Name That Term
Main Idea
Topic
Details
Summarize
100

The narrow idea that a written piece is all about - the author's most important point.

What is the main idea?

100
The _______ support the main idea.
What are details?
100
The length of a topic.
What is one word, or just a few words?
100
You should look for this many details to support the main idea.
What is three or more?
100
You should include these in a summary.
What is the main idea and details?
200

The broad idea that a story is about.

What is the topic?

200
In the ice cream analogy, what represents the main idea?
What is the cone?
200
Name the topic: Orcas hunt everything from fish to walruses, seals, sea lions, penguins, squid, sea turtles, sharks, and even other kinds of whales. Depending on the season and where they are, their diet varies—some orcas eat more fishes and squid than seals and penguins. But wherever they are in any of the world's oceans, average-sized orcas may eat about 500 pounds of food a day. Orcas have many hunting techniques, and bumping seals off ice is just one of them.
What is orcas?
200
In the ice cream analogy, this represents the details.
What are the scoops?
200
This is never included in a summary. (You only need to name one thing.)
Possible answers: What are opinions? What is background knowledge? What is personal information?
300

Writing a shortened version of a story, while including all important parts.

What is summarizing?

300
Name the main idea: Orcas hunt everything from fish to walruses, seals, sea lions, penguins, squid, sea turtles, sharks, and even other kinds of whales. Depending on the season and where they are, their diet varies—some orcas eat more fishes and squid than seals and penguins. But wherever they are in any of the world's oceans, average-sized orcas may eat about 500 pounds of food a day. Orcas have many hunting techniques, and bumping seals off ice is just one of them.
What is "Orcas hunt/eat many different types of prey."
300
Name the topic: There are two main species of sloth, identified by whether they have two or three claws on their front feet. The two species are quite similar in appearance, with roundish heads, sad-looking eyes, tiny ears, and stubby tails. Two-toed sloths are slightly bigger and tend to spend more time hanging upside-down than their three-toed cousins, who will often sit upright in the fork of a tree branch. Three-toed sloths have facial coloring that makes them look like they're always smiling. They also have two extra neck vertebrae that allow them to turn their heads almost all the way around!
What is "Sloths".
300
Name a supporting detail that aids the main idea: Orcas hunt everything from fish to walruses, seals, sea lions, penguins, squid, sea turtles, sharks, and even other kinds of whales. Depending on the season and where they are, their diet varies—some orcas eat more fishes and squid than seals and penguins. But wherever they are in any of the world's oceans, average-sized orcas may eat about 500 pounds of food a day. Orcas have many hunting techniques, and bumping seals off ice is just one of them.
What is (answers will vary).
300
Summarize: Orcas hunt everything from fish to walruses, seals, sea lions, penguins, squid, sea turtles, sharks, and even other kinds of whales. Depending on the season and where they are, their diet varies—some orcas eat more fishes and squid than seals and penguins. But wherever they are in any of the world's oceans, average-sized orcas may eat about 500 pounds of food a day. Orcas have many hunting techniques, and bumping seals off ice is just one of them.
What is (answers may vary) example: Orcas hunt a wide variety of sea creatures and eat close to 500 pounds a day. Their diet will vary depending on the season and their location.
400

The important parts that need to be included in a summary.

What are main idea and details?

400
Name the main idea: There are two main species of sloth, identified by whether they have two or three claws on their front feet. The two species are quite similar in appearance, with roundish heads, sad-looking eyes, tiny ears, and stubby tails. Two-toed sloths are slightly bigger and tend to spend more time hanging upside-down than their three-toed cousins, who will often sit upright in the fork of a tree branch. Three-toed sloths have facial coloring that makes them look like they're always smiling. They also have two extra neck vertebrae that allow them to turn their heads almost all the way around!
What is "There are two different types of sloths."
400
Name the topic: Found only in North America, the luna moth starts out as a very hungry caterpillar. Newly hatched, this caterpillar constantly munches on the leaves of walnut, hickory, sweet gum, and paper birch trees. After about a month of filling up on these plants, the caterpillar builds a cocoon. The insect lives inside for about three weeks, then emerges as a moth.
What is "luna moths"?
400
Name one supporting detail that aids the main idea: There are two main species of sloth, identified by whether they have two or three claws on their front feet. The two species are quite similar in appearance, with roundish heads, sad-looking eyes, tiny ears, and stubby tails. Two-toed sloths are slightly bigger and tend to spend more time hanging upside-down than their three-toed cousins, who will often sit upright in the fork of a tree branch. Three-toed sloths have facial coloring that makes them look like they're always smiling. They also have two extra neck vertebrae that allow them to turn their heads almost all the way around!
What is (answers will vary).
400
Summarize: There are two main species of sloth, identified by whether they have two or three claws on their front feet. The two species are quite similar in appearance, with roundish heads, sad-looking eyes, tiny ears, and stubby tails. Two-toed sloths are slightly bigger and tend to spend more time hanging upside-down than their three-toed cousins, who will often sit upright in the fork of a tree branch. Three-toed sloths have facial coloring that makes them look like they're always smiling. They also have two extra neck vertebrae that allow them to turn their heads almost all the way around!
What is (answers will vary) example: There are many differences between two-toed sloths and three-toed sloths. While they mostly look similar, there are some differences in appearance and behavior that set them apart.
500

The steps you can use to write the main idea of a story or text.

What is SWBST?

Somebody, Wanted, But, So, Then

500

Name the main idea: Found only in North America, the luna moth starts out as a very hungry caterpillar. Newly hatched, this caterpillar constantly munches on the leaves of walnut, hickory, sweet gum, and paper birch trees. After about a month of filling up on these plants, the caterpillar builds a cocoon. The insect lives inside for about three weeks, then emerges as a moth.

What is "There are several stages to a luna moth's life cycle."

500
Name the topic: The animals' sharp claws make them expert diggers. They also have excellent vision and hearing, which allow them to easily detect predators such as coyotes and snakes when aboveground. Once a prairie dog senses danger, it alerts others by barking. It even uses different barks for different enemies.
What is "prairie dogs"?
500
Name one detail that aids in supporting the main idea: Found only in North America, the luna moth starts out as a very hungry caterpillar. Newly hatched, this caterpillar constantly munches on the leaves of walnut, hickory, sweet gum, and paper birch trees. After about a month of filling up on these plants, the caterpillar builds a cocoon. The insect lives inside for about three weeks, then emerges as a moth.
What is (answers may vary).
500
Summarize: Found only in North America, the luna moth starts out as a very hungry caterpillar. Newly hatched, this caterpillar constantly munches on the leaves of walnut, hickory, sweet gum, and paper birch trees. After about a month of filling up on these plants, the caterpillar builds a cocoon. The insect lives inside for about three weeks, then emerges as a moth.
What is (answers may vary) example: The luna moth has various stages in its life cycle. They begin as a caterpillar, build a cocoon, and leave the cocoon as a moth.
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