Main Idea 1
Jake is going to try out for basketball after school today. Jake had been practicing all summer in hopes of making the team. Jake has been thinking about his big basketball try out all day. He could barely focus in math class this morning because he worried that he wouldn't be able to shoot a basket. His teacher asked him why he was unable to focus. Jake told him about his try out after school. His teacher told him to just relax and try his best. Jake is excited about his try out after school.
What is the main idea?
Jake has basketball try outs after school.
There is a wolf in the woods that comes out every night. He sleeps all day and can't be heard. As the day ends and the sky gets darker, the wolf appears in the woods. He howls once the moon comes out. He howls for his friends to join him and he howls for food. His howls go on throughout the night time. In the morning, the wolf can no longer be heard.
What is the main idea?
There is a wolf in the woods that comes out every night.
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 the main idea?
about Dolley Madison's courageous acts
The son and his dad drove to school. As they entered the building, the dad took his graded papers and headed to a different part of the building.
What is dad's job?
a teacher
You have been hitting a little white ball around. One time you found it in the sand, the next time in the high grass. You just hit it and then you hear an extremely loud splash.
What are you playing?
playing golf
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?
how are diamonds used in industry
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 main idea?
why amber samples are important to scientists
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.
What is the main idea?
Little brown bats are remarkable creatures.
Sophia ran downstairs. She noticed that the kitchen was decorated with balloons. Her dad made Sophia's favorite breakfast, pancakes with chocolate chips, and sprinkles. Later her family handed her a surprise.
What was special about today for Sophia?
It was her birthday
Bob and Steve are very competitive. Steve has more pins than Bob and Bob is not happy. The next time its Steve's turn he decides to gloat about having a better score. Bob tells Steve to cool it or he'll throw him down the gutter.
What are they playing?
They are bowling
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.
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 main idea?
There are several ways you can stay safe while riding your bike on busy streets.
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.
What is the main idea of this text passage?
Each bee has a job to do in a beehive.
Rocky was looking around. He tried to find the right scent, but he was confused and scared. He hoped someone might find and call the number on his collar.
What animal is Rocky and what is his problem?
He's a dog and he's lost.
Mr. Ambrose is watching a movie where toys are moving around the screen and talking to each other. One looks like a potato that is talking to a dinosaur. The human walks in and all of them stop moving and play "dead."
What is he watching?
He's watching Toy Story.
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.
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 main idea?
Ruth accidentally created chocolate chip cookies.
Adam's entire family just finished racing to the hospital. They scramble to find out what floor he is on. They find out that he is on the third floor and take the first elevator up. They find his room and open the door. He is standing there quietly with something in his arms. He is smiling and his parents start to cry, but they are tears of joy.
What is happening?
He has a new baby sibling.
All the kids stood back and watched. The birthday boy spun around and then we heard a “whack.” After three hits the children rushed to pick up the goodies.
What were the children doing?
Hitting a pinata.
Gino and Peter are watching a movie with robots in it when Gino's phone rings. Peter starts to get mad and tells him to turn his phone off. When they return their attention to the screen there are no more robots, just what appear to be cars and trucks.
What is he watching?
Watching transformers
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?
Our solar system is made up of the Sun, the nine large planets and many asteroids.
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?
about the many uses of the peanut
The guy who was sitting next to you bumps into you as he is stretching. He apoligizes and you accept. He puts his jacket on starts to walk down the stairs. You look at the line by the door and decide to wait for a while.
Where are you?
A movie theater and it just ended.
Rudy was very happy because she didn’t have to ride the bus anymore. She saved up her money for a long time so she could have her own space. She was happy cruising down the road on her own schedule.
What did Rudy buy?
a new car.
Bob and Doug are surrounded by thousands of people. All of a sudden the lights turn off and the crowd starts to cheer. It was so loud!
Where are they?
They're at a concert.