Learning Target · What & Why
I can identify a passage’s main idea and purpose so I can explain the author’s choices.
I Know I Am Successful When…
- I state the main idea in my own words.
- I identify the author’s purpose.
- I use a detail from the passage to support my explanation.
Read the passage, then explain your thinking using evidence and context clues.
Practice main idea and author’s purpose
Practice another main idea passage
Let’s sharpen those reading skills! Today, you’ll read a short passage and use your brain power to figure out the main idea, the author’s purpose, and use context clues to define a tricky word.
Passage:
Many people believe lightning only strikes during a storm, but that’s not always true. “Bolts from the blue” can happen even when the sky looks clear. These powerful lightning bolts travel miles away from a storm cloud and can strike unexpectedly. This is why experts recommend staying indoors even after the rain has stopped. While lightning may seem fascinating to watch, it’s important to remember that it can be dangerous.
Your turn: Answer the first two questions in 3–5 sentences. Identify the main idea, then explain the author’s purpose using a detail from the passage. The context-clues question below is an optional extension.
Sentence starter: “The main idea is ___. The author wants readers to ___, as shown when ___.”
- What is the main idea of this passage?
- What is the author’s purpose? (To entertain, to inform, or to persuade? Explain why.)
- What do you think “Bolts from the blue” means? Use context clues from the passage to help you.
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