3rd Grade Reading

3rd Grade Reading focuses on developing foundational reading skills, comprehension, and a love for literature through engaging texts and activities.

Phonics and Word RecognitionReading FluencyReading Comprehension
Identifying Main Idea and Supporting DetailsMaking InferencesComparing and Contrasting Texts
Reading for Daily LifeEnjoying Stories and LiteratureUsing Reading to Solve Problems
Previewing TextsAsking and Answering Questions
Phonics and Word Rec...Reading FluencyReading Comprehensio...Identifying Main Ide...Making InferencesComparing and Contra...Reading for Daily Li...Enjoying Stories and...Using Reading to Sol...Previewing TextsAsking and Answering...
Advanced Topics

Identifying Main Idea and Supporting Details

Finding the Main Idea

Every story or article has a main idea—the most important point the author wants you to know. Supporting details are pieces of information that help explain or prove the main idea.

How to Find Them

  • Look for repeated words or ideas.
  • Notice what the title or first sentence says.
  • Ask, "What is this mostly about?"

Why It Matters

Knowing the main idea helps you remember what you read and share it with others.

Real-World Connection

You use this skill when summarizing a news story or telling someone about your day.

Examples

  • Reading a paragraph about whales and realizing it's mainly about how whales communicate.

  • Finding three facts that support the main idea that 'Exercise is good for you.'

In a Nutshell

The main idea is the big point, and supporting details help explain it.

Key Terms

Main Idea
The most important point in a text.
Supporting Details
Facts or examples that explain or back up the main idea.
Next
Making Inferences