Main Ideas at the Museum

Ages 7–10 · 9 minutes · English

Join Quinn as he travels to the natural history museum and learns all about different animals!

Build the skills of identifying a main topic, identifying supporting details and recalling key details while also enjoying some time with Quinn as he makes his way through the natural history museum.

Prior knowledge required: ability to read sentences

Part of

Reading Comprehension 2

Standards alignment

Common Core State Standards

RI.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
RI.3.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
ELD-LA.2-3.Inform.Interpretive — Multilingual learners will interpret informational texts in language arts by • Identifying the main idea and key details • Referring explicitly to descriptions for themes and relationships among meanings • Describing relationship between a series of events, ideas or concepts, or procedural steps
RI.2.2 — Identify the main topic of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.

Alabama

ELA21.2.24 — Identify the main idea and supporting details of literary and informational texts.
ELA21.2.24a — Explain how the supporting details contribute to the main idea.
ELA21.3.19 — Determine the explicit or implied main idea and supporting details of a text.
ELA21.3.19a — Explain how supporting details contribute to the main idea, using textual evidence.

Alaska

RI.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of informational texts using key details from the text.
RI.2.2 — Identify the main topic of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.
RI.3.1 — Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, (e.g., explaining what the texts says explicitly, making basic inferences and predictions), referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
RI.3.2 — Determine the main idea of a text and locate details that support the main idea; paraphrase or summarize main ideas or events in a multi-paragraph text, including correct sequence and details that support the main idea.

Arizona

2.RI.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
1.RI.2 — Identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.
3.RI.1 * — Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
3.RI.2 * — Determine the main idea of a text; recount and paraphrase the key details and explain how they support the main idea.

Arkansas

2.RC.13.RI — Explain how an author uses reasons/evidence to support main ideas in a text.
2.RC.2.RF — Answer questions about key details in a text.
3.RC.2.RF — Answer questions about key details in a text.

California

RI.1.2 — Identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.
RI.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
RI.3.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.

Colorado

RWC20-GR.3-S.2-GLE.2-EO.a.ii — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
RWC20-GR.2-S.2-GLE.2-EO.a.ii — Identify the main topic of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.
RWC20-GR.1-S.2-GLE.2-EO.a.ii — Identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.
RWC20-GR.2-S.3-GLE.2-EO.e — Organize informational texts using main ideas and specific supporting details.

Connecticut

RI.3.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
RI.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
RI.2.2 — Identify the main topic of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.

Delaware

RI.3.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
RI.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
RI.2.2 — Identify the main topic of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.

Florida

ELA.2.R.2.2 — Identify the central idea and relevant details in a text.
ELA.3.R.2.2 — Identify the central idea and explain how relevant details support that idea in a text.
ELA.1.R.2.2 — Identify the topic of and relevant details in a text.

Georgia

ELAGSE3RI2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
ELAGSE2RI1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
ELAGSE2RI2 — Identify the main topic of a multi-paragraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.

Hawaii

3.RI.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
2.RI.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
3.RI.1 — Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
2.RI.2 — Identify the main topic of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.

Idaho

3.RC.NF.6a — Describe key details from texts and explain how they support the central idea.
3.RC.TE.3 — Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of grade-level texts, referring explicitly to textual evidence as the basis for the answers.
2.RC.TE.3 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in grade-level texts heard or read.

Illinois

RI.3.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
RI.2.2 — Identify the main topic of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.
RI.3.1 — Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
RI.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.

Indiana

3.RC.5 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea. (E)
2.RC.1 — Ask and answer questions about the main idea and key details in a text to demonstrate comprehension. (E)
3.RC.1 — Ask and answer questions to demonstrate comprehension of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers. (E)

Iowa

RI.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
RI.2.2 — Identify the main topic of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.
RI.3.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.

Kansas

RI.3.1 — Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
RI.3.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
RI.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
RI.2.2 — Identify the main topic of a multi-paragraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.

Kentucky

RI.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how, and make and support logical inferences to construct meaning from the text.
RI.2.2 — Identify implicit and explicit information from a summary to determine the central idea of a text.
GP.R.2 — Students will determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; cite specific textual evidence, including summary, paraphrase and direct quotations, to support conclusions drawn from the text.
RI.3.2 — Identify and cite relevant implicit and explicit information from a summary to determine the central idea of a text.

Louisiana

RI.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
RI.3.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
RI.2.2 — Identify the main topic of a multi-paragraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.

Maine

R.5.2.b — Identify the main topic of a multi-paragraph text and the central ideas of specific paragraphs.
R.4.3.a — Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
R.5.3.b — Explain how the key details support the central idea of a text.
R.4.2.a — Ask and answer questions about who, what, when, where, how and why.

Maryland

RI.2.2 — Identify the main topic of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.
RI.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
RI.3.1 — Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
RI.3.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.

Massachusetts

RI.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
RI.2.2 — Identify the main topic of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.
RI.1.2 — Identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.
RI.3.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.

Michigan

RI.3.1 — Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
RI.3.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
RI.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
RI.2.2 — Identify the main topic of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.

Minnesota

2.1.4.2 — Identify the central idea, message, or moral of a text and one or two supporting details.
2.1.4.1 — Ask and answer questions including who, what, where, when, why and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text; recount the

Mississippi

RI.3.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
RI.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
RI.2.2 — Identify the main topic of a multi-paragraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.

