Main Idea Task Cards Today the sky is gray. Little white snowflakes are coming down. It is cold outside. I’d better put on my warm jacket.

What is the main idea? (A) The sky is gray. (B) I will put on my warm jacket. (C) It is snowing outside.

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Main Idea Task Cards Get two pieces of bread, peanut butter, and jelly. Put the peanut butter and jelly on the bread. Put the pieces of bread together. Time to eat!

What is the main idea? (A) Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are good. (B) This is how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. (C) Put the two pieces of bread together.

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Cathy Evans

Main Idea Task Cards Anytime you are looking for Turner, you can usually find him at the top of a tree. Whenever Turner sees a tree, he always climbs it. His mom always knows where to find him.

What is the main idea? (A) Turner climbs trees. (B) Turner’s mom looks for him in trees. (C) The top of a tree is the best place to be.

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Main Idea Task Cards Harold the Hamster lives in a cage in Matt’s room. Harold keeps Matt awake at night running on the wheel in the cage. No wonder Matt is so sleepy at school.

What is the main idea? (A) Matt is sleepy at school. (B) Harold keeps Matt awake at night. (C) Harold the Hamster, lives in a cage.

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Cathy Evans

Main Idea Task Cards Turner and Reid want a go-cart. Their parents told them that they could do extra chores around the house to earn extra money to buy it. Good luck boys!

What is the main idea? (A) Turner and Reid are hard workers. (B) Turner and Reid want to buy a go-cart. (C) You can earn money by doing chores.

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Main Idea Task Cards Sarah and her dad are going to rake the leaves in the yard. They get their rakes and start at the side of the yard. They rake the leaves into one big pile.

What is the main idea? (A) Sarah and her dad get their rakes. (B) Sarah and her dad are raking leaves. (C) The leaves are in one big pile.

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Cathy Evans

Main Idea Task Cards Amanda likes to collect shells in all shapes and sizes. She has many kinds of different colored shells. She keeps them in a special box in her room.

What is the main idea? (A) Shells are different shapes and colors. (B) Amanda has a special shell collection. (C) Amanda keeps her shells in a box.

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Main Idea Task Cards Sarah Beth takes her shoelaces and makes two loops. She ties the loops together in a knot. Sarah Beth pulls the loops very tight.

What is the main idea? (A) Sarah Beth ties her shoelaces. (B) Sarah Beth ties the loops into a tight knot. (C) Sarah Beth pulls the loops very tight.

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Cathy Evans

Main Idea Task Cards “I love ice cream,” said Cathy, as she ordered an ice cream with two big scoops. Chocolate is her favorite ice cream flavor. She also likes vanilla and peach.

What is the main idea? (A) Cathy ordered two scoops of ice cream. (B) Cathy likes peach. (C) Cathy loves ice cream.

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Main Idea Task Cards All the boys in the neighborhood decided to build a tree house. When they were done, they put a sign on the wood door. It said, “No Girls Allowed.”

What is the main idea? (A) The neighborhood boys built a tree house. (B) They put a sign on the wood door. (C) The sign said, “No Girls Allowed.”

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Cathy Evans

Main Idea Task Cards Kay and Kerry got a bucket and went to pick blackberries. They put many berries in the bucket. Their hands were stained with the blackberry juice.

What is the main idea? (A) You need a bucket to pick blackberries. (B) Kay and Kerry picked blackberries. (C) Blackberry juice will stain you hands.

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Main Idea Task Cards I wear my favorite scarf all winter. It keeps me warm in the coldest weather. The bright colors help make the winter more cheerful for me.

What is the main idea? (A) I have a favorite scarf. (B) A scarf will keep you warm in the coldest weather. (C) Bright colors help to make the winter more cheerful.

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Cathy Evans

Main Idea Task Cards Three little birds were high in a tree. They sat in a nest made of pine straw and twigs. The birds felt safe in the nest.

What is the main idea? (A) There were three birds in a nest. (B) A nest is made of pine straw and twigs. (C) Birds like trees.

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Main Idea Task Cards My Aunt Mary wears the craziest hats. She has one with bright orange feathers. She even has a cowboy hat. Her hat collection is very unusual.

What is the main idea? (A) Aunt Mary has a hat with orange feathers. (B) Aunt Mary has a crazy collection of hats. (C) Aunt Mary has a cowboy hat.

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Cathy Evans

Main Idea Task Cards Let’s make a banana split. Take a banana and cut it down the middle. Put the banana in a bowl and cover it with ice cream. Add any topping you like. Now, eat up!

What is the main idea? (A) This is how to make a banana split. (B) You can add toppings to a banana split. (C) You should cut the banana carefully.

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Main Idea Task Cards Blast off! The rocket shot into the sky headed for outer space. It gave off lots of heat and got smaller and smaller in the sky as it disappeared.

What is the main idea? (A) Rockets give off lots of heat. (B) The rocket went into outer space. (C) A rocket gets smaller and smaller in the sky.

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Cathy Evans