Main Idea 1
There are many different kinds of bears in the world. Black bears live in North America. Grizzly bears also live in North America. They are very dangerous. The white Polar bear lives in the Arctic. The biggest bear is the Kodiak bear that is found in Alaska.
What is the main idea of this text passage?
There are many kinds of bears.
Alligators are surprisingly tender mothers. A female alligator builds a nest for her eggs on the shore. After she lays her eggs, she covers the nest to keep it warm. Unlike many other reptiles that leave their eggs, the alligator stays to keep them safe. When the babies start making noise, the mother knows they're ready to hatch. She may help by putting the eggs in her mouth and gently breaking the shells apart. Once the babies hatch, the mother gathers them up and puts them in the water. She stays with and protects her young for as long as two years.
What is the main idea?
Alligators are gentle mothers because they care for their babies in many ways.
Bats are fascinating animals. They are not birds, they are flying mammals. Some bats eat fruit, others eat insects. Bats are experts at flying. They use a system called echolocation to fly quickly in the dark.
What is the topic of this text passage?
Bats
Our solar system is very large. It includes the eight planets that turn around the sun. These planets include Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. There are also hundreds of thousands of smaller planets in this system. They are called asteroids. Each asteroid is much smaller than any of the eight large planets.
What is the main idea of this text passage?
the solar system
There are many ways to learn about people. You can learn a lot about people by simply watching or talking to them. Looking at the floor can also give you information about people. You can tell where people walk most frequently because of the worn carpet. The next time you're riding in someone else's car, notice the music on the radio. The type of music played on the station can tell a lot about the person!
Choose one supporting detail
Any sentence that you select is supporting detail EXCEPT the first sentence: "There are many ways to learn about people"
The diamond is a hard element that can cut through almost any metal. That is why it is often used for industrial purposes. Whole diamond stones are set into tools. Dust from crushed diamond stones is used for coating the edges of tools. Care must be taken when exposing diamonds to extreme heat because heat can turn them into graphite. Graphite is the soft material used in the manufacture of lead for pencils.
What is the main idea?
Diamonds are often used for industrial purposes.
True or false
Main Idea and theme are the same thing
False
Theme = moral of the story or the lesson learned
Main Idea = what a passage is mostly about, the one sentence summary
Ages ago living things like bugs and leaves got trapped in soft tree resin. The resin hardened into what we know as amber. It kept the trapped bugs and leaves in perfect shape. Now scientists are learning much about the distant past from amber samples. Some scientists say they are more useful than fossils.
What is the topic?
amber samples
There are many fun things to do at the beach. Swimming is one thing that can be done at the beach. Snorkeling is another thing that can be enjoyed. Playing beach volleyball can be a lot of fun. It is also fun to look for shells. Some people simply like to sunbathe.
What is the topic?
beach activities
fun things to do at the beach
Many types of bacteria are helpful. For example, some are able to take nitrogen from the air. They then put it into the soil. This makes the soil better for growing plants. Some bacteria are helpful in making cheese. Other bacteria are helpful in making vinegar.
Choose one supporting detail from this paragraph
All sentences are supporting details except the first one "Many types of bacteria are helpful"
Dogs and wolves are part of the same animal family. Both animals have strong senses of smell and are loyal to their packs. But dogs and wolves are quite different when it comes to people. Dogs are used to living with people and get along well with them. In fact, dogs have been called "man's best friend." Wolves, on the other hand, cannot live with humans. Wolves prefer to live in the wild, where they can hunt for their food. Clearly, dogs belong with people, while wolves do not.
What is the main idea?
Dogs are better suited to live with people when compared to wolves.
One way to live a long life is to keep your heart healthy by exercising. Most people say that 20 minutes of exercise 3x a week is all you need. There are many things you can do to get exercise. You can get exercise by playing sports or even cleaning the house. Any amount of exercise a day is good.
What is the main idea?
You can keep your heart healthy by exercising.
How can you stay safe while riding your bike on busy streets? One way is to protect your head with a bicycle helmet. Studies have shown that riders who wear helmets are less likely to hurt their heads. Another way is to use hand signals when you ride. Hand signals show that you're planning to turn or stop. They help drivers in cars watch out for you. A third way is to obey traffic laws. Stop at stop signs and traffic lights. Use bike lanes when you can, and cross streets in crosswalks. If you follow these basic safety rules, you'll protect yourself while riding.
