English /Reading /Reading Strategies /Main Idea

Browse our collection of summarising worksheets and text passages aimed at supporting readers to evaluate information and separate the main idea/s from the supporting detail. These resources also include a number of the graphic organisers that are designed to help students summarise a given text. Watch our Main Idea Video.

Use the filter above to narrow the results by resource type and/or grade level.

 

Main Idea & Details: Homework

Read the passage about homework and work out the main idea.

Main Idea: Homework

Read the passage about homework and work out the main idea.

Main Idea & Details: Dogs

Read the passage about dogs and work out the main idea and supporting details.

Main Idea: Dogs

Read the passage about dogs and work out the main idea.

Main Idea & Details: The Beach

Read a short passage and work out the main idea and supporting details.

Main Idea: The Beach

Read a short passage and work out the main idea.

Main Idea & Details: The Banquet

Read a short passage and work out the main idea and supporting details.

Main Idea & Details: Growing Animals

Read the passage about how animals grow and work out the main idea.

Main Idea: Growing Animals

Read the passage about how animals grow and work out the main idea.

Main Idea & Details: Turtles (1)

A middle years reading passage about sea turtles. Work out the main idea and the supporting details.

Identify Main Idea: Middle (2)

Read a collection of short passages and circle the main idea of each.

Identify Main Idea: Middle (1)

Read a collection of short passages and circle the main idea of each.