting shows. They were tired when they went home.


What are 3 details of the story?

1. James and Anna rode the roller coaster.

2. James ate a hot dog.

3. They saw shows.

200

WHAT IS THE CAUSE????


The effect:

Josh got an A on his science test. 

Possible answers:

Josh studied for the test.

Josh paid attention to the teacher when he/she was teaching.

Josh took good notes. 


200

What is the purpose of a TABLE OF CONTENTS?

Locate topics in the book and the order they are presented

200

Describe the difference between a nonfiction and fiction book. 

Nonfiction refers to factual stories based on real people, information, or events.

Fiction refers to stories created from the author's imagination.  

300

There are eight planets in the Solar System, 

and each one is very different. 

Some planets, like Jupiter and Saturn are very large. Others, like Mercury and Mars are smaller. Jupiter has moons that are larger than Mercury. 

The planets also have different atmospheres. Uranus, Jupiter and Saturn have atmospheres of hydrogen and helium. The atmosphere on Venus is made up of carbon dioxide. Earth has a nitrogen and oxygen atmosphere. Neptune’s atmosphere is 

mostly hydrogen. 

The planets also have different temperatures. Uranus is the coldest and Venus is the hottest.

WHAT IS THE MAIN IDEA?

The planets are different. 

300

There are eight planets in the Solar System, 

and each one is very different. 

Some planets, like Jupiter and Saturn are very large. Others, like Mercury and Mars are smaller. Jupiter has moons that are larger than Mercury. 

The planets also have different atmospheres. Uranus, Jupiter and Saturn have atmospheres of hydrogen and helium. The atmosphere on Venus is made up of carbon dioxide. Earth has a nitrogen and oxygen atmosphere. Neptune’s atmosphere is 

mostly hydrogen. 

The planets also have different temperatures. Uranus is the coldest and Venus is the hottest.


What are the two details that support the main idea?

List 2 details that support the main idea to get full points.  

1. The planets are different sizes, some are 

large and some are small.

2. The planets have different atmospheres.

3. There are different temperatures on some of the planets. 

300

“Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” Down the Rabbit-Hole  

Alice is sitting with her sister near a river. She was thinking, if making a daisy-chain would be worth the trouble of getting up and picking the daisies, when suddenly a White Rabbit with pink eyes ran close by her.

All of a sudden, Alice heard a Rabbit say to itself, “Oh dear! Oh dear! I'm late! I'm late!” But when the Rabbit took a watch out of its coat pocket and looked at it and then hurried on, Alice jumped to her feet, for it shocked her as she had never seen a rabbit with either a coat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and, burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it and was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit-hole, under the hedge. In another moment, down went Alice after it!


Cause:

The White Rabbit had a watch and was wearing a coat. What effect did that have on Alice? 


The effect was, Alice was shocked and jumped to her feet. 

300

What is the purpose of an Index?

Locate key ideas in the text with an alphabetical list with page numbers

300

Beth and her mom baked a cake at home on Wednesday.  The cake is for Beth's party. They made a chocolate cake.  Beth loves chocolate!

EXPLAIN - Who, What, Why, When, Where

Who: Beth and Mom

Where: home

When: on Wednesday

What: baked a cake

Why: for a party


400

The Jungle Book, is a collection of short stories about India. In this passage from “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi,” a young and curious mongoose named Rikki-tikki-tavi has found a new home with an English boy, Teddy, and his family.


Rikki-Tikki-Tavi

He spent all that day roaming over the house. He nearly drowned himself in the bathtubs, put his nose into the ink on a writing table, and burned it on the end of the big man’s cigar, for he climbed up in the big man’s lap to see how writing was done. At nightfall, he ran into Teddy’s nursery to watch how kerosene lamps were lit, and when Teddy went to bed Rikki-tikki climbed up too. But he was a restless companion because he had to get up and attend to every noise all through the night, and find out what made it. 


WHAT IS THE MAIN IDEA OF Rikki-Tikki-Tavi?

Rikki-tikki-tavi liked to explore his surroundings.

400

The Jungle Book, is a collection of short stories about India. In this passage from “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi,” a young and curious mongoose named India. In this passage from “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi,” a young and curious mongoose named Rikki-tikki-tavi has found a new home with an English boy, Teddy, and his family.


