Getting the Main Idea

Mary has a new pet. Her pet is a baby kitten. It is soft and cuddly. The kitten likes to sleep a lot. Mary put a soft blanket in a box for its bed. Mary plays with her kitten when it is awake. She never forgets to feed her kitten.

What is the main idea?

• Mary’s new pet is a kitten.

• Mary want a new pet.

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.

•  Robots will be untiring workers.

• Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from experience.

Jim and Tim are brothers. They look alike. They talk alike. Sometimes they dress alike. People think Jim is Tim. People think Tim is Jim. The boys think it is funny.

The main idea is:

• Jim and Tim are alike in many many ways.

• Jim is older than Tim.

• Tim is bigger than Jim.

It gets very hot in the summer. Sometimes it is too hot to work. It is too hot to play. the best thing to do is go swimming.

The main idea is:

• Summer is too short.

• School starts in summer.

• Summer can be very hot.

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

Dogs are good pets. There are many kinds of dogs. Some dogs are big. Some are small. Many dogs like to play and do tricks.

The main idea is:

• People need dogs.

• Dogs like people.

• Dogs make good pets.

How can you be a better reader and writer?

• By understanding the main idea

• By reading the whole story

Which should you look first when looking for the main idea?

• supporting details, main idea, topic

• topic, supporting details, main idea

• topic, main idea, supporting details

What is the main idea?

• Main idea is the information that explains, define or prove the idea.

• Main idea is the most important point of an author is making when writing.