Main Idea and

Supporting Details

The “main idea” of a paragraph is what the entire paragraph is about.

Look for the sentence in the paragraph that states the main idea.The turtle is a very slow animal. It takes a long time for a turtle to get where it wants to go. It takes a long time for a turtle to eat. But even though it’s very slow, a turtle always gets where it’s going and has enough to eat.

The turtle is a very slow animal. It takes a long time for a turtle to get where it wants to go. It takes a long time for a turtle to eat. But even though it’s very slow, a turtle always gets where it’s going and has enough to eat.

Did you notice that the first sentence of the paragraph stated the main idea? Many times the main idea is stated in the first sentence of the paragraph.

The turtle is a very slow animal.

What are the supporting details?

It takes a long time for a turtle to get

where it wants to go. It takes along time for a turtle to eat. Buteven though it is very slow, A turtlealways gets where it is going and has enough to eat.

A babysitter must know many things. He or she must know where the mother or father will be. He or she must know when the children should go to bed. He or she must know some of the things the children like and dislike.

What is the main idea?

A babysitter must know many things. He or she must know where the mother or father will be. He or she must know when the children should go to bed. He or she must know some of the things the children like and dislike.

What are the supporting details?

A babysitter must know many things. He or she must know wherethe mother or father will be. He orshe must know when the children should go to bed. He or she mustknow some of the things the children like and dislike.Remember, supporting details are sentences that support the main idea.

Sometimes the main idea is not clearly stated. See if you can find the main idea in this next paragraph. Remember, the main idea tells what the entire paragraph is about.

Let’s take a peek at Jessie’s room. Everything is covered with toys and clothes. Pet hair, rotten apple cores, and moldy pizza scraps are on the floor and under the bed. The bed hasn’t been made in a week. What a mess! In fact, it must be the messiest room in town!Write down the main idea of the paragraph.

Did you write something like

Jessie has a very messy room?

Let’s take a peek at Jessie’s room.Everything is covered with toys and clothes. Pet hair, rotten apple cores,and moldy pizza scraps are on the floor and under the bed. The bedhasn’t been made in a week. Whata mess! In fact, it must be the messiest room in town.

Write 3 supporting details.

Read the paragraph on the next slide. Write the main idea and 3 supporting details on your paper.

Eric doesn’t know how to swim. He doesn’t like getting his face wet. Eric doesn’t even like walking along the beach and looking for shells. Eric just does not like being around water.

What is the main idea of the paragraph?

Eric just does not like being around water.

Eric doesn’t know how to swim. He doesn’t like getting his face wet. Eric doesn’t even like walking along the beach and looking for shells. Eric just does not like being around water.

What are the supporting details?1.Eric doesn’t know

how to swim.

2.Eric doesn’t like to get his face wet.

3.Eric doesn’t like walking the beach and looking for shells.

Eric doesn’t know how to swim. He doesn’t like getting his face wet. Eric doesn’t even like walking along the beach and looking for shells. Eric just does not like being around water.

The End