What is the topic?
bike safety
Johnny's least favorite food is pizza. His friends can't believe that Johnny doesn't like it. When he gets invited to a birthday party, the meal served is usually pizza. Johnny always eats before he gets there because he knows that otherwise he will feel sick. Johnny doesn't like cheese. He doesn't like tomato sauce. He doesn't like the toppings that come with pizza, not even pepperoni. Johnny's parents have tried to order every topping to help Johnny like pizza, but it has never worked. Johnny says he will just never like pizza.
What is the topic?
Johnny's aversion to pizza
Dolly Madison was the wife of President James Madison. She was quite a brave First Lady. When the White House burned down, Dolly rescued important government papers. She also saved the portrait of George Washington that hangs in the East Room today.
What is a supporting detail?
All sentences work except the second one
Main idea for this paragraph is "Dolly Madison was a brave First Lady."
Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer. Soccer players learn how to dribble and pass the ball. They also learn how to control the ball so they can eventually score. Most importantly, soccer players learn how to work together with their teammates.
What is the main idea?
Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer.
Black widow spiders are far more dangerous to animals than they are to people. The spiders catch beetles, flies, and other insects in their webs and wrap them in silk. Then, they suck the insects out and eat them. Female black widows sometimes even kill and eat their mates! People, on the other hand, are usually safe from black widows. The spiders only bite to defend themselves. A person who is bitten by a black widow may experience aches or upset stomachs. However, it is rare for a person bitten by a black widow to die.
What is the main idea?
Black widows are dangerous to animals however, they are not as deadly to humans.
How can you find the topic of a paragraph or article?
Look for words that repeat often
Ask yourself what the passage is mostly about and try to answer in one to two words
Probably the best-known rodeo cowboy in the world is Larry Mahan. Mahan was the national champion six times before he was 30. He was good at every event and was so successful that he had his own plane. When he got too old to be in the rodeo, he didn't stop doing rodeo work. He started a rodeo school.
What is the main idea?
about the most famous rodeo cowboy in the world
Many people are afraid of bats. However, little brown bats are remarkable creatures. They are only 3 inches long, but can eat up to 600 insects in a single hour! These little bats can live in a variety of habitats, including meadows, forests, and backyards. They are very good fliers and are quite harmless.
Choose one supporting detail
The second sentence is not a supporting detail since the main idea is "Little brown bats are remarkable creatures."
All other sentences are supporting details
Brittany doesn't have a lot of time to get her homework done. She has dance class right after school. After dance class, she has to eat dinner. Brittany helps her dad make dinner. They have to wash the vegetables, cut them, and cook them. They also have to boil the water for the pasta and cook it. After that, Brittany finally has time to start her homework. Shortly after doing her homework, it's time for bed.
What is the main idea?
Brittany is very busy and barely has time to do her homework.
The peanut is a humble plant with hundreds of functions. Most peanuts are roasted in their shells and lightly salted. About half the peanuts eaten in the United States are ground into a thick paste called peanut butter. The rich oil made from peanuts is good for frying foods and is used for oiling machines and making soaps and paint. Even peanut shells are used to make plastics and to fertilize soil.
What is the main idea?
Peanuts and their byproducts can be used for many different things.
In 1930, Ruth Wakefield was running an inn in Massachusetts when she ran into a problem. She had planned to make chocolate cookies for her guests. However, she was out of her usual baker's chocolate, so she had to use something else. Wakefield broke a piece of semisweet chocolate into small bits. Then she mixed it into the cookie batter. She thought the chocolate would melt and blend together with the batter while the cookies baked. When she took the cookies out of the oven, however, she was surprised. The chocolate had not blended in. Instead, Wakefield's problem had led her to invent chocolate chip cookies.
What is the topic?
chocolate chip cookies
invention/creation of chocolate chip cookies
One of the best-known cartoonists in the world was Walt Disney. Walt Disney made many well-known cartoon characters. As a boy, Disney liked to draw. He moved to Hollywood and there he made cartoons. He was responsible for creating the characters of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto the dog, and others.
What is the main idea?
Walt Disney was one of the best-known cartoonists in the world.
Honeybees form large hives. There are thousands of bees in a hive. One bee is the queen. She lays the eggs. Some bees gather nectar and pollen from flowers to make honey. Other bees protect the hive. Some bees keep the hive clean. Still other bees help the queen. Each bee has a special job to do in the bee hive.
Choose a supporting detail from the paragraph
All sentences except the last sentence are supporting details:
The main idea: "Each bee has a job to do in a beehive."