Finding the Main Idea In A Fiction Mix - Teach-nology
Finding the Main Idea In A Fiction Mix - Teach-nology
Finding the Main Idea In A Fiction Mix - Teach-nology
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Name _________________________________<br />
Date _____________<br />
<strong>Finding</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Main</strong> <strong>Idea</strong><br />
Complete <strong>the</strong> sentence stating <strong>the</strong> main idea.<br />
Many of life’s simple pleasures were invented by accident. The Popsicle is one such treat. <strong>In</strong><br />
1905, eleven year old Frank Epperson forgot to bring in his treat, a cup of powdered soda, water, and<br />
<strong>the</strong> stick he used to stir it. The temperature dropped below freezing that night, and Epperson woke up<br />
to find his cup of soda frozen onto <strong>the</strong> stirring stick. He laughed and called it an “Epsicle.” He began<br />
making this frozen treat for his friends and later for his own children. His kids would ask him for<br />
“Pops’s ‘sicle.” He thought if his friends had liked <strong>the</strong>m as a kid and now his own children liked <strong>the</strong>m,<br />
he might have discovered something that would sell. <strong>In</strong> 1923, he changed <strong>the</strong> name to Popsicle and<br />
applied for a patent. He sold <strong>the</strong>m for a couple of years before selling <strong>the</strong> rights and <strong>the</strong> name to <strong>the</strong><br />
Joe Lowe Company. Popsicles were a single stick until <strong>the</strong> Great Depression. During this time of<br />
hardship, <strong>the</strong> company started making <strong>the</strong> twin Popsicle so two kids could share one ice treat for a<br />
nickel. Currently Popsicles come with a riddle on <strong>the</strong> stick with <strong>the</strong> answer at <strong>the</strong> bottom, so you have<br />
to eat <strong>the</strong> entire treat to get <strong>the</strong> answer. Now as from <strong>the</strong> beginning, cherry is <strong>the</strong> number one flavor.<br />
So grab a Popsicle and enjoy!<br />
The main idea of this paragraph is:<br />
____________________________________________________________________<br />
Beverley Cleary may be known by many as a famous author, but she was once a struggling<br />
reader. When in elementary school, Cleary was often placed in <strong>the</strong> low reading circle. She has said that<br />
after she got over being embarrassed about not being able to read well, she became determined to be a<br />
great reader. By <strong>the</strong> third grade, Cleary had conquered her reading problems. She became an avid<br />
reader with <strong>the</strong> dreams of someday writing. After finishing college, she became a librarian working with<br />
children. She later decided to try her hand at writing. Her book, Dear Mr. Henshaw, won a Newberry<br />
Medal in 1984. It is about a little girl who struggles with reading and is helped by a caring teacher. She<br />
said this book is very close to her heart. Her o<strong>the</strong>r books such as Romona and Her Fa<strong>the</strong>r and Ramona<br />
Quimby, Age 8 also won Newberry Honor Awards. One of her best loved characters is Ralph in <strong>the</strong> series<br />
written about a boy and a mouse. She has said that she writes <strong>the</strong> kind of books she wanted to read as<br />
a child but was unable to find. Her books are loved by boys and girls alike around <strong>the</strong> world.<br />
The main idea of this paragraph is:<br />
________________________________________________________________<br />
Being a good friend is one of <strong>the</strong> greatest gifts you can give to someone. But, what makes a<br />
good friend? Does a good friend always agree with you and do whatever you ask of <strong>the</strong>m? That is<br />
what some people consider a good friend. Being a good friend is so much more than doing whatever it<br />
take to please <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r person. A good friend will always tell you <strong>the</strong> truth and will tell you when you<br />
are doing wrong even if it makes you mad at <strong>the</strong> time. An example of a good friend is one who would<br />
not sit back and watch <strong>the</strong>ir friend drink or do drugs just to keep <strong>the</strong>m from getting mad. There are<br />
times that telling <strong>the</strong> truth is more important than keeping <strong>the</strong> peace. Being a good friend means that<br />
you will protect <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r person from harm or from making a bad decision. <strong>In</strong> addition, a good friend<br />
is someone that you can always trust. They are someone you can tell about your heartache and fears<br />
and not worry about <strong>the</strong>m sharing this information with o<strong>the</strong>rs. They are also someone who will not<br />
talk bad about you or make fun of you behind your back. Remember, being a friend is a two-way<br />
street. It is hard work to build <strong>the</strong> trust that will create a life-long friend, but it is worth <strong>the</strong> work.<br />
Having a good friend will make life’s struggles easier.<br />
