Main Idea Mania
What is the main idea of a story?
The most important idea or what the story is mostly about.
What are the five main types of text structure? Name at least 2.
Cause and effect, problem and solution, compare and contrast, sequence, and description.
What is first person point of view?
When the narrator is a character in the story and uses “I” or “me.”
What are context clues?
Words or sentences around an unfamiliar word that help you figure out what it means.
What is a simile? Give an example.
A comparison using "like" or "as." Example: “She was as fast as a cheetah.”
How can you tell the difference between the main idea and a supporting detail?
The main idea tells what the text is mostly about, while supporting details give evidence or examples.
If an author compares two ideas, what text structure are they using?
Compare and contrast.
What are some clue words that help you know a story is written in third person?
He, she, they, his, her, their, names of characters.
Read the sentence:
Marcus was elated when he won first place in the spelling bee. He jumped up, smiled wide, and shouted with joy.
What does elated most likely mean?
Very happy or excited.
What’s the difference between a simile and a metaphor?
A simile uses "like" or "as" to compare; a metaphor says one thing is another.
Read this paragraph. What is the main idea?
Dolphins are known for their intelligence and playful behavior. They use sounds to communicate and can even learn tricks when trained. Some dolphins have been taught to follow hand signals and solve simple problems. These smart creatures are often compared to primates because of their brainpower.
Dolphins are intelligent animals that can communicate and learn.
Read this sentence: “First, gather your supplies. Next, follow the steps carefully.” What is the text structure?
Sequence or chronological order.
Read this sentence: “She tiptoed down the hallway, hoping no one would hear her.” What point of view is this?
Third person.
Using context clues, what does gregarious mean?
Unlike her gregarious brother, who loved parties and talking to strangers, Lila was introverted and kept to herself.
Social, outgoing
What kind of figurative language is this? “The wind howled through the trees.”
Personification (giving human traits to non-human things).
Read the paragraph. What is the main idea?
Bees play a vital role in our environment. As they move from flower to flower, they help plants reproduce by spreading pollen. Without bees, many of the foods we eat—like apples, almonds, and blueberries—would become harder to grow. Farmers and scientists are working together to protect bees and their habitats.
Bees are important to the environment because they help plants grow and produce food.
How is cause and effect different from problem and solution?
Cause and effect shows what happens and why; problem and solution explains a problem and how it's solved.
How does the point of view affect how the reader understands the story?
It controls what the reader knows and how closely we understand a character’s thoughts and feelings.
Read the sentence:
After hiking for hours without water, Jamal’s movements became lethargic. He trudged slowly up the hill, his eyes half-closed, barely able to lift his feet.
What does lethargic most likely mean?
Tired, slow, or lacking energy.
Why do authors use figurative language?
To make writing more interesting, vivid, and descriptive.
Read this paragraph. Which sentence best supports the main idea?
Many schools have started growing gardens to teach students about science and healthy eating. In these gardens, students plant vegetables, observe how they grow, and eventually harvest them. One student said, “I never knew carrots grew underground until I pulled one out myself!” Some schools have even added garden-grown food to their cafeteria menus. Gardening helps students connect what they learn in class to the real world.
Main idea: School gardens are used to teach science and healthy eating.
“In these gardens, students plant vegetables, observe how they grow, and eventually harvest them.”
Read this paragraph. Which text structure is used?
Plastic pollution in the ocean is becoming a major problem. Sea turtles often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish and eat them, which can make them very sick. Some fish get stuck in plastic rings or nets and can’t escape. To help solve this problem, people are reducing plastic use, cleaning up beaches, and creating laws to limit plastic waste.
Problem & Solution
Rewrite this sentence from third person to first person: “Jason felt nervous before his speech.”
“I felt nervous before my speech.”
Read the passage:
As the storm approached, the sky turned a murky gray, and the air felt thick and heavy. The sun disappeared behind the clouds, and everything looked unclear.
What does murky most likely mean?
Murky means dark or unclear.
Identify and explain the figurative language in this sentence: “Her smile was as bright as the sun and just as warm.”
Simile—it compares her smile to the sun using “as,” suggesting it’s cheerful and comforting.