Main Idea Finder
Read a short passage and pick the big idea, then sort the small details underneath it.
About 7 to 11 · Telling the main idea from the details.
Answer your way. Say it, point to it, sign it, tap a picture, or show a card or device. Every way counts the same.
A passage has one big idea and some small details. The big idea is what the whole passage is mostly about. Nothing is timed or marked.
Read the passage and choose what it is mostly about.
For grown-ups
Away from the screen: After a story, ask: what was it mostly about?
- Sit beside them for the first few goes and say the words as you tap, so they hear the sentence as well as see it.
- Wait a little longer than feels natural. Quiet thinking time is part of it.
- Any answer that works is a good answer. If they pick something you did not expect, ask them to tell you about it.
- Pointing, signing, a device or a picture card are all real answers. Speaking is never the test.
- Stop when it stops being fun. A few minutes, often, is better than a long sitting.
- These are games, not assessments. If you have concerns about speech or language, talk to a speech pathologist.
A game and a starting point, not therapy or an assessment. All Words and Talking games