Identifying the Main Idea

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.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RI.1.2

CCSS.RI.3.2

Floods can cause tremendous damage.  They can ruin houses, roads and buildings. Floodwaters can carry away people, livestock and vehicles. Floods can take down trees and cause mudslides and often leave 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.1.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RI.2.2

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

In Australia, cattle and sheep are raised on huge ranches called stations. A station may be so large that low-flying helicopters are used to herd the animals. You could drive for several days in one direction and never leave the station.

WHAT IS THE MAIN IDEA?

• Helicopters are used to herd animals in Australia.

• In Australia, cattle and sheep are raised in huge ranches called stations.

• There are a lot of cattle in Australia.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.1.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RI.2.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

Most animals do not recognize themselves in a mirror. They think that the reflection is another animal. As a result, some animals attack the 'stranger' in the mirror, while others try to befriend their reflection. However, a few species do recognize themselves: elephants, dolphins, chimps and great apes.

WHAT IS THE MAIN IDEA?

• A dolphin can recognize itself in a mirror.

• Most animals do not like to look in mirrors.

• Most animals do not recognize themselves in a mirror.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RI.2.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

The earth's surface is constantly changing.  All over the world everyday there are earthquakes, floods and volcanoes that quickly change our world. Some changes are too small to see.  Others cause tremendous damage and costs millions of dollars to clean up.
What is the main idea?

• It is expensive to clean up the damage
• Sometimes we can't see the changes. 
• The Earth's surface is always changing.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RI.2.2

CCSS.RI.3.2

Many people have not heard giraffes make noises.  Giraffes do not use sounds to “talk” with each other.  When hurt, giraffes make a low moo, something like a cow.  When frightened, they make a short, high sound.
What is the main idea?

• Although they are seldom heard by people, giraffes do make noises

• Giraffes make sounds to talk to each other all the time.

• Cows and giraffes talk to each other.
• Lots of people have heard giraffes talk.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RI.1.2

CCSS.RL.1.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA

A penny for your thoughts? If it’s a 1943 copper penny, it could be worth as much as fifty thousand dollars. In 1943, most pennies were made out of steel since copper was needed for World War II, so the 1943 copper penny is ultra-rare. Another rarity is the 1955 double die penny. These pennies were mistakenly double stamped, so they have overlapping dates and letters. If it’s uncirculated, it’d easily fetch $25,000 at an auction. Now that’s a pretty penny.

WHAT IS THE MAIN IDEA?

• The 1943 copper penny is pretty.

• The material of the penny is all that is important.

• Some pennies are rare and valuable.

• Make sure to collect your pennies for further auctions.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RI.1.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RI.2.2

Volcanoes can be found in many parts of the world. However, most of the world's volcanoes are in an area called the "The Ring of Fire." This is a ring of volcanoes that form a circle around the Pacific Ocean. Thousands of volcanoes make up "The Ring of Fire." These volcanoes formed the sea floor and many underwater mountains.
WHAT IS THE MAIN IDEA?

• There are thousands of volcanoes in the world.

• Most volcanoes are part of the "Ring of Fire" around the Pacific Ocean.

• Some underwater mountains are volcanoes.

• Volcanoes are found all over the world

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.1.2

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RL.2.2

Dolphins are very smart animals. They even have their own language. They talk to each other with clicks, whistles, and grunts. Dolphins are so smart that each dolphin has a unique whistle, that is its 'name'. Dolphins use their names to identify and call one another. Scientists have been studying this dolphin language. They hope that in the future, people and dolphins will be able to talk to each other.

This paragraph mainly tells:

• How dolphins communicate with people

• Dolphins are very intelligent creatures.

• How dolphins are like humans

• Which scientists study languages

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RI.2.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

Amanda sat on a chair in her room.  She looked out the window at a tree, which was covered with snow.  She held a pencil in her hand and a pad of writing paper in her lap.  She began to dream of a story she could write.  Suddenly, a bird flew onto a snow-covered branch of the tree.  The bird’s head was red, and its feather were black with white tips.  Amanda thought, “What if the bird were magic?”  Now she had an idea for her first story.
What is the main idea?

• Amanda was lazy and a dreamer
• Amanda couldn't write, so she drew a bird.

• Amanda got an idea for a story by observing nature.

• Amanda and the Magical Bird

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.1.2

CCSS.RL.1.2

CCSS.RL.5.2