All About the Main Idea
Details,Details,Details
Even More Main Idea
What's In a Title
100
What is main idea?
The most important idea in a paragraph.
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

100

What is the MAIN IDEA?

I have a dog named Boots. He knows 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

100

What would be a good title for this passage?

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. 

A. Best Friends

B. Summer 

C. Seasons

A. Best Friends

200
What are supporting details?
Details that support your main idea.
200

Main Idea: Kangaroos usually have only one baby at a time Which details support this?

 A. Kangaroo babies are called joeys. 

B. Kangaroos eat grass and leaves

A. Kangaroo babies are called joeys.

200

What is the main idea?

Jim's dog does not like to get wet. He avoids water at all costs. 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.

Jim's dog does not like water.

OR

Jim's dog does not like to get wet.

200

Which would be a good title for the passage?

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. 

 A. The Luck of the Game

 B. Juan Loves Games 

 C. We Love Video Games

B. Juan Loves Games

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.
300

Main Idea: Kangaroos are mostly nighttime 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.

300

What is the main idea? 

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 anymore. 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. 

Peter's parents made new rules

300

Which of these would be an appropriate title for the passage? 

Benjamin Franklin invented many things that made life easier in the late 1700s. 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. 

A. The Franklin Stove, a Great Invention

B. Benjamin Franklin the Inventor 

C. We Can Finally Read

B. Benjamin Franklin the Inventor.

400
When writing a paragraph you must have sentences that support your main idea. What are these sentences called?
Supporting details
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.

400

 What is the main idea?

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 long 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 there quickly.

There are many ways to travel.

or 

There are many ways for people to get from one place to another.

400

Which of the following would be an appropriate title for the passage?

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.  

A. The History of the Potatoe 

B. Potatoes World's Food

C. Americans and Potatoes

Potatoes World's Food

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