Rikki-Tikki-Tavi

He spent all that day roaming over the house. He nearly drowned himself in the bathtubs, put his nose into the ink on a writing table, and burned it on the end of the big man’s cigar, for he climbed up in the big man’s lap to see how writing was done. At nightfall, he ran into Teddy’s nursery to watch how kerosene lamps were lit, and when Teddy went to bed Rikki-tikki climbed up too. But he was a restless companion because he had to get up and attend to every noise all through the night, and find out what made it. 


WHAT IS THE MAIN IDEA OF Rikki-Tikki-Tavi?

2 OUT OF 3 WILL GET YOU YOUR POINTS :)

1. He put his nose in the ink.

2. He wanted to know how kerosene lamps 

were lighted.

3. He got up during the night to investigate every noise

400

“Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” Down the Rabbit-Hole  

Alice is sitting with her sister near a river. She was thinking, if making a daisy-chain would be worth the trouble of getting up and picking the daisies, when suddenly a White Rabbit with pink eyes ran close by her.

All of a sudden, Alice heard a Rabbit say to itself, “Oh dear! Oh dear! I'm late! I'm late!” But when the Rabbit took a watch out of its coat pocket and looked at it and then hurried on, Alice jumped to her feet, for it shocked her as she had never seen a rabbit with either a coat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and, burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it and was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit-hole, under the hedge. In another moment, down went Alice after it!


What is the Cause of...

Alice wasn’t sure she wanted to get up to pick daisies. Why was she feeling this way?

 The cause was, that Alice was sleepy. 

400

What is the purpose of CAPTIONS?

Understand an illustration/Picture

400

What is your favorite book?  Tell us about it.  


Did you tell us about the main character?

Did you give good details about the story?


500

Anne of Green Gables


It’s the story of an orphan girl, Anne,  who goes to live with Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert in their house called Green Gables. In this selection, a neighbor has entered the backyard of Green Gables.

Chapter I. Mrs. Rachel Lynde is Surprised

Mrs. Rachel, the neighbor, stepped into the backyard of Green Gables. The years was very green, neat and precise. On one side set perfect willows and the other with prim Lombardies. There were no stray sticks or stones to be seen, for Mrs. Rachel would have seen it if there had been. To herself, she thought, that Marilla swept that yard over as often as she swept her house. One could have eaten a meal off the ground.

WHAT IS THE MAIN IDEA?

Green Gables' backyard was neat and clean.

500

Anne of Green Gables


It’s the story of an orphan girl, Anne,  who goes to live with Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert in their house called Green Gables. In this selection, a neighbor has entered the backyard of Green Gables.

Chapter I. Mrs. Rachel Lynde is Surprised

Mrs. Rachel, the neighbor, stepped into the backyard of Green Gables. The years was very green, neat and precise. On one side set perfect willows and the other with prim Lombardies. There were no stray sticks or stones to be seen, for Mrs. Rachel would have seen it if there had been. To herself, she thought, that Marilla swept that yard over as often as she swept her house. One could have eaten a meal off the ground.

List at least 2 details that support the main idea. 

ANSWER 2 DETAILS CORRECTLY TO EARN YOUR POINTS

1. There were no stocks or stones scattered about.

2. Marilla swept the years as much as the house.

3. The yard was so clean that someone could eat a meal off the ground. 

500

“Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” Down the Rabbit-Hole  

Alice is sitting with her sister near a river. She was thinking, if making a daisy-chain would be worth the trouble of getting up and picking the daisies, when suddenly a White Rabbit with pink eyes ran close by her.

All of a sudden, Alice heard a Rabbit say to itself, “Oh dear! Oh dear! I'm late! I'm late!” But when the Rabbit took a watch out of its coat pocket and looked at it and then hurried on, Alice jumped to her feet, for it shocked her as she had never seen a rabbit with either a coat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and, burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it and was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit-hole, under the hedge. In another moment, down went Alice after it!



Alice follows the White Rabbit. What was she feeling that made her follow the rabbit? 

Alice followed the White Rabbit because she was curious. 
500

What is the purpose of a HEADING?

THe HEADING identifies topics within the text.

500

How can you tell a story in SEQUENTIAL ORDER?

Say what happened at the beginning, middle, and end of the story.

Use transition words to explain what happened first, next, then, and finally.

Use number words to help organize your thoughts, like 1st, 2nd, 3rd ...


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