1. Theme vs. Main Idea
Get to the Point!

2. Can you find it?
See if you can find the main idea in the following paragraph…

3. Exercise can help the body in various ways
Exercise can help the body in various ways. To begin with, daily exercise can help keep the body at a healthy weight. More importantly, exercise can help reduce stress levels in the body. When you have a difficult test or quiz coming up, a great way to relax is to…move! Exercise is great stress relief.

4. Exercise can help the body in various ways.
This is the main idea.
What details did you see that support that main idea?
How did you know it was the main idea?

5. Main Idea Central point that a speaker or writer wants to communicate
In essays, the main idea is usually seen in the thesis statement
Main ideas are general statements that need supporting details to explain them

6. Can you find it? Think about some of the stories from your childhood
What were the themes in those?

7. Little Red Riding Hood What is the theme in this children’s story?
How do you know?

8. Goldilocks What is the theme in this children’s story?
How do you know?

9. Theme A theme is a central message, concern, or insight
Usually expressed in a 1 or 2 sentence statement about human beings or life
Usually not stated directly
Can be multiple

10. Connection to the Text
What were the themes of the stories we read a week ago?
Yeh-Shen
Amigo Brothers