You just ran into your friend at the mall and they ask about the movie you saw last night. Your friend doesn't have time to hear about the whole movie, and instead acts if you can tell them what it is about in only a few sentences.
What's it all about?
The answer to this question is the main idea. The Main idea refers to what a paragraph or an article is about. "Main" means what is important, or key, the heart of the matter. "Idea" means the thought, the thesis or the topic.
Finding the Main Idea
In texts, the Main Idea will most likely be found using one of these clues
Click here to watch a video explaining more about finding the main idea.
After watching the video show what you know by completing one of the two activities. In the first picture (left) read and answer questions in a passage to find the main idea. In the second picture (right) read the directions, and use the website as an example to create your very own Mystery Bag!
What's it all about?
The answer to this question is the main idea. The Main idea refers to what a paragraph or an article is about. "Main" means what is important, or key, the heart of the matter. "Idea" means the thought, the thesis or the topic.
Finding the Main Idea
In texts, the Main Idea will most likely be found using one of these clues
- Is it stated in the first sentence?
- Is it stated in the last sentence?
- Look for repeated words
- Look at the pictures
- Look at the title
Click here to watch a video explaining more about finding the main idea.
After watching the video show what you know by completing one of the two activities. In the first picture (left) read and answer questions in a passage to find the main idea. In the second picture (right) read the directions, and use the website as an example to create your very own Mystery Bag!