What's the Main Idea

When thinking about the main idea, what is the BEST question to ask yourself?

• What is the main idea?

• What is the author trying to tell me?

• What causes this to happen?

• Stop and reread

If you are feeling sad, you can make yourself feel better by doing a few simple things. You can take a walk (or get another form of exercise), you can talk to a friend, or you can write down your feelings. Writing down the good things in your life will help too. Doing something good for someone else will also help you feel better. If you still feel a little sad, act happy. It works like magic to make you feel better!
What is the main idea?

• Sometimes people feel sad.

• You should do good things for others.

• We're not always happy.

• There are many ways to make yourself feel better. 

Desert animals have found several ways to beat the heat. Most animals know the best trick. They sleep during the day and creep out during the evening hours when it’s cooler. Tortoises, foxes, snakes, some lizards, and rodents all spend their days napping in underground burrows. Here the temperature stays about 86ºF. The kangaroo rat even shuts the door to its burrow. He fills it with dirt to keep out the heat and any unwanted visitors. Other animals, like the desert toad, sleep much longer than a day. They bury themselves in a cool burrow and sleep right through the hottest part of the summer. What is the main idea?

• Desert animals have physical traits to protect themselves from the heat.

• Desert animals must find ways to obtain water.

• Animals sleep during the day to avoid the heat.

• The desert presents tough challenges for the animals that live there.

The coming of the automobile in the early 1900s lessened the popularity of bicycle riding for transportation. However, cycling has remained a sport for adults and children alike. Interestingly, though bicycles have become somewhat more complex, with hand brakes and several speeds, the basic construction has remained remarkably unchanged. The most important feature of a bicycle, the fact that it is powered by human muscle instead of an engine and fuel, has endured. What is the main idea of this passage?

• Bicycles are not used anymore because the engine has taken over completely.

• Even though the bicycle is not used widely for transportation, it is still an activity enjoyed by many.

• The bicycle helped to liberate women and allowed them to become active and physically fit.

• Thomas Stevens traveled around the world.

The main idea is...

• What the story is mostly about

• The summary of the story

• The author's purpose of the story

Choose the main idea.

Spots was a large grey and white cat. Spots lived in a barn on a farm. Spots liked living in the barn. It was warm in the winter and cool in the summer. There were many mice for Spots to chase. Best of all, Spots had a soft place to sleep in the corner of the barn.

• The barn was dirty.

• Spots was grey and white.

• The barn was a good place for Spots to live.

• Spots often slept outside when it rained.

The swift wing speed does not just make an interesting sound, though. Speedy wings help the hummingbird in many important ways. A hummingbird can zip straight up or dive down. It can fly sideways and backwards. It can even fly upside down! This fancy flying helps this tiny bird get its food. What is the main idea of this passage?

• The hummingbird's unique wings help it obtain food.

• Hummingbirds can hover like a helicopter.

• A hummingbird needs to drink nectar to survive.

• A hummingbird's speedy wings vibrate the air molecules around it to make a humming sound.

What is the passage mostly about?

• who uses pemmican today

• what can be put into pemmican

• how pemmican was prepared by Native Americans.

• why people eat pemmican today

Which sentence best states the main idea of the paragraph.

• Fifth grade is a good time to show additional responsibility.

• Also, fifth graders are old enough to understand how to use a cell phone responsibly.

• Fifth graders could show additional responsibility by getting a cell phone.

Fifth grade is a good time to show additional responsibility. Fifth graders could show additional responsibility by getting a cell phone. As fifth graders, we are starting to stay after school for clubs or sports, and when we go into middle school, we will do more of this. With this added responsibility after school, we need a way to get in touch with our parents. Also, fifth graders are old enough to understand how to use a cell phone responsibility. A fifth grader understands that a phone is not just for playing games and listening to music. A fifth grader can show responsibility by not using all of the phone minutes or data on the phone for fun. Parents could help fifth graders set time limits for games and music. Finally, a phone is an expensive item, and you have to take care of it. A fifth grader can show responsibility by keeping up with the phone and not losing it. Which of the following best supports the main idea of the paragraph?

• A fifth grader can show responsibility by not using all of the phone minutes or data.

• As fifth graders, we are starting to stay after school for clubs or sports.

• Finally, a phone is an expensive item.