Read the paragraph. The main idea is what the paragraph is mostly about. The details give more information.
Paragraph A: Soil is more important than it looks. Healthy soil holds water, supports plant roots, and contains nutrients plants need to grow. Tiny living things in the soil also help break down dead material.
Question
Your Answer
Main Idea: What is this paragraph mostly about?
Detail 1: How does soil help plants?
Detail 2: What do nutrients do for plants?
Detail 3: What helps break down dead material in soil?
2 Choose the Main Idea
Read each paragraph. Then circle the BEST main idea.
Paragraph B: Volcanoes can change land in powerful ways. When a volcano erupts, lava and ash can cover nearby areas. Over time, cooled lava becomes rock and helps form new land.
A Lava and ash can cover nearby areas.
B Volcanoes can change land in powerful ways.
C Cooled lava becomes rock.
Paragraph C: Team sports can teach more than game skills. Players learn to communicate, support one another, and keep trying after mistakes. These lessons can help in school and daily life too.
A Players learn to communicate.
B Team sports can teach more than game skills.
C These lessons can help in daily life.
3 Main Idea or Detail?
Read the paragraph. Then decide: is each statement the MAIN IDEA or a DETAIL?
Paragraph D: Airplanes help people travel long distances quickly. They carry passengers across states and oceans much faster than cars can. Airports and pilots help make this travel possible.
Statement
Main Idea or Detail?
Airplanes help people travel long distances quickly.
Airplanes carry passengers across oceans.
Cars are slower for long trips.
Airports help make travel possible.
4 Write Your Own Paragraph
Write a short paragraph with a main idea and at least 2 supporting details. Pick one topic below or choose your own.
Topic IdeasA Sport That Builds SkillsWhy Earth Science MattersWays People Travel
My main idea:
My paragraph:
5 Evidence-Based Questions (SBA Practice)
These two-part questions are like the ones on the state test. First answer the question, then find the evidence that supports your answer.
Part A: What is the main idea of this passage?
Part B: Which detail from the text BEST supports your answer to Part A?
Explain in your own words: How does this detail support your answer?
+ Bonus Reading Practice
Use this short practice to extend Set 7.
Topic words: farm, barn, goat, gate
1. Write one sentence using two of the words above.
2. What detail would you expect to find in a passage about this topic?
3. Write one inference a reader could make from a text about this topic.