📖 ReadingGrade 2Lesson 9
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Identify the Main Idea

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Learning Objectives

  • 1Identify the main idea of a story in one sentence
  • 2Tell the main idea apart from supporting details
  • 3Apply the three-step strategy: read, check each paragraph and write one sentence
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Mini Lesson

Every story or text has one big point it is trying to make — that is the main idea. Everything else in the text is a supporting detail that adds information about the main idea. Being able to tell them apart is one of the most important reading skills you will ever learn.

Main idea vs supporting details

  • The main idea is what the whole text is mostly about — it is the "big umbrella."
  • Supporting details are specific facts, examples, or events that fit under that umbrella.
  • Example: Main idea — "Dogs make great pets." Details — "Dogs are loyal. Dogs can learn tricks. Dogs love to play."

Three-step strategy

  1. Read the whole text. Ask: "What is this mostly about?"
  2. Check every paragraph. Ask: "Does this support my main idea?"
  3. Write the main idea in one sentence. It should cover the whole text, not just one part.

Watch out for these traps

  • A detail that is interesting is NOT the main idea — it is just one piece.
  • The main idea is usually NOT found in just one sentence — it is what the whole text adds up to.
  • The title can be a strong hint, but always check the whole text first.
Main Idea Umbrella DiagramAn umbrella diagram showing the main idea on the umbrella canopy and three supporting details hanging below as raindrop shapes.Main Idea = the big umbrellaDogs make great pets.(main idea)Dogs areloyal.Dogs learntricks.Dogs loveto play.Supporting details hang below the main idea.
The main idea sits on top like an umbrella; supporting details hang below.
Main Idea Three-Step StrategyA three-step strategy diagram for finding the main idea: Step 1 read the whole text and ask what it is mostly about, Step 2 check each paragraph supports that idea, Step 3 write the main idea in one sentence.Main Idea Strategy1Read the whole text."What is this mostly about?"2Check each paragraph."Does this support my main idea?"3Write the main idea in one sentence.It must cover the whole text.
Three steps — read, check each paragraph, then write one sentence.
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Ask yourself: "What is this whole text mostly about? Could I remove any one paragraph and still keep the main idea? That paragraph is probably a detail."

Vocabulary
Main idea
The most important point the whole text is making; what the text is mostly aboute.g. Dogs make great pets.
Supporting detail
A specific fact, example, or event that backs up the main ideae.g. Dogs are loyal; dogs learn tricks; dogs love to play.
Big umbrella
A way of picturing the main idea: it sits on top, and supporting details hang underneath ite.g. The main idea "umbrella" covers every paragraph of the text.
Remove test
A check for the main idea: if you can remove a paragraph and the main idea still works, that paragraph was a supporting detaile.g. Remove one page — does the main idea still hold?
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