1. Main Idea

2. How to Find the Main Idea
Think about what the story or paragraph is mostly about.
Remember that sometimes the main idea is stated directly, but sometimes it is not so easy to identify.
Look for details in the story or paragraph.
What main idea do the details support? 1. 2.

3. Main Idea Storytelling
As each day passes, we have more stories to tell. All interesting stories are about memorable people, places, or happenings. However, no matter how interesting a story is, people won’t listen unless the storyteller is interesting, too. You can’t be a storyteller without an audience. Therefore, it is important to learn the art of storytelling.

4. Main Idea of a Paragraph
A person isn’t a successful storyteller unless he or she makes the stories interesting.
In the paragraph above, the details highlighted in blue support the statement highlighted in red.
As each day passes, we have more stories to tell. All interesting stories are about memorable people, places, or happenings. However, no matter how interesting a story is, people won’t listen unless the storyteller is interesting, too. You can’t be a storyteller without an audience. Therefore, it is important to learn the art of storytelling.
Storytelling

5. Guided Practice with Main Idea
Read the passage below and answer the question that follows.
The Department of Natural Resources decided to conduct research on frogs. They recruited 75 volunteers to be trained in listening to frogs so that an annual frog survey could begin immediately. The state had learned from the previous year that it is home to 31 frog species, each with distinctive sounds, such as unique “ribbits” or croaks. Surveyors spent several weeks listening to frogs and monitoring frog habitats to help officials measure frog population trends.
What is the main idea of the selection above?
Study of Frogs

6. Guided Practice with Main Idea
Read the passage below and answer the question that follows.
The Department of Natural Resources decided to conduct research on frogs. They recruited 75 volunteers to be trained in listening to frogs so that an annual frog survey could begin immediately. The state had learned from the previous year that it is home to 31 frog species, each with distinctive sounds, such as unique “ribbits” or croaks. Surveyors spent several weeks listening to frogs and monitoring frog habitats to help officials measure frog population trends.
What is the main idea of the selection above?
Study of Frogs
A study is being conducted to survey frog populations.

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