Navigation
Practice reading short stories and identifying the most important message or topic.
Have you ever finished reading a story and realized you couldn't explain what it was actually about? What if you had a 'secret lens' that could zoom out and show you the whole picture at once?
The main idea is the most important thought in a paragraph or story. Think of it like an umbrella that covers everything else inside the text. If you are reading about a cat named Whiskers who loves milk, sleeps on a rug, and chases yarn, the main idea isn't just 'yarn'—it's 'Whiskers' favorite activities.' To find the main idea, ask yourself two questions: Who or what is this mostly about? and What is the most important thing happening? Usually, the main idea is found in the very first or very last sentence of a paragraph.
Read this paragraph: 'Sam put on his helmet. He grabbed his shiny blue bike. He pedaled down the sidewalk as fast as he could.'
1. Identify the subject: Sam and his bike. 2. Identify the action: He is riding. 3. Combine them: The main idea is that Sam is going for a bike ride.
Quick Check
What is the 'umbrella' that covers all the smaller parts of a story?
Answer
The main idea.
Supporting details are the small pieces of information that prove the main idea is true. Imagine the main idea is the top of a table; the supporting details are the legs that hold it up! If the main idea is 'The park is a fun place,' the details would be 'There are tall swings,' 'Kids play soccer,' and 'The ice cream truck visits.' Without these details, the main idea wouldn't have any evidence. When you look for details, look for facts, descriptions, or actions that explain the 'who, what, where, and why' of the main idea.
Read this paragraph: 'Honeybees are very busy workers. They fly from flower to flower to collect nectar. Inside the hive, they turn the nectar into sweet honey. They also build wax cells to keep the hive strong.'
1. Main Idea: Honeybees work very hard. 2. Detail 1: They collect nectar from flowers. 3. Detail 2: They build wax cells for the hive.
Quick Check
Why do we need supporting details in a story?
Answer
They provide evidence or facts that prove the main idea is true.
A summary is a short way of telling a story using only the most important parts. It’s like telling a friend about a movie in only seconds. To write a great summary, you combine the main idea and the most important details into one or two sentences. A good trick is the 'Somebody-Wanted-But-So-Then' method. For example: Somebody (Cinderella) Wanted (to go to the ball) But (her stepmother said no) So (her fairy godmother helped her) Then (she met the prince and lived happily ever after).
Read this story: 'Max was nervous about the talent show. He practiced his piano song every day for a month. On the night of the show, his hands shook, but he played every note perfectly. The crowd cheered loudly when he finished.'
1. Main Idea: Max worked hard to do well at the talent show. 2. Summary: Max was nervous about the talent show, but after practicing for a month, he played perfectly and the crowd loved it.
What is the main idea of a story?
Which of these is a supporting detail for the main idea: 'The beach is a great place to visit'?
A summary should include every single tiny detail from the story.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to explain the 'umbrella' rule for main ideas to a friend or family member.
Practice Activity
Pick a page from your favorite book today. Try to summarize what happened on that page in exactly words!