Whats the Main Idea?

All About the Main Idea

100

What is main idea?

The most important idea in a paragraph.

200

What are supporting details?

Details that support your main idea.

300

Name two tips that help you find the main idea.

1. Highlight important words 2. Ask yourself "What is the WHOLE passage trying to tell me about?" 3. Look at the first and last sentences. 4. Make sure every detail sentence would fit into the main idea.

400

When writing a paragraph you must have sentences that support your main idea. What are these sentences called?

Supporting details

Details,Details,Details

100

Main Idea:Kangaroos usually live in family groups called mobs. Which is a supporting detail? A. Kangaroos are mammals. B. These mobs can be as large as 100 kangaroos

B. These mobs can be as large as 100 kangaroos

200

Main Idea: Kangaroos usually have only one baby at a time Which details supports this? A. Kangaroo babies are called joeys. B. Kangaroos eat grass and leaves

A. Kangaroo babies are called joeys.

300

Main Idea: Kangaroos are mostly night time creatures. Which detail supports this? A.Kangaroos have a long powerful tail. B.They sleep during the day under a shady tree or bush.

B.They sleep during the day under a shady tree or bush.

400

Main Idea: Kangaroo tails are muscular, long and thick at the base. Which is a supporting detail? A. Their tails help them balance and turn when they're hopping. B. Kangaroos also have a pouch, where they carry their babies.

A. Their tails help them balance and turn when they're hopping.

Even More Main Idea

100

I have a dog named Boots. I taught him lots of tricks. When I tell him to, Boots will sit or lie down. He can also wave his paw to greet people. When I say, “Dance, Boots”, he will stand up on two legs and walk.

Boots knows tricks

200

Jim's dog does not like to get wet. He avoids water at all cost. When Jim has to give his dog a bath, the dog tries to run away. The dog does not even like it when it rains. What is the main idea?

Jim's dog does not like water

300

Peter's parents bought a new carpet for the living room. Now, he has to take his shoes off when he enters the house. He's also not allowed to eat or drink in the living room any more. Peter's furry dog isn't allowed to play ball in there either. When his parents got the new carpet, there were lots of new rules so the new carpet stays clean. What is the main idea?

Peter's parents made new rules

400

There are many ways for people to get from one place to another. The most common way to travel is by a motorized vehicle. If you are traveling with your family and not going far you may take a car. If you are going a longer distance with more people you may ride in a var or bus. If you need to travel through water, you would need to take a boat. Many people choose to ride in an airplane when they need to go far away and get their quickly. What is the main idea?

There are many ways to travel

What's In a Title

100

Rob and Anne are best friends.They like to do many activities together. In the summer, they both like to go swimming in the ocean and play in the sand. In the winter they go ice skating on the pond by their houses. What would be a good title for this passage? A. Best Friends B.Summer C.Seasons

A. Best Friends

200

Juan loves to play games. His favorite game is chess because it requires a great deal of thought. Juan also likes to play less demanding board games that are based mostly on luck. He prefers Monopoly because it requires luck and skill. If he’s alone, Juan likes to play action video games as long as they aren’t too violent. Which would be a good title for the passage? A. The Luck of the Game  B. Juan Loves Games  C.We Love Video Games

B. Juan Loves Games

300

Benjamin Franklin invented many things that made life easier in the late 1700’s. He invented the lightning rod that saved many homes from fires. He also invented the Franklin stove. The stove could heat a room better than a fireplace and saved people a lot of fuel. He also invented a special kind of glasses called bifocals. This new kind of glasses helped people to read better. Which of these would be an appropriate title for the passage? A. The Franklin Stove, A Great Invention B. Benjamin Franklin the Inventor C. We Can Finally Read

B. Benjamin Franklin the Inventor

400

Peru's Inca Indians first grew potatoes in the Andes in about 200 B.C. Spanish conquistadors brought potatoes to Europe, and colonists brought them to America. Potatoes are fourth on the list of the world's food staples – after wheat, corn and rice. Today, Americans consume about 140 pounds of potatoes per person every year while Europeans eat twice as many. Which of the following would be an appropriate title for the passage? A. The History of the Potato  B. What is in a Potato Chip  C. Americans and Potatoes

A. The History of the Potato