Finding the Main Idea Classroom Poster

Use this cute classroom poster featuring a hive and bees to visually remind students about what finding the ‘main idea’ is all about. The hive is the main idea and the bees are the key bits of detail that make up the main idea.

How to Find the Main Idea

The following explanation is what is included on this poster and explained in child-friendly language.

The main idea of a text is the most important point that the author is making about the topic.
The details are the key points that support the main idea.

To find the main idea when you are reading, you can:

• read the title and look at the cover for clues
• think about and identify the important information
• look for repeated words, pictures, information, themes or ideas
• ask yourself, “What is the text mostly about?”

Identifying the Main Idea in a Text

Identifying the main idea helps children understand the overall meaning and purpose of a text. It allows them to extract the most important information and grasp the central message that the author is trying to convey.

Download Poster Today!

Download this poster and print it on thick card to ensure durability and so you can use it each year you are explicitly teaching your students how to easily fine the main idea in a text.

More Finding the Main idea resource:

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Main Idea and Details in Nonfiction Text — Instructional Slide Deck

Build skills in identifying main idea and details in nonfiction texts with an instructional slide deck for primary grades.

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Finding the Central Idea Worksheet

Read a short article, answer 10 comprehension questions, and use the gathered knowledge to write a central idea sentence about the text.

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Comprehension Task Cards - Finding The Main Idea

A set of comprehension task cards to help students find the main idea when reading.