Created by: D. Baker©2009 What’s the Big Idea? Stop!

Hold it right there and tell me what the main idea is? Yes, sir! We know what it is! The main idea is what a paragraph or story is mostly about!

1.The main idea stated in the topic sentence, which is often the first sentence of the paragraph. 2. Additional sentences for the supporting details. A paragraph has two important parts:

Identify the main idea in each paragraph. Click on the sentence that states the main idea.

Sam loves to play games. His favorite game is checkers because he plays it with his dad. Sam also likes to play other games like Operation, Clue, and Monopoly. If he’s alone, Sam likes to play video games on his Nintendo. What is the main idea of this paragraph? a. Sam likes to play video gamesa. Sam likes to play video games. b. Sam likes to play games with his dad. c. Sam likes Monopoly. d. Sam loves playing games. b. Sam likes to play games with his dad c. Sam likes Monopoly d. Sam loves playing games

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My babysitter helps me with my homework. When I’m finished, she plays hide and seek with me. I love it when she lets me eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for supper. Sometimes she even lets me stay up late! Jenny is a great babysitter! What is the main idea of this paragraph? a. Jenny is a wonderful babysittera. Jenny is a wonderful babysitter. b. She helps me with my homework. c. She lets me stay up late. d. She plays hide and seek with me. b. She helps me with my homework c. She lets me stay up late d. She plays hide and seek with me

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Mrs. Baker makes learning fun. First she lets us do cool experiments in science. She also has lots of different centers for us to do during reading. In math, we get to play games to help us learn. What is the main idea of this paragraph? a. She lets us do cool science experimentsa. She lets us do cool science experiments. b. She has lots of centers in reading. c. Mrs. Baker is a fun teacher. d. We get to play math games. b. She has lots of centers in reading c. Mrs. Baker is a fun teacher d. We get to play math games

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Root beer floats are easy to make. First you put a big scoop of vanilla ice cream in a tall glass. Next add some root beer. Some people like to use a straw, but I like to use a spoon! What is the main idea of this paragraph? a. Put some root beer in a tall glassa. Put some root beer in a tall glass. b. Some people like to use a straw. c. Root beer floats are easy to make. d. Add a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. b. Some people like to use a straw c. Root beer floats are easy to make d. Add a big scoop of vanilla ice cream

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Hamsters don’t eat a lot of food. They are very quiet. You don’t have to take them on walks because they get exercise by running on a wheel. Just don’t forget to give them fresh water every day. Hamster make great pets! What is the main idea of this paragraph? a. They are very quiet. b. Hamsters make good petsa. They are very quiet. b. Hamsters make good pets. c. They don’t eat much food. d. They exercise on a wheel. c. They don’t eat much food d. They exercise on a wheel

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Computers are a great invention. Computers can be used to find all kinds of information. Also computers can help you create great reports for school. You can also communicate with people all around the world. You can even play games on computers! What is the main idea of this paragraph? a. You can find all kinds of informationa. You can find all kinds of information. b. You can communicate with other people. c. Computers are a great invention. d. You can play games on a computer. b. You can communicate with other people c. Computers are a great invention d. You can play games on a computer

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Click on the link for more practice with main idea!