Tuesday's Activity - Main Idea 10-11-11

You have learned that the main idea in a paragraph is a general idea that is supported by specific details. To improve your skill at finding main ideas, it will be helpful for you to practice separating general from specific ideas. Each cluster of words below consists of one general idea and four specific ideas. The general idea includes all the specific ideas.

Example:

fry         boil        steam       cook        bake

Cook is the general idea; fry, boil, steam, and bake are specific kinds of cooking.

ACTIVITY 1
Find the general idea in each group

  

1.soup      water      liquid      gasoline     coffee

2.potato chips       pretzels       salted nuts       snacks       dried fruit

3.bottles       cans       boxes       bags       containers

4.cough       sneeze       symptoms       sore throat       rash

5.talking       listening       yelling       whispering       communicating

6. television       entertainment        movies       concerts     card games

ACTIVITY 2
Read the Passage and Choose the Main Idea

  

—Niagara Falls is one of the most beautiful sights in North America.  It is on the Niagara River halfway between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie.  Niagara Falls is located on the American and Canadian border.  The American Falls is 167 feet high.  On the Canadian side, the Horseshoe Falls is 161 feet high. 

What is the main idea of the passage? 

Remember main idea is what the story is about.