The main idea of this paragraph is:<br />
______________________________________________________________________<br />
© This reading worksheet is from www.teach-<strong>nology</strong>.com
Name _________________________________<br />
Date _____________<br />
Answer Key<br />
Many of life’s simple pleasures were invented by accident. The Popsicle is one such treat. <strong>In</strong><br />
1905, eleven year old Frank Epperson forgot to bring in his treat, a cup of powdered soda, water, and<br />
<strong>the</strong> stick he used to stir it. The temperature dropped below freezing that night, and Epperson woke up<br />
to find his cup of soda frozen onto <strong>the</strong> stirring stick. He laughed and called it an “Epsicle.” He began<br />
making this frozen treat for his friends and later for his own children. His kids would ask him for “Pops’s<br />
‘sicle.” He thought if his friends had liked <strong>the</strong>m as a kid and now his own children liked <strong>the</strong>m, he might<br />
have discovered something that would sell. <strong>In</strong> 1923, he changed <strong>the</strong> name to Popsicle and applied for a<br />
patent. He sold <strong>the</strong>m for a couple of years before selling <strong>the</strong> rights and <strong>the</strong> name to <strong>the</strong> Joe Lowe<br />
Company. Popsicles were a single stick until <strong>the</strong> Great Depression. During this time of hardship, <strong>the</strong><br />
company started making <strong>the</strong> twin Popsicle so two kids could share one ice treat for a nickel. Currently<br />
Popsicles come with a riddle on <strong>the</strong> stick with <strong>the</strong> answer at <strong>the</strong> bottom, so you have to eat <strong>the</strong> entire<br />
treat to get <strong>the</strong> answer. Now as from <strong>the</strong> beginning, cherry is <strong>the</strong> number one flavor. So grab a<br />
Popsicle and enjoy!<br />
The main idea of this paragraph is about how popsicles were invented and <strong>the</strong>ir history.<br />
Beverley Cleary may be known by many as a famous author, but she was once a struggling<br />
reader. When in elementary school, Cleary was often placed in <strong>the</strong> low reading circle. She has said that<br />
after she got over being embarrassed about not being able to read well, she became determined to be a<br />
great reader. By <strong>the</strong> third grade, Cleary had conquered her reading problems. She became an avid<br />
reader with <strong>the</strong> dreams of someday writing. After finishing college, she became a librarian working with<br />
children. She later decided to try her hand at writing. Her book, Dear Mr. Henshaw, won a Newberry<br />
Medal in 1984. It is about a little girl who struggles with reading and is helped by a caring teacher. She<br />
said this book is very close to her heart. Her o<strong>the</strong>r books such as Romona and Her Fa<strong>the</strong>r and Ramona<br />
Quimby, Age 8 also won Newberry Honor Awards. One of her best loved characters is Ralph in <strong>the</strong><br />
series written about a boy and a mouse. She has said that she writes <strong>the</strong> kind of books she wanted to<br />
read as a child but was unable to find. Her books are loved by boys and girls alike around <strong>the</strong> world.<br />
The main idea of this paragraph is Cleary became an author although as a child she had<br />
trouble reading.<br />
Being a good friend is one of <strong>the</strong> greatest gifts you can give to someone. But, what makes a<br />
good friend? Does a good friend always agree with you and do whatever you ask of <strong>the</strong>m? That is what<br />
some people consider a good friend. Being a good friend is so much more than doing whatever it take<br />
to please <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r person. A good friend will always tell you <strong>the</strong> truth and will tell you when you are<br />
doing wrong even if it makes you mad at <strong>the</strong> time. An example of a good friend is one who would not<br />
sit back and watch <strong>the</strong>ir friend drink or do drugs just to keep <strong>the</strong>m from getting mad. There are times<br />
that telling <strong>the</strong> truth is more important than keeping <strong>the</strong> peace. Being a good friend means that you will<br />
protect <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r person from harm or from making a bad decision. <strong>In</strong> addition, a good friend is<br />
someone that you can always trust. They are someone you can tell about your heartache and fears and<br />
not worry about <strong>the</strong>m sharing this information with o<strong>the</strong>rs. They are also someone who will not talk bad<br />
about you or make fun of you behind your back. Remember, being a friend is a two-way street. It is<br />
hard work to build <strong>the</strong> trust that will create a life-long friend, but it is worth <strong>the</strong> work. Having a good<br />
friend will make life’s struggles easier.<br />
The main idea of this paragraph about what it means to be a good friend.<br />
© This reading worksheet is from www.teach-<strong>nology</strong>.com