Non-Fiction Central or Main Idea

Pet ducklings that have just hatched from their shells and need food at all times because thy are growing so fast. They also need plenty of water. Keep your baby ducklings in a roomy box with wood shavings or an old towel. Keep a brooder light nearby to keep them warm.

• Ducklings need to be kept warm and dry.

• Ducklings need food, water, and warmth.

• Make sure you feed and water pet ducklings.

• Pet ducklings grow faster if you give them lots of food.

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When the television was first invented, there were only three channels to watch. All shows were in black and white. Shows were not shown all night. When TV "went off the air" at midnight, it played the national anthem, and showed the flag waving in the breeze. Television was much different then!

• Television was invented so we could watch three channels each night.

• The first TV shows were in black and white.

• Television was much different when it was first invented.

• TV went off the air at midnight each night.

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In the 1800s in the American West, frontier men gathered to tell stories about their adventures. Storytellers exaggerated stories so they would be more exciting than the next. Stories were told of Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, and Davy Crockett. These stories became known as "tall tales".

• Frontier men gathered to tell stories.

• Storytellers exaggerated their stories.

• Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, and Davy Crockett are "tall tales".

• Frontier men exaggerated their stories, which became known as "tall tales".

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Heidi is a good juggler and she likes to entertain children. Sometimes she dresses like a clown to entertain children with magic tricks at birthday parties. However, most of all she enjoys going to hospitals to cheer up sick children.

• Heidi is an expert juggler and clown.

• Heidi entertains children with juggling and clown tricks.

• Heidi visits sick children in the hospital.

• Heidi does clown magic tricks for children.

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Tony Hawk was once a hyperactive boy who could be challenging at times. When he was ten, his brother gave him a skateboard. This changed Tony's life. He became the world's best skateboarder, winning fame and over 70 contests.

• Tony became the best skateboarder in the world.

• Tony Hawk was a challenging, hyperactive boy.

• Tony's brother gave him his first skateboard.

• Tony on over 70 skateboarding contests.

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To make your own play dough at home, combine 2 cups of flour, one cup of salt, and two tablespoons of vegetable oil. Cook it on the stove until it is like mashed potatoes. Let it cool. Divide the dough into balls and work some food coloring in. Violá! You've just made your own play dough!

• Play dough uses many different ingredients.

• You can make your own play dough at home.

• Cook play dough until it's like mashed potatoes.

• Play dough can be made into many different colors.

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Have you ever seen a Japanese warrior in an action movie? In Japan's history, their soldiers wore heavy iron armor and helmets. They carried long, sharp swords and were trained in martial arts. These specialized military men were called the Samurai.

• Samurai have been shown in action movies.

• Japanese warriors today are called Samurai.

• Japan had special warriors called Samurai.

• Samurai wore metal armor and carried swords.

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Have you ever had pumpkin soup? Pumpkin soup is popular in Australia. It is cooked with heavy cream, garlic, onions and potatoes. Sometimes it is cooked with other unusual spices. The soup is served at sporting events, restaurants, and family gatherings.

• Pumpkin soup is cooked many ways and served in many places in Australia.

• Pumpkin soup is cooked in many popular ways in Australia.

• Pumpkin soup is served in many places in Australia.

• Everyone in Australia loves pumpkin soup.

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Most people love a new box of crayons.  Crayons are made with melted paraffin wax, tint, and a secret powder to keep the crayons from breaking.  All the ingredients are non-toxic.  Some factories can produce up to 30,000 crayons per hour.

• Kids love crayons made of secret ingredients.  

• Some factories make 30,000 crayons per hour.

• Crayons are made of non-toxic ingredients in factories.

• Crayons have a secret powder so they won't break.

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What is the central, or main, idea?

• the details

• text features

• what the text is mostly about

• photographs

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