Finding the Main Idea- S.T.A.R.S.

Finding the Main Idea- S.T.A.R.S.

By Miss Ruhlen

Read the first sentence of the story. The main idea is sometimes found here

Read the last sentence of the story. The main idea is sometimes found here.

Sometimes, the main idea is not found in a sentence. Think about what the story is mostly about. This will help you figure out the main idea.

THE MAIN IDEA TELLS WHAT A STORY IS MOSTLY OR MAILY ABOUT.

Pete loves to go to the circus. Some people like to watch the elephants. Others like to watch the lion tamers. But not Pete. Pete likes to watch the clowns. The clowns act silly and make him laugh. Pete can’t wait for the next circus to come to his town.

READ THE STORY ABOUT PETE. AS YOU READ, THINK ABOUT THE MAIN IDEA OF THE STORY. THEN ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

What is the main idea of the story?

Some people like to watch the elephants.

Others like to watch the lion tamers.

Pete loves to go to the circus.

Pete can’t wait for the next circus to come

to his town.

QUESTION 1

A

B

C

D

Where or how did you find the main idea?

in the first sentence of the story

in the last sentence of the story

in the middle of the story

by thinking about what the story is mostly

about

QUESTION 2

A

B

C

D

READ THE STORY ABOUT BABY ANIMALS. AS YOU READ, ASK YOURSELF, “WHAT IS THE STORY MOSTLY ABOUT?”. THEN ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

A baby cat is called a kitten. Kittens love to play. A baby kangaroo is called a joey. A joey is about the size of a bumblebee. A baby horse is called a foal. A foal can walk the day it is born! Some people call a small child a kid. Did you know that this is also the name for a baby goat? There are lots of different names for baby animals.

What is the main idea of the story?

A baby cat is called a kitten.

A foal can walk the day it is born!

There are lots of different names for baby animals.

A joey is about the size of a bumblebee.

QUESTION 1

A

B

C

D

Where or how did you find the main idea?

in the first sentence of the story

in the last sentence of the story

in the middle of the story

by thinking about what the story is mostly

about

QUESTION 2

A

B

C

D

Many stories have a title. A title usually tells something about the main idea.

All stories have one main idea. Each part of a story also has a main idea.

BUILD ON WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED.

I Hate BathsWhat’s wrong with being a little dirty? My

owner, Iris, thinks I must be clean all the time. But baths are no fun. I get cold and wet. It takes hours for my fur to dry. Each Sunday, Iris goes outside and fills a big tub with soap and water. Then I hear, “Spot, where are you?” I usually hide under the porch or behind the shed. But Iris is clever. She always finds me.

READ THE FIRST PART OF THE STORY. THEN ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

What is this part of the story mostly about?

Spot’s owner

Spot’s hiding places

Spot’s fur

Spot’s baths

QUESTION 1

A

B

C

D

What is the main idea of this part of the story?

A girl likes a clean dog.

A dog does not like baths.

A dog likes to hide.

A girl is very clever.

QUESTION 2

A

B

C

D

Where did you find the main idea?

in the first sentence of the story

in the last sentence of the story

in the title of the story

by thinking about what the story is mostly

about

QUESTION 3

A

B

C

D

What is another good title for this part of the story?

“Spot, Where Are You?”

“The Hidden Dog”

“Who Needs Baths Anyway?”

“The Clever Dog Owner”

QUESTION 4

A

B

C

D

I see Iris now. She is in the backyard. She has a big pail of soapy water. Now she is turning on the hose. Uh-oh! I know what this means! There is no time to hide. Wait a minute. Iris is spraying the car with water from the hose. Whew! Iris isn’t going to give me a bath. She is going to give the car a bath!

READ THE NEXT PART OF THE STORY ABOUT SPOT. THEN ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

What is this part of the story mostly about?

Iris gets ready to give the car a bath.

Iris gets ready to give her dog a bath.

A girl needs to clean a car.

A dog needs to take a bath.

QUESTION 1

A

B

C

D

What is the story telling you?

Iris is going to wash the car.

Spot is going to get a bath.

Spot has no time to hide.

Iris likes to clean everything.

QUESTION 2

A

B

C

D

What is the main idea of this part of the story?

Iris plays a trick on her dog.

Iris washes the car, not her dog.

Iris is in the backyard.

Iris likes to keep the car clean.

QUESTION 3

A

B

C

D

What is a good name for this part of the story?

“Bath Time for Iris”

“No Time to Hide”

“No Bath for Spot”

“The Dirty Car”

QUESTION 4

A

B

C

D

PREPARE FOR A TEST A test question about the main idea may ask

you what a story is mostly about. A test question about the main idea may ask

you to choose the best name or the best title for a story. A good title tells something about the main idea of the whole story.

READ THE STORY ABOUT ANN. THEN ANSWER THE QUESTIONS. CHOOSE THE BEST ANSWER FOR NUMBERS ONE AND TWO.

Grandma makes lunch for Ann and her mom each morning. “You need your energy for school,” she says. Ann is a student in second grade. She is studying to be a nurse. Ann and her mom do homework each night. Ann likes having things in common with her mom.

The story is mainly about

a girl who is in second grade.

a mom who does homework.

a girl who has something in common with her

mother. a mom who is also a student.

QUESTION 1

A

B

C

D

Which of these is the best title for the story?

“Mother and Daughter Students”

“My Mother, The Nurse”

“Homework Each Night”

“How to Have Energy for School”

QUESTION 2

A

B

C

D

READ THE STORY ABOUT ANIMAL HOMES. THEN ANSWER THE QUESTIONS. CHOOSE THE BEST ANSWER .

Some animals use whatever they can find to make their homes. A hermit crab makes its home out of a seashell. When the crab gets too big for its home, it finds a larger shell. Beavers make their homes under the water. They use logs, sticks, and mud to build a den. Ants build the homes by digging in the dirt. They make tunnels and build their nests underground.

What is the main idea of the story?

Beavers use logs, sticks, and mud to build a

den.Some animals use whatever they can find

tomake their homes.Ants build their nests under the ground.

Hermit crabs make their homes out ofseashells.

QUESTION 1

A

B

C

D

Which of these is the best name for the story?

“Underground Homes”

“Living Under the Water”

“How to Build Animal Homes”

“Animal Homes”

QUESTION 2

A

B

C

D