Main Idea & Theme
Bees make honey. They collect nectar from flowers and bring it back to the hive. Then they turn it into honey to eat later.
What is the main idea?
Bees make honey.
Sam wore his raincoat and rain boots. He grabbed his umbrella before going outside.
What evidence shows the weather outside?
He wore a raincoat and boots and grabbed an umbrella.
(Accept: any detail that shows it is raining)
First, Mia planted a seed in the soil. Next, she watered it every day. Then, a small plant began to grow.
What happened first?
Mia planted a seed in the soil.
A page in a book has a bold title at the top that tells what the section will be about.
What text feature is this?
A heading (or title)
Liam thinks recess should be longer because kids need time to play and exercise.
What is Liam’s point of view?
Recess should be longer.
Dogs need exercise to stay healthy. Walking, running, and playing help keep their bodies strong. Without exercise, dogs can become unhealthy.
What is the main idea?
Dogs need exercise to stay healthy.
Tina practiced the piano every day after school. She worked hard to learn new songs. At her recital, she played her song perfectly.
Which detail BEST shows Tina worked hard?
A. She had a recital
B. She practiced every day after school
C. She played a song
B. She practiced every day after school
Jake woke up late. He rushed to get dressed. Then he ran to catch the bus.
What did Jake do before he ran to the bus?
He rushed to get dressed.
A book about animals includes a labeled diagram of a frog showing its body parts.
How does the diagram help the reader?
It helps the reader understand the frog’s body parts.
(Accept: It shows what the parts look like / gives more information)
Maya believes school uniforms are a good idea because they make mornings easier and reduce bullying.
What is one reason Maya gives for her point of view on school uniforms?
They make mornings easier
OR
They reduce bullying
Lila was afraid to try out for the school play. Her friend encouraged her, so she tried anyway. She didn’t get the lead role, but she was proud for being brave.
What is the theme/ central message (lesson)?
It is important to be brave / Try even if you are scared.
Ben was very nervous about his test. His hands were shaking, and he kept rereading the questions over and over.
What is one piece of evidence that shows Ben is nervous?
His hands were shaking
OR
He kept rereading the questions
The sky grew dark and clouds filled the air. Soon after, it began to rain heavily.
What caused it to rain?
Dark clouds filled the sky.
(Accept: The sky grew dark / clouds filled the air)
First, the caterpillar hatches from an egg. Next, it eats leaves and grows. Then, it forms a chrysalis. Finally, it becomes a butterfly.
What text structure is used?
Sequence (or order of events/ chronological order)
Text 1: A story about a boy who has a pet dog.
Text 2: A story about a girl who has a pet cat.
How are the two texts the same?
Both are about kids who have pets.
Some animals, like bears, hibernate during the winter. They sleep for long periods and use stored fat for energy. This helps them survive when food is hard to find.
What is the main idea?
Some animals hibernate to survive the winter.
The park was full of people laughing, playing games, and having picnics. Children ran across the grass while families sat under shady trees.
Which is the STRONGEST evidence that the park was busy?
A. There were trees
B. People were laughing
C. The park was full of people
D. Children were outside
C. The park was full of people
Ella studied all week for her test. She wanted to make a good grade and make her parents proud.
Why did Ella study all week?
She wanted to make a good grade and make her parents proud.
A passage explains a problem about pollution in oceans and then gives ways people can help fix it.
What text structure is being used?
Problem and solution
In a story, one character wants to go to the park to play, but another character wants to stay home to finish homework.
Why do the characters have different points of view?
They want different things / have different goals.
(Accept: One wants to play, the other wants to finish work)
Marcus rushed through his homework so he could play video games. The next day, he didn’t understand the lesson and failed his quiz. After that, he started taking his time and asking for help when needed.
What is the theme/ central message (lesson)?
Doing your best and taking your time leads to better results.
(Also acceptable: Rushing can lead to mistakes / Hard work is important)
Jada thinks kids should read every day. She says reading helps improve vocabulary and makes people better writers.
What evidence supports Jada’s opinion?
Reading helps improve vocabulary and makes people better writers.
Tom forgot to set his alarm the night before. The next morning, he woke up late and missed his ride to school.
What caused Tom to miss his ride, and why did it happen?
He missed his ride because he woke up late, and it happened because he forgot to set his alarm.
A student is reading a book about space. She looks at the captions under the pictures to learn more details about each planet.
How do the captions help the reader better understand the text?
They give extra information about the pictures and help explain the planets in more detail.
Text 1 says school uniforms are helpful because they keep students focused.
Text 2 says uniforms are not fair because students cannot express themselves.
How are the authors’ points of view different?
One author thinks uniforms are helpful, and the other thinks they are not fair.