Main Idea 4th grade

I can't wait until this weekend! We’re going to my grandparents’ house and my entire family will be there. I will spend most of my time playing games with my cousins. We always have such a good time together! The day goes by so fast, and by the end we are all exhausted... but we still don’t want to leave!

The main idea of this passage is:

• Weekends are times to travel.

• The writer enjoys spending time with family.

• The writer’s grandparents live far away.

• The writer is sad to leave her cousins.

Homemade pizza is delicious. First, make the dough from flour, water, and yeast. After that, begin making the tomato sauce. Next, add any vegetables you like. Then, bake it in the oven. After a short time, the kitchen begins to smell delicious. Soon, it’s ready to eat!

The main idea of this passage is:

• Pizza is made from flour

• How to make homemade pizza

• Pizza is easy to make

• Pizza makes the kitchen smell delicious

If you are feeling sad, you can make yourself feel better by doing a few simple things. You can take a walk (or get another form of exercise), you can talk to a friend, or you can write down your feelings. Writing down the good things in your life will help too. Doing something good for someone else will also help you feel better. If you still feel a little sad, act happy. It works like magic to make you feel better!

The main idea of this passage is:

• You should take a walk to feel better

• You should do good things for others

• We’re not always happy

• There are many ways to make yourself feel better

Did you know that giraffes are the tallest animals in the world? They are unique in other ways, too. For one thing, they sleep only about 20 minutes each day, and usually not more than five minutes at a time. (They have to remain alert for predators.) Also, every giraffe’s coat is unique, and varies in color from white to nearly black, depending on what they eat and where they live.

The main idea of this passage is:

• Giraffes don’t sleep very much.

• Giraffes are unique animals.

• There are many animals in the world.

• No animal is taller than a giraffe.

Soccer is known in some countries as football. It is a popular sport across the world, with over 200 countries playing the sport. It is estimated that over 250 million people, both men and women, play soccer. The sport has been part of the Olympic games from 1900 to 1928 and from 1936 to today.
 What is the main idea?

• Soccer is important at the Olympics.
• Soccer is a worldwide sport.
• Soccer is also called football.
• Soccer is played by men and women.

Floods can cause tremendous damage.  They can ruin houses, roads and buildings. Floods can take down trees and cause mudslides. It often leaves mud, sand and debris behind.  It can take months to clean up after a flood.
 What is the main idea?

• Floods can cause a lot of damage.
• Floods cause mudslides.
• Floods damage houses and roads. 

Tags

CCSS.RI.K.2

CCSS.RI.1.2

CCSS.RL.1.2

CCSS.RI.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.2

What is the main idea of a story?

• What the story is mostly about.
• The lesson the author wants you to learn.
• The characters in the story.

Blood is a miracle liquid.  It flows to every part of the body.  Some blood cells carry food and oxygen to body organs.  Other blood cells kill germs and help stop cuts from bleeding.  People can die if they lose a lot of blood or if their blood cells get sick.  Doctors sometimes give people fresh blood to save their lives.  This paragraph mainly tells:

• how many blood cells are made by the body
• how important blood is
• why people can die from loss of blood
• why sick people are sometimes given blood

A bat can fly at night or even with its eyes closed.  But if you cover its ears, it can't fly very well.  Bats make sounds that people can't hear.  The bats find their way by listening to these sounds as they echo off things.  Bats even locate insects to eat by following the sounds that bounce off the bugs.  People use their eyes, but bats use their ears to know where they're going.  This paragraph mainly tells:

• how bats use sound
• what things bats often eat as food
• how bats fly toward people
• how people can hear the sounds of bats

Yesterday was my birthday. When I woke up, I noticed my brother Josh hung up a big sign that said,"Happy Birthday, Charles!" Mom made spaghetti for dinner.
It's my favorite food in the whole world. My friend Dave came over and handed me a wrapped gift. I wondered what it was. It was a new basketball! I had a great day.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?

• Josh got lots of gifts.
• Charles got a lot of gifts.
• Charles had a great birthday.
• Josh had a great birthday.