1. Main Idea and Supporting Details
Third Grade
SPI Identify the stated
main idea in a selection.
SPI Identify main idea
and supporting details in a text.

2. Topic
The topic is what the selection is about. (Example: The topic of our story is Mae Jemison)

3. What is the Topic?
Dogs are great animals. They are called man’s best friend because they are great companions. Many people who cannot see use dogs as guides.

4. Main Idea Every story or paragraph has a main idea.
The main idea tells you the most important points about the topic.
The main idea maybe the lesson learned or moral of a story.
The main idea is the most important part of a story or paragraph.
It can be directly stated or implied.

5. What is the Main Idea?
Dogs are great animals. They are called man’s best friend because they are great companions. Many people who cannot see use dogs as guides.

6. Main Idea
The first sentence told us directly that the main idea of the passage is that dogs are great pets.
This is called a stated main idea.

7. What is the Main Idea?
Mae loved to work on school science projects. She spent hours at the library, reading books about science. She was fascinated by space.

8. Implied Main Idea
All the sentences in the passage told about Mae’s early interest in science. There is not 1 sentence stating the main idea that she had an early interest in science. However, I know it is the main idea by the details.
This is an implied main idea

9. Supporting Details
The supporting details are the things that describe the main idea.
These supporting details make the main idea stronger.

10. Find the Supporting Details in this Passage
The Erie Canal changed the way people moved goods in the 1800’s. The 363 mile canal connected Albany, New York to Lake Erie in Buffalo for the first time. When the Canal opened in 1825, building supplies and goods could be transported quickly and cheaply across New York State. Canal boats pulled by mules carried people and supplies across New York.

11. Question Main Idea: Lake Erie changed the way people moved goods.
What are the supporting details of this passage?
Remember supporting details describe the main idea.

12. Answer Supporting Details:
1-The 363 mile canal connected Albany and New York for the first time.
2-The canal boats pulled by mules carried people and supplies across New York State.
3-The canal made a way for goods to be transported cheaply and quickly.

13. Read the Passage and Choose the Main Idea
Niagara Falls is one of the most beautiful sights in North America. It is on the Niagara River halfway between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Niagara Falls is located on the American and Canadian border. The American Falls is 167 feet high. On the Canadian side, the Horseshoe Falls is 161 feet high.

14. Question
What is the main idea of the passage?
Remember main idea is what the story is about.

15. Answer
Main Idea: Niagara Falls is one of the most beautiful sights in North America.

16. Choose the Main Idea of this Passage
The Statue of Liberty is visited by thousands of people every year. The Statue of Liberty is a 151 foot statue of woman holding a book and a torch. It was a gift of friendship from the people of France. It has become the universal symbol for freedom.

17. Question
What is the main idea of this passage?
What was the passage about?

18. The Statue of Liberty is an amazing statue
Answer
Main Idea:
The Statue of Liberty is an amazing statue

19. Review
Our stories would not make sense if they did not include a main idea with supporting details.
You will need to be able to select the main idea and the supporting details from everything you read.