Central Idea

Babe Ruth, a legendary baseball hitter, was mainly a pitcher when his career began in 1914. He was really, really good at it! During the four and a half years that he was concentrating on pitching, Ruth was one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball. he was in the top five in a number of important statistical categories. This is especially amazing knowing that he became one of the best hitters ever from 1919 onward. What is the central idea?

Rabbits and hares are not the same. Rabbits live together in burrows. Their babies are born blind and without fur. Hares live alone above ground. Their babies are born with fur and are not blind. In addition, hares are usually bigger than rabbits.

What is the topic?

The ice cream cone was invented in 1904. It all started at the St. Louis World's fair when an ice cream vendor ran out of dishes for his ice cream. A man named Ernest Hamwi was selling waffles in the booth next door. He helped his neighbor out by making cone-shaped waffles to hold the ice cream. The rest, as they say, is history!

What is the central idea?

Julia Butterfly Hill lived in a giant Redwood tree for two years to keep it from being cut down. She climbed the tree, which was located in Northern California, on December 10, 1997. Many people helped her by bringing her food and supplies. She did not come down until the logging company promised never to cut the tree down.

What is the central idea?

School children in Washington State are raising salmon! The Department of Fish and Wildlife gives each participating classroom 500 salmon eggs. When the eggs hatch, the children care for the baby salmon and learn about their life cycle. When the salmon are big enough, the class goes on a field trip to release the salmon into a stream or river.

Which idea supports the central idea?

Did you know that the idea for Velcro came from nature? One day in Switzerland a man named George de Mestral decided to take his dog for a walk. When he got back to his house, he saw that there were many small burrs clinging to the dog’s fur. He examined under a microscope how the burrs were sticking, and ended up using what he saw to invent Velcro!

What is the topic?

Did you know that the idea for Velcro came from nature? One day in Switzerland a man named George de Mestral decided to take his dog for a walk. When he got back to his house, he saw that there were many small burrs clinging to the dog’s fur. He examined under a microscope how the burrs were sticking, and ended up using what he saw to invent Velcro!

What is the central idea?

How many sentences does the central idea need to be?

To determine the central idea, what does the reader need to do first?

What are supporting details?

What paragraph do you find the central idea?

The central idea is always stated explicitly.  True or false?

The platypus is an odd creature.  It is one of few mammals that are venomous. Male platypus carry a venom cocktail in their ankle spurs. This venom incapacitates victims with excruciating pain. Stranger still, the platypus is the only mammal that uses electroreception. That means that the platypus uses its bill to sense the electricity produced by the muscular movements of its prey. Electroreception is a sixth sense different from seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or feeling. Perhaps most odd, the platypus is the only mammal that lays eggs rather than giving birth to live young. What an odd creature indeed.

What is the topic?

The platypus is an odd creature.  It is one of few venomous mammals in the animal kingdom. Male platypus carry a venom cocktail in their ankle spurs. This venom incapacitates victims with excruciating pain. Stranger still, the platypus is the only mammal that uses electroreception. That means that the platypus uses its bill to sense the electricity produced by the muscular movements of its prey. Electroreception is a sixth sense different from seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or feeling. Perhaps most odd, the platypus is the only mammal that lays eggs rather than giving birth to live young. What an odd creature indeed.

What is the central idea?

The platypus is an odd creature.  It is one of few venomous mammals. Male platypus carry a venom cocktail in their ankle spurs. This venom incapacitates victims with excruciating pain. Stranger still, the platypus is the only mammal that uses electroreception. That means that the platypus uses its bill to sense the electricity produced by the muscular movements of its prey. Electroreception is a sixth sense different from seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or feeling. Perhaps most odd, the platypus is the only mammal that lays eggs rather than giving birth to live young. What an odd creature indeed.

What detail supports the central idea?