Finding Main Ideas

Learning Objective

4Rn1: Identify main ideas and supporting details

What is a Main Idea?

The main idea is what the text is mostly about. It's the most important point the author wants you to understand.

How to Find It

1. Read the whole text first
2. Ask: "What is this mostly about?"
3. Look at the title and first/last sentences
4. Check that the details support your answer

Example

"Lions are excellent hunters. They have sharp claws and strong legs. Their golden colour helps them hide in the grass. Lions work together to catch prey."

Main idea: Lions are excellent hunters

Supporting details: sharp claws, strong legs, camouflage, teamwork

Video: Khan Academy (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) | Aligned to Cambridge Primary 4Rn1