Main Idea
Find the main idea:
Bees play a critical role in pollination, which helps plants grow, reproduce, and produce food. Without bees, many crops like apples, almonds, and blueberries would struggle to grow. In fact, about one-third of the food we eat depends on pollinators like bees. Their hard work supports ecosystems and helps maintain balance in nature.
Bees are essential for a healthy environment
Mei was petrified of the dark, and couldn't sleep unless the light was on.
What does petrified mean in the context of the text?
scared, frightened, terrified
List ALL of the pronouns in the text:
Sheila and Kate were best friends. They loved to hang out, and sometimes Kate's mom would invite me to join them over for cookies. Hers are the best!
they, them, me, hers
Why might the author include a diagram in their text?
To better help explain a process being described in the text
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Lena was praised for her stunning paintings—except she hadn’t painted them. She copied others' work and took the credit. Before her big gallery show, guilt overwhelmed her. The next morning, the gallery doors bore a simple note:
“These paintings aren’t mine. I lied. I’m sorry.”
A week later, she returned with her first original piece. It was imperfect—but honest. For the first time, it truly felt like art.
Honesty is more important than fame
Find the main idea:
Water helps the body in many ways. It keeps you hydrated, supports digestion, carries nutrients to your cells, and even helps control body temperature. People who don’t drink enough water may feel tired, get headaches, or have trouble focusing. That’s why doctors recommend drinking water every day.
Drinking water is important for staying healthy
Jayshawn was proud to demonstrate his cooking skills to an audience after practicing for months.
What does demonstrate mean in this context?
show off
List ALL of the nouns in the text:
Quinn set up her sleeping bag and looked up at the moon. She was visiting Montana's great mountains with her sister.
Quinn, sleeping bag, moon, Montana, mountains, sister
The words "first", "next", "then", and "finally" might be found in a text where the author used this style of text structure
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Every day, Mrs. Dorsey gave a sandwich to the quiet boy who waited by the school gate. She never asked why he was there. Years later, that same boy—now a grown man in a suit—showed up at her door.
“I own a bakery now,” he said, holding out a warm loaf. “You fed me. Now let me feed you.”
Kindness matters, even when it seems small
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Jasmine failed her first math test. Instead of giving up, she studied every evening, asked questions, and practiced problems until they made sense. By the end of the semester, she had the highest grade in the class.
Hard work helps you succeed
Without a second thought, Zainab began to formulate a plan to rescue her lunch money back from the bully.
What does formulate mean in this context?
create, come up with, design
List ALL of the verbs in the text:
Rita ran to hit the buzzer first. Her hand slipped, and she angrily stomped her foot.
ran, slipped, stomped
What text structure is this?
Tom was running late for work. In his hurry, he dropped his keys on the driveway and didn’t notice. When he reached the door, he realized he couldn’t get in. He had to walk back to the driveway, wasting precious time, and ended up being late for work.
Cause and effect
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Midas found a pebble that turned anything he touched into gold. He turned his house, his clothes—everything.
Then he tried to hug his daughter, and all he had left was gold.
Greed leads to loss
Find the main idea:
Maya noticed the old man struggling to carry his groceries up the stairs. Without a second thought, she rushed over and helped him, smiling as they reached the top. He thanked her, his tired eyes brightening. “You just made my whole day better,” he said. As she walked away, Maya felt a warmth in her heart.
A small act of kindness can make a difference
It was no use, despite trying to keep Gabe out of his freshly cleaned room, he had contaminated the area by touching everything with his greasy french fry fingers.
What does contaminated mean in the context of the text?
made dirty, polluted, exposed
List ALL of the conjunctions in the text:
Rosie and Walter were soaking wet, although Rosie secretly didn't care because she enjoyed Walter's company.
and, although, because
Find the author's purpose:
Every time Aniyah shopped, she used plastic bags without thinking. One day, she saw a sign that read, “Plastic bags take over 1,000 years to decompose.” She did some research, and found that sea animals often were harmed by plastic bags in the ocean.
The next time she went to the store, Aniyah brought a reusable bag. It was simple, and she felt good knowing she was helping reduce waste.
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Lila planted a seed where her house once stood, lost in a storm. Every day, she watered it in silence.
Years later, a tree stood tall—roots where her grief once lived, leaves where her hope began again.
Growth takes time
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Leo had always been afraid of speaking in front of crowds. When his teacher asked him to present his project, his heart raced. But as he stood in front of the class, his voice shaking at first, something unexpected happened—he began to speak more confidently. By the time he finished, the applause felt like a victory. He had faced his fear and come out stronger.
Facing your fears can help you become more confident
The incentive was clear; if you win the race, you get free ice cream at Swindler's Place for a whole year!
What does incentive mean in the context of the text?
Abstract noun is an idea/concept (Wednesday, January) whereas you can touch/visit a concrete noun.
Author's Purpose:
Bees are vital to our ecosystem. They pollinate flowers, helping plants grow, reproduce, and produce food. Without bees, many crops like fruits, vegetables, and nuts would struggle to thrive. In fact, one-third of the food we eat depends on pollination.
To inform
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No one noticed when Jonah raised his hand and said, “I don’t think this is right,” as the others mocked the new kid.
But the new kid did; and that was enough.
Courage isn't loud