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Main Idea
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
54 views12 pages

Main+Topic+and+Main+Idea+Opt in

Main Idea
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 12

PASSAGES INCLUDED

3 A Great Fruit
-main topic focused, kindergarten level
“Sit, Stay”
4
-main topic focused, 1st grade level

5 Making Ice Cream


-main topic of multi-paragraph text, 2nd grade level
Staying Safe
6
-main idea, 3rd grade level

8 Marathon Runners
-main idea, 4th grade level
This freebie includes multiple reading levels for you to
differentiate passages. Each passage is pulled from
associated Main Topic/Idea units.

©Jessica Tobin, Elementary Nest


Name: ________________________________

A Great Fruit
Apples are food. They grow on an
apple tree. They are a fruit. They
have seeds inside.
They can be red,
green, or yellow.
Leaves
What is the main topic
of the text? Apples

Which is a key detail Apples are fruit.


about the main topic? Apples are not fruit.

Which is another key Seeds are on the outside.


detail about the main
topic? Seeds are on the inside.

Which is a color that Orange


an apple can be? Yellow
©Jessica Tobin, Elementary Nest
Name: _____________________________ 460L

“Sit, Stay”
Dogs are smart animals. Since dogs are so smart,
they can be taught tricks. Owners can teach their
dogs to listen and follow directions. It isn’t always
easy for pet owners. It takes time to train dogs.
Many owners start with the tricks “sit” and
“stay”. These are two tricks
a lot of dogs do. Some dogs
can even “speak” or “play
dead”.
1. What is the main topic of the text?

2. What is one key detail?

3. What is another key detail?

©Jessica Tobin- Elementary Nest


Name: _____________________________ 540L

Making Ice Cream


Ice cream is a popular treat for many people around
the world. It can be made in factories and sold in grocery
stores. Ice cream uses milk, sugar, and very cold
temperatures. The ice cream that is sold in stores is
usually made in very big machines and stored in tubs.
Some ice cream can be made right in people’s homes,
too. If someone has an ice cream
maker, they can use ice, milk, and
sugar to churn ice cream. Most ice
cream churners take about half an
hour to make the ice cream.
1. What is the main topic of paragraph 1?
____________________________________
____________________________________
2. What is the main topic of paragraph 2?
____________________________________
____________________________________
3. What is the text mostly about?
____________________________________
____________________________________
©Jessica Tobin, Elementary Nest
Name: ______________________________ 790L

Staying Safe
Not all weather that occurs on Earth is safe weather. Some
weather occurrences are dangerous, such as tornadoes. A tornado
is a spiraling tube of air. It can cause serious damage to anything it
is near. Making sure to stay safe during a tornado can save a
person’s life. To stay safe, people should stay updated on any news
and weather forecasts. Staying updated on the news will help
inform people about possible tornadoes. Meteorologists can use
radar to track if any tornadoes will be coming in the future. They
can do this by judging the wind speed, direction, and air pressure.
Tornado warnings and tornado watches are two notices to pay
attention to. A tornado watch is when weather patterns make a
tornado likely. A tornado warning is when a tornado has actually
been spotted on the ground in a nearby area.
Once the news does report a tornado coming close to a town,
people need to be safe. During a tornado, people need to get to a
basement or bottom floor of a house. Being on the top floor is very
dangerous. Then, people need
to find a room or closet with no
windows. Tornadoes can cause a
window’s glass to break. People also
need to try to hide under heavy
furniture. This will help to avoid
getting hit by objects.
A tornado touches down on a plain.
©Jessica Tobin, Elementary Nest
Name: _______________________________

Staying Safe
1. What is the main idea for this text?
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________

2. What is one key detail to support the main idea?


_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________

3. What is another key detail to support the main idea?


_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________

4. What is the difference between a tornado watch and warning?


_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________

5. What are two steps to staying safe in a tornado?


_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
©Jessica Tobin, Elementary Nest
Name: ________________________________
1050L

Marathon Runners
Have you ever seen a bumper sticker
on the back of someone’s car that has
the number 26.2 on it? This is a
significant number to a marathon runner.
Months of Preparation
Running a marathon is an ambitious feat. Not only is a person
committing to running 26.2 miles in one race, but he or she is also committing
to the months of preparation and training. On average, a marathon runner
spends 16-20 weeks training for a race and building their stamina at least six
months prior to their training.
Before training even begins, experts suggest that a person has at least
six months “running” experience. This means that a runner should have six
months of experience running four times per week and that he or she should
be comfortable running about six miles. When a runner has that under their
belt, they are ready to begin their training.
Training
Successful marathon training involves planning and commitment. A
trainee will need to accumulate enough weekly mileage to get their body
accustomed, or ready, for running long distances. If the person is a new
runner, he or she may start out running 15 to 20 miles per week. This means
that he or she may run four miles one day, five miles the second day, and six
miles the third day.
They will gradually build their running stamina, adding more distance
each week, until they reach 35-40 miles a week. Over the person’s training,
their goal is to increase the distance that they can comfortably run. The
runner wants their body to be able to handle the run without a high risk of
injury or harm. So, gradual increases in distance and speed are suggested.
©Jessica Tobin, Elementary Nest
Important Eating
What a runner eats is also very important to their training. If a runner
doesn’t eat enough, their body won’t have the energy that it needs to perform
the strenuous task of long-distance running. If a runner eats too much, their
body will be confused while trying to digest at the same time as it is trying to
run. So, a runner will also need to train themselves on what to eat before, during,
and after their run.
Water, Water, Water
A runner’s body also needs water. Their body will dehydrate from sweat
as they run, so a runner will need to replenish that hydration with water. Experts
suggest drinking three to six ounces of water every 15-20 minutes of running. In
a marathon, a person may be running for 4 or 5 hours, so they will need to
prepare for this.
Carbohydrates and Protein
Carbohydrates can provide your body with the fuel that runners need.
Before a run, a runner should eat foods that are high in carbohydrates, for
energy. During a run, eating or drinking can help keep blood sugar levels even and
energy high. Runners can drink sports drinks, like Gatorade, or eat small foods
packed with carbohydrates. After a run, runners should eat protein. Protein helps
heal muscles. When using muscles, small tears are made that protein helps to
repair.
A Lot to Consider
Running a marathon is a large undertaking as an athlete. Not only does a
runner have to prepare and train, but it is
time consuming and there are lots of factors to
consider when training for a marathon the right way.
These aren’t even all of the considerations that
should be made when choosing to run a marathon.
However, even though there are a lot of things to
consider, many people say that marathon running is
the best decision they’ve ever made!
©Jessica Tobin, Elementary Nest
Name: _______________________________

Marathon Questions
1. Why is the number 26.2 significant to a marathon runner?
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
2. List three things a marathon runner needs to do to prepare for a race.
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
3. What is the main idea of the passage?
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
4. What are three details from the passage that support your main idea?
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
5. Summarize the passage.
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
©Jessica Tobin, Elementary Nest
Did you know…
I have Main Topic & Main Idea
resources for
Kindergarten through 4th Grade!

In Common Core,
kindergarten through
second grade focus on
Main Topic, while
3rd and 4th grade shift to
Main Idea.

©Jessica Tobin- Elementary Nest


Thank you!
This download is a single classroom
license. If you’re interested in
sharing with your colleagues, send
them to my Main Idea blog post for
a free link!

Keep up with me!

©Jessica Tobin- Elementary Nest

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