The document discusses main ideas and supporting details. It defines the main idea as what all the sentences in a paragraph are about. Supporting details help explain the main idea by answering who, what, when and where questions. It provides examples of paragraphs about reindeer that have a main idea and supporting details that provide additional information to understand the main point.

1. Main Ideas &
Supporting Details

2. What is a “Main Idea?”
The main idea of a
paragraph is what all
the sentences are
about.

3. What are Supporting Details?
Supporting details help you to better
understand the main idea.
Supporting details answer the questions
of
who, what, when and where.

4. Reindeer can run
faster than
bears. They can
run 50 miles per
hour. That is the
same speed as
some cars on the
highway!

5. Reindeer can
run faster than
bears.
They can run 50
miles per hour.
That is the same
speed as some cars
on the highway!

6. Reindeer have
special feet, too.
Their feet change
with the seasons!
In cold weather,
reindeer use the
sharp edges on
their hooves to
travel on snow
and ice.

7. Reindeer have
special feet, too.
Their feet
change with the
seasons! In cold
weather,
reindeer use the
sharp edges on
their hooves to
travel on snow
and ice.

8. Reindeer stick
together in large
groups called
herds. Herds can
be huge with more
than 50,000
reindeer! The
herds travel long
distances.

9. Reindeer stick
together in large
groups called
herds.
Herds can be
huge with more
than 50,000
reindeer! The
herds travel
long distances.

10. Why do we need
supporting details when
we are reading a story?

Supporting details help you get a better picture
of the story.

They give you more information.

This information helps you understand what you
are reading.