Main Idea

By Risa Udell

The Main Idea

• The main idea answers two questions.

– Who or what did I just read about?– What is the main point?

The Main Idea Can Be Found Anywhere

• It might be in the first sentence.• It might be in the last sentence.• It might be in two sentences.• It can even be found in the middle!

Look for the Main Idea

Crickets don’t make their chirping sounds with their voices. They just rub their wings together. It looks like they are playing the violin when they do.

a. How crickets chirpb. It looks like they’re playing the violin.c. They rub their wings.

• How crickets chirp!

Look for the Main Idea

• Do you know what your name means? “Richard” means “brave” and “Dorothy” means “gift.” Every name has its own special meaning.

A.A giftB.The meaning of namesC.Names for boys

The meaning of names

Look for the Main Idea

The class took a field trip to the zoo. They saw many animals. Their favorite animals were the elephants and monkeys. When it was time to leave they rode the yellow bus back to school.

a. The class rode a yellow bus.b. The class had fun.c. They saw animals.d. The class went on a field trip.

The class went on a field trip.

Now let’s try a longer passage.

An octopus can change color in a flash. Usually it matches it’s surroundings and is hard to see. If it climbs into an empty shell it turns pink and gray. If it crawls among rocks and seaweed it might turn brown, gray or green. Changing color helps the octopus escape or hide from its enemies. Its color also shows how an octopus is feeling. An angry octopus turns dark red. A frightened one turns pale.

Remember, the main idea tells what the whole paragraph is about.

• Can you find what the main idea is in the paragraph that we just read?

An octopus can change color in a flash. Usually it matches it’s surroundings and is hard to see. If it climbs into an empty shell it turns pink and gray. If it crawls among rocks and seaweed it might turn brown, gray or green. Changing color helps the octopus escape or hide from its enemies. Its color also shows how an octopus is feeling. An angry octopus turns dark red. A frightened one turns pale.

An octopus can change color in a flash. Usually it matches it’s surroundings and is hard to see. If it climbs into an empty shell it turns pink and gray. If it crawls among rocks and seaweed it might turn brown, gray or green. Changing color helps the octopus escape or hide from its enemies. Its color also shows how an octopus is feeling. An angry octopus turns dark red. A frightened one turns pale.

An octopus can change color in a flash.

• Where was that sentence?• Does it tell what the whole paragraph is

about?• Now, let’s look at the details.

Main Idea and Details

• The details tell about the main idea.• Let’s see if we can find the details in the

paragraph.

An octopus can change color in a flash. Usually it matches it’s surroundings and is hard to see. If it climbs into an empty shell it turns pink and gray. If it crawls among rocks and seaweed it might turn brown, gray or green. Changing color helps the octopus escape or hide from its enemies. Its color also shows how an octopus is feeling. An angry octopus turns dark red. A frightened one turns pale.

An octopus can change color in a flash. Usually it matches it’s surroundings and is hard to see. If it climbs into an empty shell it turns pink and gray. If it crawls among rocks and seaweed it might turn brown, gray or green. Changing color helps the octopus escape or hide from its enemies. Its color also shows how an octopus is feeling. An angry octopus turns dark red. A frightened one turns pale.

An octopus can change color in a flash. Usually it matches it’s surroundings and is hard to see. If it climbs into an empty shell it turns pink and gray. If it crawls among rocks and seaweed it might turn brown, gray or green. Changing color helps the octopus escape or hide from its enemies. Its color also shows how an octopus is feeling. An angry octopus turns dark red. A frightened one turns pale.

An octopus can change color in a flash. Usually it matches it’s surroundings and is hard to see. If it climbs into an empty shell it turns pink and gray. If it crawls among rocks and seaweed it might turn brown, gray or green. Changing color helps the octopus escape or hide from its enemies. Its color also shows how an octopus is feeling. An angry octopus turns dark red. A frightened one turns pale.

An octopus can change color in a flash. Usually it matches it’s surroundings and is hard to see. If it climbs into an empty shell it turns pink and gray. If it crawls among rocks and seaweed it might turn brown, gray or green. Changing color helps the octopus escape or hide from its enemies. Its color also shows how an octopus is feeling. An angry octopus turns dark red. A frightened one turns pale.

An octopus can change color in a flash. Usually it matches it’s surroundings and is hard to see. If it climbs into an empty shell it turns pink and gray. If it crawls among rocks and seaweed it might turn brown, gray or green. Changing color helps the octopus escape or hide from its enemies. Its color also shows how an octopus is feeling. An angry octopus turns dark red. A frightened one turns pale.

Main Idea

• Finding the main idea can be more difficult in a whole story unless. . .

– You look at the story in smaller parts or– Look at the story as a whole