Main Idea Informational Text

Weather reporters have to give out a lot of information very quickly. That's why they use pictures! The pictures help them tell us about the weather without using so many words. Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is. They need to know where the warm air is. Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short. The pictures help weather reporters get the information out in a fast way. Which sentence best describes the main idea of the paragraph?

• Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is

• Pictures help weather reporters get information out fast

• Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short

• They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area

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.

Have you ever wondered how the 50 states got their names?Many of those the Native Americans gave to the area. Hawaii is theword for “homeland”. Missouri means “river of the big canoes.”Michigan means “great water.” Ohio means “good river.” Otherstates names are based on the English language. Indiana stands for“land of Indians.” King George named Georgia. Maine is short for“mainland.” New Hampshire was named for a settler’s home inEngland. The reasons behind some names aren’t clear. Rhode Islandwas named after a Greek island. Texas mean “friends” in Spanish.California was named after a made-up place in a story. What is the main idea?

• The reason behind some states’ names aren’t clear.

• Almost every state was named by Native Americans.

• You can see the English influence in most of the states’ names.

• States’ names come from Native American words, English words,and other places.

What are supporting details?

• The most important or the big idea from the text .

• Additional information that helps explain, define or prove the main idea.

Without the sun, there would not be life on Earth. What is the supporting detail?

• The sun is a star.

• The sun provides us with both heat and light.

• The sun is a glowing ball of fiery gas.

• You could not fit more than a million Earths inside the sun.

When you read to gain information, look for the __________. That is the most important idea of a passage, or what the passage is mainly about.

• summarizing

• main idea

• inference

• supporting details

What is the main idea of the passage?

• The Wright brothers worked hard.

• The Wright brothers were inventors who inspired other people.

• Inventors build kites and bicycles

• The flight was in 1903

What is the main idea?

• There are many ways to make yourself feel better.

• Doing something good for someone will help you feel better.

• Feeling better is not possible

• Feeling better is always possible

Find the Main Idea: Steel is a very important metal which is used for many things. In the United States, the automobile industry uses the most steel. Steel is used in constructing buildings. Cans and containers are made from steel. Steel is used to make farm and factory machines.

• The auto industry is the most important.

• Steel is used for many purposes.

• The United States produces the most steel in the world.

The author will include __________ that support, or back up, the main idea.

• supporting details

• main idea

• inference

• summarizing