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Main Idea
Main Idea Printables
Main Idea 24 free to print or download.
24 printables
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♡
Main Idea & Details
Name
Score
Read the passage. Write the main idea and three details.
The Lighthouse Keeper
Old Sam lived alone in a tall white lighthouse by the sea.
Every night he climbed the winding stairs to light the big lamp.
The bright beam warned ships to stay away from the sharp rocks.
One stormy night the power went out and the lamp went dark.
Sam grabbed his old oil lantern and held it high in the window.
A passing ship saw the small light and turned safely away.
Main idea:
Detail 1:
Detail 2:
Detail 3:
📖
Reading Worksheet
Main Idea: The Lighthouse Keeper
Ages 6–8
♡
Main Idea & Details
Name
Score
Read the passage. Write the main idea and three details.
The Secret Treehouse
Maya and Ben found an old treehouse deep in the woods.
The wooden ladder was loose, so they climbed up very carefully.
Inside they found a dusty box with a faded map.
The map showed a path to a hidden stream.
They followed it and discovered a family of ducks.
From then on, the treehouse was their favorite place.
Main idea:
Detail 1:
Detail 2:
Detail 3:
📖
Reading Worksheet
Main Idea: The Secret Treehouse
Ages 6–8
♡
Main Idea & Details
Name
Score
Read the passage. Write the main idea and three details.
The Science Fair
Priya wanted to win a ribbon at the class science fair.
She decided to grow two bean plants in cups.
She put one plant in the sunny window and one in a dark closet.
Every day she watered both plants the same way.
After two weeks, the sunny plant was tall and green.
The closet plant was thin and pale, so Priya learned plants need light.
Main idea:
Detail 1:
Detail 2:
Detail 3:
📖
Reading Worksheet
Main Idea: The Science Fair
Ages 6–8
♡
Main Idea & Details
Name
Score
Read the passage. Write the main idea and three details.
The New Kid
On Monday a new boy named Theo joined the class.
He sat by himself and did not say a word at lunch.
Rosa noticed that Theo looked lonely.
She walked over and asked him to play four square.
Theo smiled for the first time all day.
By Friday, Theo and Rosa were good friends.
Main idea:
Detail 1:
Detail 2:
Detail 3:
📖
Reading Worksheet
Main Idea: The New Kid
Ages 6–8
♡
Main Idea & Details
Name
Score
Read the passage. Write the main idea and three details.
The Snow Day
Ella woke up and saw the whole yard covered in white.
The radio said school was closed for a snow day.
She pulled on her boots, hat, and thick mittens.
Ella and her brother built a fort out of packed snow.
They sipped warm cocoa when their fingers got cold.
It was the best surprise day of the winter.
Main idea:
Detail 1:
Detail 2:
Detail 3:
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Reading Worksheet
Main Idea: The Snow Day
Ages 6–8
♡
Main Idea & Details
Name
Score
Read the passage. Write the main idea and three details.
The Lost Puppy
A small brown puppy sat shivering on the corner in the rain.
It had no collar and no home to run to.
Jack scooped it up and wrapped it in his dry jacket.
He made signs and hung them all around the neighborhood.
Three days later a worried family called about their puppy.
Jack was sad to say goodbye, but glad the puppy was home.
Main idea:
Detail 1:
Detail 2:
Detail 3:
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Reading Worksheet
Main Idea: The Lost Puppy
Ages 6–8
♡
Main Idea & Details
Name
Score
Read the passage. Write the main idea and three details.
How Bees Make Honey
Honeybees live together in a busy hive.
Worker bees fly out to flowers to collect sweet nectar.
They carry the nectar back inside their special stomachs.
In the hive, the bees turn the nectar into thick honey.
They store the honey in tiny wax cells called a honeycomb.
Bees eat honey to stay alive through the cold winter.
Main idea:
Detail 1:
Detail 2:
Detail 3:
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Reading Worksheet
Main Idea: How Bees Make Honey
Ages 6–8
♡
Main Idea & Details
Name
Score
Read the passage. Write the main idea and three details.
The Amazing Octopus
An octopus is a sea animal with eight long arms.
Each arm is covered with round suckers that grip and taste.
An octopus can change its color to hide from danger.
It can squeeze its soft body into very small spaces.
If a predator comes close, it shoots out a cloud of dark ink.
The octopus is one of the smartest animals in the ocean.
