Main Idea
What is happening in this passage?
EXAMPLE: In this passage, Sarah and her grandfather are swimming with a tiger shark. At first, Sarah is very scared, but she trusts her grandfather and gets into the water anyway. As she watches the shark, she begins to feel calmer and realizes the shark is not dangerous. By the end, she is no longer afraid and even swims after the shark.
Who is Sarah with?
Her grandfather
What does predators mean in this passage?
predators = animals that hunt others
Why is Sarah nervous at the beginning?
She is scared because of what she’s heard about sharks
Find one detail that shows Sarah is scared.
“Sarah was shaking” / “teeth started to chatter”
What is the main idea of the passage? Use 1 detail.
EXAMPLE:
The main idea is that Sarah faces her fear of sharks and becomes more confident. The text says “Sarah was no longer scared”. This shows that sarah faced her fear of sharks and was no longer scared of them.
What instructions does her grandfather give her before getting in the water?
Stay calm, don’t wave hands/feet, leave slowly if scared
What does lateral lines most likely refer to?
lateral lines = sensors that feel movement/vibrations
Why does Sarah decide to get into the water even though she is scared?
She trusts her grandfather
Find one detail that shows her grandfather is experienced with sharks.
“He had been swimming with sharks for many years”
Explain the main idea and how Sarah changes from beginning to end. Use 2 details.
EXAMPLE:
The main idea is that Sarah faces her fear of sharks and becomes more confident. At the beginning, she is shaking and scared, but at the end she swims fearlessly after the shark. In the text it says that “Sarah was shaking”. This shows that Sarah was scared. At the end of the story, it said “Sarah was no longer scared”. This shows that Sarah faced her fears and became more confident.
Describe two ways the shark uses its senses.
What does vanished mean at the end of the passage?
vanished = disappeared
Why is Sarah no longer afraid at the end?
She realizes the shark is not dangerous and stays calm
Give two pieces of evidence that show Sarah becomes more confident.
“Sarah was no longer scared” / “she swam forward fearlessly”