Name _________________________________ Date _____________

Finding the Main Idea

Complete the sentence stating the main idea.

  Many of life’s simple pleasures were invented by accident. The Popsicle is one such treat. In
1905, eleven year old Frank Epperson forgot to bring in his treat, a cup of powdered soda, water, and
the stick he used to stir it. The temperature dropped below freezing that night, and Epperson woke up
to find his cup of soda frozen onto the stirring stick. He laughed and called it an “Epsicle.” He began
making this frozen treat for his friends and later for his own children. His kids would ask him for
“Pops’s ‘sicle.” He thought if his friends had liked them as a kid and now his own children liked them,
he might have discovered something that would sell. In 1923, he changed the name to Popsicle and
applied for a patent. He sold them for a couple of years before selling the rights and the name to the
Joe Lowe Company. Popsicles were a single stick until the Great Depression. During this time of
hardship, the company started making the twin Popsicle so two kids could share one ice treat for a
nickel. Currently Popsicles come with a riddle on the stick with the answer at the bottom, so you have
to eat the entire treat to get the answer. Now as from the beginning, cherry is the number one flavor.
So grab a Popsicle and enjoy!
The main idea of this paragraph is:
____________________________________________________________________

  Beverley Cleary may be known by many as a famous author, but she was once a struggling
reader. When in elementary school, Cleary was often placed in the low reading circle. She has said that
after she got over being embarrassed about not being able to read well, she became determined to be a
great reader. By the third grade, Cleary had conquered her reading problems. She became an avid
reader with the dreams of someday writing. After finishing college, she became a librarian working with
children. She later decided to try her hand at writing. Her book, Dear Mr. Henshaw, won a Newberry
Medal in 1984. It is about a little girl who struggles with reading and is helped by a caring teacher. She
said this book is very close to her heart. Her other books such as Romona and Her Father and Ramona
Quimby, Age 8 also won Newberry Honor Awards. One of her best loved characters is Ralph in the series
written about a boy and a mouse. She has said that she writes the kind of books she wanted to read as
a child but was unable to find. Her books are loved by boys and girls alike around the world.
The main idea of this paragraph is:
________________________________________________________________
   

  Being a good friend is one of the greatest gifts you can give to someone. But, what makes a
good friend? Does a good friend always agree with you and do whatever you ask of them? That is

what some people consider a good friend. Being a good friend is so much more than doing whatever it
take to please the other person. A good friend will always tell you the truth and will tell you when you
are doing wrong even if it makes you mad at the time. An example of a good friend is one who would
not sit back and watch their friend drink or do drugs just to keep them from getting mad. There are
times that telling the truth is more important than keeping the peace. Being a good friend means that
you will protect the other person from harm or from making a bad decision. In addition, a good friend
is someone that you can always trust. They are someone you can tell about your heartache and fears
and not worry about them sharing this information with others. They are also someone who will not
talk bad about you or make fun of you behind your back. Remember, being a friend is a two-way
street. It is hard work to build the trust that will create a life-long friend, but it is worth the work.
Having a good friend will make life’s struggles easier.
The main idea of this paragraph is:
 
______________________________________________________________________
© This reading worksheet is from www.teach-nology.com 
 Name _________________________________ Date _____________

Answer Key

Many of life’s simple pleasures were invented by accident. The Popsicle is one such treat. In
1905, eleven year old Frank Epperson forgot to bring in his treat, a cup of powdered soda, water, and
the stick he used to stir it. The temperature dropped below freezing that night, and Epperson woke up
to find his cup of soda frozen onto the stirring stick. He laughed and called it an “Epsicle.” He began
making this frozen treat for his friends and later for his own children. His kids would ask him for “Pops’s
‘sicle.” He thought if his friends had liked them as a kid and now his own children liked them, he might
have discovered something that would sell. In 1923, he changed the name to Popsicle and applied for a
patent. He sold them for a couple of years before selling the rights and the name to the Joe Lowe
Company. Popsicles were a single stick until the Great Depression. During this time of hardship, the
company started making the twin Popsicle so two kids could share one ice treat for a nickel. Currently
Popsicles come with a riddle on the stick with the answer at the bottom, so you have to eat the entire
treat to get the answer. Now as from the beginning, cherry is the number one flavor. So grab a
Popsicle and enjoy!
The main idea of this paragraph is about how popsicles were invented and their history.
 

  Beverley Cleary may be known by many as a famous author, but she was once a struggling
reader. When in elementary school, Cleary was often placed in the low reading circle. She has said that
after she got over being embarrassed about not being able to read well, she became determined to be a
great reader. By the third grade, Cleary had conquered her reading problems. She became an avid
reader with the dreams of someday writing. After finishing college, she became a librarian working with
children. She later decided to try her hand at writing. Her book, Dear Mr. Henshaw, won a Newberry
Medal in 1984. It is about a little girl who struggles with reading and is helped by a caring teacher. She
said this book is very close to her heart. Her other books such as Romona and Her Father and Ramona
Quimby, Age 8 also won Newberry Honor Awards. One of her best loved characters is Ralph in the
series written about a boy and a mouse. She has said that she writes the kind of books she wanted to
read as a child but was unable to find. Her books are loved by boys and girls alike around the world.
The main idea of this paragraph is Cleary became an author although as a child she had
trouble reading.
   

  Being a good friend is one of the greatest gifts you can give to someone. But, what makes a
good friend? Does a good friend always agree with you and do whatever you ask of them? That is what
some people consider a good friend. Being a good friend is so much more than doing whatever it take
to please the other person. A good friend will always tell you the truth and will tell you when you are
doing wrong even if it makes you mad at the time. An example of a good friend is one who would not
sit back and watch their friend drink or do drugs just to keep them from getting mad. There are times
that telling the truth is more important than keeping the peace. Being a good friend means that you will
protect the other person from harm or from making a bad decision. In addition, a good friend is
someone that you can always trust. They are someone you can tell about your heartache and fears and
not worry about them sharing this information with others. They are also someone who will not talk bad

about you or make fun of you behind your back. Remember, being a friend is a two-way street. It is
hard work
  to build the trust that will create a life-long friend, but it is worth the work. Having a good
friend will make life’s struggles easier.
 
The main idea of this paragraph about what it means to be a good friend.
 
 
 

© This reading worksheet is from www.teach-nology.com