Main idea:
Detail 1:
Detail 2:
Detail 3:
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Reading Worksheet
Main Idea: The Amazing Octopus
Ages 6–8
♡
Main Idea & Details
Name
Score
Read the passage. Write the main idea and three details.
What Is a Volcano?
A volcano is a mountain with an opening at the top.
Deep under the ground the rock is so hot it melts.
This melted rock is called magma.
Sometimes the magma pushes up and bursts out the top.
When magma reaches the surface, it is called lava.
The lava cools and hardens into new rock.
Main idea:
Detail 1:
Detail 2:
Detail 3:
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Reading Worksheet
Main Idea: What Is a Volcano?
Ages 6–8
♡
Main Idea & Details
Name
Score
Read the passage. Write the main idea and three details.
Penguins of the Cold
Penguins are birds that cannot fly.
They live where it is very cold and icy.
A thick layer of fat keeps a penguin warm.
Penguins are excellent swimmers and use their wings like paddles.
They eat fish that they catch in the sea.
Baby penguins are called chicks and are covered in soft down.
Main idea:
Detail 1:
Detail 2:
Detail 3:
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Reading Worksheet
Main Idea: Penguins of the Cold
Ages 6–8
♡
Main Idea & Details
Name
Score
Read the passage. Write the main idea and three details.
Why We Recycle
Recycling means turning old things into new things.
People recycle paper, glass, metal, and plastic.
Trucks carry the sorted items to a special center.
Machines clean and break the items down.
Factories use them to make brand-new products.
Recycling keeps our planet cleaner and saves resources.
Main idea:
Detail 1:
Detail 2:
Detail 3:
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Reading Worksheet
Main Idea: Why We Recycle
Ages 6–8
♡
Main Idea & Details
Name
Score
Read the passage. Write the main idea and three details.
How Seeds Travel
Plants cannot walk, but their seeds can still travel far.
Some seeds have tiny wings that spin in the wind.
Other seeds float on water to a new place.
Sticky seeds hook onto the fur of animals.
Some seeds are inside fruit that animals eat.
When a seed lands in good soil, a new plant can grow.
Main idea:
Detail 1:
Detail 2:
Detail 3:
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Reading Worksheet
Main Idea: How Seeds Travel
Ages 6–8
♡
Main Idea & Details: The Lighthouse Keeper
Name
Score
Read, then write the main idea and two details.
The Lighthouse Keeper
Old Sam lived alone in a tall white lighthouse by the sea.
Every night he climbed the winding stairs to light the big lamp.
The bright beam warned ships to stay away from the sharp rocks.
One stormy night the power went out and the lamp went dark.
Sam grabbed his old oil lantern and held it high in the window.
A passing ship saw the small light and turned safely away.
1) What is the main idea?
2) One detail:
3) Another detail:
📖
Reading Worksheet
Main Idea & Details: The Lighthouse Keeper
Ages 6–8
♡
Main Idea & Details: The Secret Treehouse
Name
Score
Read, then write the main idea and two details.
The Secret Treehouse
Maya and Ben found an old treehouse deep in the woods.
The wooden ladder was loose, so they climbed up very carefully.
Inside they found a dusty box with a faded map.
The map showed a path to a hidden stream.
They followed it and discovered a family of ducks.
From then on, the treehouse was their favorite place.
1) What is the main idea?
2) One detail:
3) Another detail:
📖
Reading Worksheet
Main Idea & Details: The Secret Treehouse
Ages 6–8
♡
Main Idea & Details: The Science Fair
Name
Score
Read, then write the main idea and two details.
The Science Fair
Priya wanted to win a ribbon at the class science fair.
She decided to grow two bean plants in cups.
She put one plant in the sunny window and one in a dark closet.
Every day she watered both plants the same way.
After two weeks, the sunny plant was tall and green.
The closet plant was thin and pale, so Priya learned plants need light.
1) What is the main idea?
2) One detail:
3) Another detail:
📖
Reading Worksheet
Main Idea & Details: The Science Fair
Ages 6–8
♡
Main Idea & Details: The New Kid
Name
Score
Read, then write the main idea and two details.
The New Kid
On Monday a new boy named Theo joined the class.
He sat by himself and did not say a word at lunch.
Rosa noticed that Theo looked lonely.
She walked over and asked him to play four square.
Theo smiled for the first time all day.
By Friday, Theo and Rosa were good friends.
1) What is the main idea?
2) One detail:
3) Another detail:
📖
Reading Worksheet
Main Idea & Details: The New Kid
Ages 6–8
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