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Main idea and order

  1. What is it mostly about?

    The main idea is what a story is mostly about. Read this: Frogs jump. Frogs swim. Frogs eat bugs. Every sentence talks about frogs. So the main idea is frogs.

  2. Main idea: frogs
    Detail: they eat bugs

    Main idea or small detail?

    A detail is one small fact. Frogs eat bugs is a detail. It tells only one part. The main idea covers the whole story.

    1. 1First
      start
    2. 2Next
      second
    3. 3Then
      third
    4. 4Last
      end

    Order words

    Sequence is the order things happen. Words like first, next, then and last help you follow along. Last tells what happens at the end.

    1. 1
      plant
    2. 2
      water
    3. 3
      sprout
    4. 4
      bloom

    Steps in order

    To grow a sunflower, first plant a seed. Next, water it. Then a sprout comes up. Last, it blooms. What comes right after water? Find water, then look one step ahead.

  5. Try this

    Read: Zara got her paints. She painted a bird. She hung it on the wall. What happened first? What is the story mostly about? Zara made a painting.

For parents

Goal: Your child learns to tell what a story is mostly about and to put events in order using first, next, then and last.

  • After a story, ask: what was it mostly about? Then ask for one small detail.
  • Use order words in daily life: first we wash hands, next we eat, last we clear the table.
  • If your child names a detail as the main idea, ask: is the whole story about that?

Away from the screen: Make a snack together and talk through the steps with first, next, then and last. Later, ask your child to tell you the steps in order.

English · Reading Stories
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