Missouri

2.R.3.A.a — identify the main idea of sections of text and distinguish it from the topic
2.R.3.C.a — explain main ideas and supporting details
2.R.3.A.b — demonstrate understanding by locating facts to answer and/or ask questions
3.R.3.A.b — identify the details or facts that support the main idea

Montana

RI.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
RI.3.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
RI.2.2 — Identify the main topic of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.

Nebraska

LA.2.RI.1 — Identify the main topic and key details in a multi-paragraph text.
LA.1.RI.1 — Identify the main topic and key details in an informational text.

Nevada

RI.3.1 — Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
RI.3.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
RI.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
RI.2.2 — Identify the main topic of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.

New Hampshire

RI.3.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.

New Jersey

RI.3.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
RI.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
RI.2.2 — Identify the main topic of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.

New Mexico

RI.3.1 — Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
RI.3.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
RI.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
RI.2.2 — Identify the main topic of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.

New York

2R1 — Develop and answer questions to demonstrate an understanding of key ideas and details in a text. (RI&RL)
2R2 — Identify a main topic or central idea and retell key details in a text; summarize portions of a text. (RI&RL)
3R1 — Develop and answer questions to locate relevant and specific details in a text to support an answer or inference. (RI&RL)
3R2 — Determine a theme or central idea and explain how it is supported by key details; summarize portions of a text. (RI&RL)

North Carolina

RI.3.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
RI.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
RI.3.1 — Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
RI.3.8 — Describe how the author connects ideas between sentences and paragraphs to support specific points in a text.

North Dakota

2.R.2 — Ask and answer questions about key details before, during, and after reading a variety of literary and informational texts to compare, contrast, predict or infer.
2.R.3.a — Identify the main idea with supporting details during or after reading an informational text or passage.
3.R.2 — Ask and answer questions about key details before, during, and after reading a variety of genres, literary, and informational texts using text evidence to compare, contrast, predict, and infer.
2.IR.2 — Locate important information on a topic in a provided source during a shared or interactive experience.

Ohio

RI.3.1 — Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
RI.3.2.a — Determine the main idea of a text.
RI.3.2.b — Retell the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
RI.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.

Oklahoma

2.2.R.1 — Students will identify the main idea and supporting details of a text.
2.3.R.6 — Students will locate facts that are clearly stated in an informational text.
3.2.R.1 — Students will determine the main idea and supporting details of a text.

Oregon

3.RI.1 — Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
3.RI.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
2.RI.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
2.RI.2 — Identify the main topic of a multi-paragraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.

Pennsylvania

CC.1.2.3.A — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
CC.1.2.3.B — Ask and answer questions about the text and make inferences from text; refer to text to support responses.
CC.1.2.2.A — Identify the main idea of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.

Rhode Island

RI.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
RI.3.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
RI.2.2 — Identify the main topic of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.

South Carolina

ELA.2.AOR.2.2 — Identify and explain a central idea and supporting details in an informational text.
ELA.3.AOR.2.2 — Determine and explain a stated central idea and supporting details in an informational text.

South Dakota

3.RI.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; identify the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
2.RI.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
1.RI.2 — Identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.

Tennessee

3.RI.KID.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
2.RI.KID.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
3.RI.KID.1 — Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as a basis for the answers.
2.RI.KID.2 — Identify the main topic of a multi- paragraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within a text.

Texas

2.9D.i — the central idea and supporting evidence with adult assistance;
2.6G — evaluate details read to determine key ideas;
3.9D.i — the central idea with supporting evidence;
3.6G — evaluate details read to determine key ideas;

Utah

3.R.6 — Read a variety of texts including those from diverse cultures, retell the text according to the text structure including the main idea and how key details support the main idea. (RL & RI)
2.R.5 — Ask and answer questions such as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text. (RL & RI)
2.R.6 — Read a variety of texts including those from diverse cultures, retell the narrative (RL) or informational text (RI) according to the text structure including the main idea.

Vermont

RI.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
RI.2.2 — Identify the main topic of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.
RI.3.1 — Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
RI.3.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.

Virginia

2.RI.1.A — Ask and answer literal and inferential questions (who, what, where, when, how, and why) about key details in a text.
2.RI.1.B — Retell key details of texts that demonstrate an understanding of the main topics of texts.
3.RI.1.A — Determine the main idea of multi-paragraph texts as well as specific paragraphs within them.
1.RI.1.B — Identify the main idea and supporting details of a text.

Washington

RI.3.1 — Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
RI.3.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
RI.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
RI.2.2 — Identify the main topic of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.

Washington, D.C.

RI.3.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
RI.2.2 — Identify the main topic of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.
RI.3.1 — Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
RI.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.

West Virginia

ELA.3.4 — Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of an informational text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
ELA.3.5 — Determine the main idea of an informational text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
ELA.2.4 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in informational text.

Wisconsin

ELA.2.R.2 — Summarize portions of a text in order to identify a main topic or central idea and key details in a text. (RI&RL)
ELA.2.R.1 — Develop and answer questions to demonstrate an understanding of key ideas and details in a text. (RI&RL)
ELA.3.R.1 — Develop and answer questions to l Locate relevant and specific details in a text to support an answer or inference. (RI&RL)
ELA.3.R.2 — Summarize portions of a text to determine a theme or central idea and explain how it is supported by key details. (RI&RL)

Wyoming

RI.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
RI.1.2 — Identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.
RI.3.2 — Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.