Main Idea

The title typically states the main idea of the story.

• True

• False

The repetition of ideas points towards the main idea.

• True

• False

Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Brown are bakers.  They work at a store called Bake Goods to Go.  Mrs. Jones works nights.  She bakes cakes, cookies, and pies.  Mrs. Brown works in the daytime.  She bakes bread and rolls.  Both Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Brown are very good bakers.
What is the main idea?

• Mrs. Jones bakes pies.

• Mrs. Brown bakes rolls.

• Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Brown are bakers

• They work at a store called Bake Goods to Go.

It was backward day at school.  The students had to do things backward.  Some of them wore their T-shirts backward.  They took a test before they studied the lesson.  Dessert was served first instead of last.  They tried to walk home backward, but they bumped into each other and fell down. 
What is the main idea?

• Dessert is supposed to come last.

• The students had a backward day.

• It is hard to do things backward.

• Students failed their tests.

Jon held the ball in his hands.  He bounced it slowly on the ground.  Once. Twice. He crouched low and then jumped.  The ball flew into the air.  Up, up, up, it went.  Then down, down, into the basket.  “Yes!” he yelled.  “Nothing but net!”
What is the main idea?

• How to throw a basketball.

• Jon could jump.

• Jon liked basketball.

• Jon makes a basket.

What is the main idea?

• There are many fun things to do at the beach.

• It is also fun to look for shells.

• Some people simply like to sunbathe.

• Going to the beach to swim can be fun.

They want to ride on the big fire truck.
What is the main idea?

• John wants to climb a ladder.

• John and Matt want to be firemen

• Matt wants to hold a fire hose.

• They want to ride on the big fire truck.

What is the main idea?

• Its the authors point of view

• Is what the passage is mostly about

• It is the sequence of the story.

I can't wait until this weekend! We’re going to my grandparents’ house and my entire family will be there. I will spend most of my time playing games with my cousins. We always have such a good time together! The day goes by so fast, and by the end we are all exhausted... but we still don’t want to leave!
What is the main idea?

• Weekends are times to travel.

• The author enjoys spending time with her family.

• The author's grandparents live far away.

• The author is sad to leave her cousins.

Jenny visited her grandmother in the hospital.  She saw how kind and helpful the nurses were to her grandmother.  Now she wants to be a nurse when she grows up.  She wants to help sick people get well. 
What is the main idea?

• Jenny got sick.

• Jenny wants to be a nurse.

• Her grandmother was in the hospital.

• Jenny was glad the nurses were being kind to her grandmother.