1. What’s the
MAIN IDEA?
Students will learn to identify the main idea in simple narrative and expository paragraphs!
Created by
TEACHERS UNLEASHED

2. What point is the writer trying
How do I know
what the “Main Idea” is?
The main idea is…
what ALL the sentences in
a paragraph are about.
Read the paragraphs and ask yourself…
What point is the writer trying
to make?

3. What is the main idea of this paragraph?
Let’s practice this together!
Making spaghetti is a very simple task to do. First,
you need to boil some water on the stove. Then, add
a little salt to the water, to help flavor the spaghetti. Once the water is boiling, add the noodles. Let it cook for about eight minutes. When the spaghetti has finished
cooking, drain out the water. Heat some sauce, add
some parmesan cheese, and you’re ready to eat.
Always look to your first sentence to help you. It is normally the topic sentence, which tells you what the paragraph is about. It isn’t always the topic sentence, but is always worth checking!
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
Spaghetti is the best tasting food.
Spaghetti takes eight minutes to cook.
Spaghetti is very easy to make.
Spaghetti needs sauce and cheese.
Then, read the rest of the paragraph. Ask yourself this question…What are ALL the sentences in this paragraph about?
Then, look at your answers. As you read each answer, ask yourself…Was that what ALL the sentences were about?

4. Take out your whiteboard or paper. For each question do the following:
Write down the first sentence.
Read the paragraph, and ask yourself what
ALL the sentences are about. Check the sentence
you wrote down, to see if it could be your main
idea.
Look at the answers. Get rid of answers that do not
match what the paragraph is ALL about! Write
down the answer choice that is the main idea.

5. What’s the Main idea?
Joe loves to play games. His favorite game is chess because it requires a great deal of thought. Joe also likes to play less demanding board games that are based mostly on luck. He prefers Monopoly because it requires luck and skill. If he’s alone, Joe likes to play action video games, as long as they aren’t too violent.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
a. Joe dislikes violence. b. Joe likes to think. c. Joe enjoys Monopoly. d. Joe enjoys playing games.

6. What is the main idea of this paragraph?
What’s the Main idea?
Maria is watching too much television. A toddler shouldn’t be spending hours staring blankly at a screen. Worse yet, some of her wild behavior has been inspired by those awful cartoons she watches. We need to spend more time reading books with her. Let’s pull the plug on the TV!
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
a. Watching a lot of television isn’t good
for Maria. b. Books are good for you. c. All cartoons are bad. d. Some cartoons are bad for Maria.

7. What is the main idea of this paragraph?
What’s the Main idea?
This summer I missed my home, family, and pets so much. I went and stayed at my Grandma’s house for two months while my parents worked. While I loved baking cookies, watching movies, and going to the park, I was always missing my home. At night, I even cried myself to sleep once or twice.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
a. I had a lot of fun at Grandma’s house. b. I love baking cookies with Grandma. c. I cried at night a few times. d. I felt homesick this summer.

8. What is the main idea of this paragraph?
What’s the Main idea?
Someday, we will all have robots that will be our personal servants. They will look and behave much like real humans. We will be able to give them commands, and they will be able to complete the tasks. Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from their experiences. They will be smart, strong, and untiring workers whose only goal will be to make our lives easier.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
a. We will be able to talk to robots someday. b. Robots will be our servants in the future. c. Robots of the future will act like people. d. Robots will be an important part of the future.

9. What is the main idea of this paragraph?
What’s the Main idea?
Benjamin Franklin loved to write. When he was twenty-two, he set up his own printing shop and started a newspaper. He also printed a book called Poor Richard’s Almanac. The book had funny stories, information about the weather, and wise sayings. He wrote many books, which changed the way people saw the world. Although Benjamin Franklin is known for many things, he started out with a love of writing.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
a. Benjamin Franklin loved to write stores and books. b. Benjamin Franklin worked very hard when he
was young. c. Benjamin Franklin knew a lot about the weather. d. Benjamin Franklin was very poor.

10. What is the main idea of this paragraph?
What’s the Main idea?
Did you ever wonder where bubble gum came from? One day in 1929, Walter Diemer, who worked for the Fleer Chewing Gum Company, was experimenting with gum recipes. One of the recipes he tried was less sticky than regular chewing gum, and stretched more easily. Walter soon realized, after chewing this new gum, that you could blow bubbles with it. He renamed the bright pink gum Double Bubble, and the world fell in love with bubble gum.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
a. Bubble gum is very popular today. b. The gum was renamed Double Bubble. c. Bubble gum is so much fun to chew. d. Bubble Gum was invented by Walter Diemer,
in 1929.

11. What is the main idea of this paragraph?
What’s the Main idea?
 Floods can cause tremendous damage.  They can ruin houses, roads and buildings. Floods can take down trees and cause mudslides. They often leave mud, sand, and debris behind.  It can take months to clean up after a flood.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
a. Floods can cause mudslides.
b. Floods cause a lot of damage.
c.  Floods ruin houses and roads.
d. Floods are a natural disaster.

12. What is the main idea of this paragraph?
What’s the Main idea?
School is an important place. At school, you learn many different things. Students learn math, reading, and much more in the classroom. Outside of the classroom, students learn how to make friends, and have fun at recess. Lunch time is always a good time to hang out with friends and relax from all the learning. School is a great place to learn, make friends, and have a good time.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
a. School is where you learn.
b. School is awesome.
c.  School is an important place to learn and
make friends.
d. Lunch time is so relaxing.

13. What is the main idea of this paragraph?
What’s the Main idea?
Dogs can be excellent pets. They are good at fetching, playing, doing tricks, and much more. Most dogs like to do tricks for treats. They like to lick your face when they are happy, and snuggle with you on the couch. Dogs sniff the ground a lot because they have a great sense of smell. Most people have dogs as pets because they are safe and loveable.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
a. Dogs like to smell a lot.
b. Dogs lick your face when they are happy.
c. Most people love dogs.
d. Dogs make very good pets.

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