Main Idea

Which tell the definition of the main idea?

• tells the most important thing about a topic

• the BIG idea

• what the passage is mostly about

• smaller pieces of information

Someday we will all have robots that will be our personal servants. They will look and behave much like real humans. We will be able to talk to these mechanical helpers and they will be able to respond in kind! Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from experience. They will be smart, strong, and untiring workers whose only goal will be to make our lives easier.
What is this selection mainly about?

• Someday we will have robots that will be our personal servants.
• We will be able to talk to robots and they will be able to respond.
• You should give up if you are the Robots will look and behave much like real humans.
• Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from experience.

What is the main idea?
  Ways to Get to School
There are many different ways to get to school. Some children walk to school. Other children take a bus. Some children ride their bikes. Some children are driven to school by their parents.

• Some children walk to school.
• Some people ride the bus.
• There are different ways to get to school.
• Some people like to sing.

What's the main ide?

• A boy loves his dog.

• A boy needs to give his dog a bath.

• A boy does not care for his dog.

• A boy is giving his dog away.

Look at this book cover, what do you think the main topic will be?

• cars, trains, planes

• barbie dolls

Now look at this book cover, what might one of your key details be?

• dolphins live in the ocean

• 2nd graders take a field trip to the YMCA

What is the main idea?
Rachel's Birthday Party
Rachel has her seventh birthday party today.  Her parents blow up lots of balloons and bought a cake.  Rachel has invited ten friends from school.  She also has gift bags to give out to all of her friends.

• Her parents blow up lots of balloons.
• Rachel invited ten friends from school.
• She has gift bags for all of her friends.
• Rachel has her seventh birthday party today.

What is the main idea of this picture?

• sports equipment

• fruit

• insects

• who or what the story is about

Farmers in Japan have a problem. There is not much land to farm, and there are many people to feed. Some farmers cut rows in the hillsides and grow crops there. This helps a little, but many kinds of food are shipped to Japan. They can choose anything they want to eat!

• Farming is important in Japan.

• Growing food on the hillside in Japan is hard work.

• The Japanese like getting food from different countries.

• There is little land to farm in Japan; so many kinds of food are shipped to Japan.

What's the main idea?

• Kim saw Tom.

• Tom dropped a book.

• Kim helped Tom.

• Tom likes to ride his bike.