Common Core: Kindergarten English Language Arts › Identify Setting, Main Idea, and Characters
Baby Animals
Baby animals have many different names.
A baby cat is called a kitten.
A baby dog is called a puppy.
A baby chicken is called a chick.
A baby lion is called a cub.
A baby cow is called a calf.
A baby goat is called a kid.
A baby sheep is called a lamb.
A baby horse is called a foal.
A baby elephant is called a calf.
A baby bear is called a cub.
A baby fox is called a pup.
What is this book mostly about?
animals at the zoo
baby animal names
animal pets
names of adult animals
The book gives the names of adult animals and the name of the baby for each adult animal.
Arctic Animals
The Arctic is one of the coldest places on Earth. It is covered in ice and snow and the temperature can drop below freezing. Living in the Arctic is very difficult but many animals call the Arctic home.
Arctic hares live in the Arctic. In the summer, the Arctic hare has brown fur. In the winter the hare’s fur grows thicker and warmer. Their fur also turns white in the winter.
Snowy owls live in the Arctic. They have small ears to keep in heat. Unlike most owls, the snowy owl hunts during the day.
Arctic foxes live in the Arctic. They have thick, white fur to keep them warm and stay safe from predators.
Wolves live in the Arctic. They have thick white and gray fur. Groups of arctic wolves hunt together in packs.
Harp seals live in the Arctic. Adult harp seals have a thick layer of fat, called blubber. Blubber keeps seals warm in the cold, icy arctic water. Baby seals have thick white fur.
Penguins live in the Arctic. Penguins have webbed feet to help them walk on the ice. Penguins are very good swimmers. They use their wings to help them swim. Penguins have a waterproof coat of feathers to help then stay dry and warm in the icy, Arctic water.
Polar bears live in the Arctic. Polar bears have thick, white fur to stay warm. They even have fur on the bottoms of their feet. Polar bears also have thick blubber.
What is the main idea of the text?
Animals in the summer and winter
Ways animals survive in the Arctic
Ways animals survive in the water
Animals that like the snow
The text gives many animals that live in the Arctic and tells how they are able to survive in the cold.
Penguins
Penguins are birds.
Like all birds, penguins have feathers and lay eggs.
Penguins live on land and in water. Some penguins live in cold places. Some penguins live in warm places.
Penguins can be different sizes. Some penguins are big. Some penguins are small.
Penguins can be different colors. Some penguins are black and white. Some penguins are blue and white. Some penguins are all black. Some penguins have yellow or orange spots.
Penguins are birds but penguins cannot fly.
Some penguins walk. Penguins can walk on ice.
Some penguins slide. Penguins can slide on snow.
Some penguins hop. Penguins can hop on rocks.
All penguins are good swimmers. Penguins use their wings to help them swim.
Penguins are amazing birds.
What was this text mostly about?
animals that live in the cold
ways animals move
facts about penguins
ways penguins and birds are similar
The text teaches the reader true facts about penguins, including where they live, their size, color, and how they move. “Mostly about” refers to the entire text.
Grow Flower, Grow by Marie Smith
A flower starts out as a very small seed.
The seed gets planted in the dirt.
The seed needs lots of water to help it grow.
Soon, a green stem and green leaves will poke out of the dirt.
Then, a flower will start to bloom.
Water and sunlight are a flower's food.
So, water and sunlight will help keep a flower alive.
What is the main topic of this text?
A seed growing into a flower
Different types of flowers
Growing grass
Taking care of grass
This passage is about how a flower starts out as a seed, and then grows into a flower. This passage does not talk about grass or different types of flowers, it just talks about flowers in general.
The correct answer is "A seed growing into a flower".
Penguins
Penguins are birds.
Like all birds, penguins have feathers and lay eggs.
Penguins live on land and in water. Some penguins live in cold places. Some penguins live in warm places.
Penguins can be different sizes. Some penguins are big. Some penguins are small.
Penguins can be different colors. Some penguins are black and white. Some penguins are blue and white. Some penguins are all black. Some penguins have yellow or orange spots.
Penguins are birds but penguins cannot fly.
Some penguins walk. Penguins can walk on ice.
Some penguins slide. Penguins can slide on snow.
Some penguins hop. Penguins can hop on rocks.
All penguins are good swimmers. Penguins use their wings to help them swim.
Penguins are amazing birds.
What information can we learn from the article?
How penguins move
What penguins eat
Noises penguins make
Types of penguins
The text explains many ways penguins move including walk, slide, hop, swim. The text does not tell the reader what penguins eat, sound like, or the types of penguins.
Adapted from Mother Goose in Prose by L. Frank Baum (1897)
The Black Sheep by L. Frank Baum
Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir,
Three bags full;
One for my master,
And one for my dame,
and one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane.
Who is the main character in the poem?
The Black Sheep
The Sir
The boy
The master
The title of this poem gives us a clue. The poem is about a black sheep's wool; thus, the main character is the Black Sheep.
Animals That Swim
Many different animals can swim.
Fish can swim. Fish use their tails and fins to help them swim.
Ducks can swim. Ducks use their webbed feet to help them swim.
Penguins can swim. Penguins use their wings to help them swim.
Turtles can swim. They use their flippers to help them swim.
Sharks can swim. They use their tails and fins to help them swim.
Otters can swim. They use their feet and tails to help them swim.
Bears can swim. They use their paws to help them swim.
Seals can swim. They use their flippers to help them swim.
Snakes can swim. They use their bodies to help them swim.
Frogs can swim. They use their feet to help them swim.
What does the author want to teach the reader?
All animals can swim
Animals like to swim
Different animals use different body parts to swim
Different animals live on land and in water
The text gives examples of different animals that swim and what body part(s) they use to help then swim.
Text 1
Pets are animals that live with people. Pets are fun to have. There are many types of pets that people have.
A gold fish is a type of pet. Gold fish live in fish tanks filled with water. Gold fish use fins to swim in fish tanks.
A cat is another type of pet. Cats can live outside or inside. Cats walk and run on four legs.
A dog is another type of pet. Dogs can be big or small in size. Like cats, dogs walk and run on four legs.
There are many other animals that people could have as a pet. But, fish, cats, and dogs are what most people have as pets.
Text 2
Dogs are great pets to have. Dogs can be big or small, but they all have fur and walk and run on four legs.
When dogs are first born they are called puppies. Once a puppy gets older it’s only called a dog.
Dogs can learn many tricks. Dogs can learn to sit, lay down, and shake. Most people give dogs treats when they are teaching them tricks.
Most dogs like to be around people. If you plan to get a dog as a pet, be ready to love the dog, because the dog will love you!
What is the main topic of Text 1?
Types of pets
The sizes of dogs
How cats walk
How fish swim
The main topic of a text is what the text is about. We don't want to confuse this with a detail found directly in the text. Text 1 is about different types of pets. It specifically talks about cats, dogs, and gold fish. Text 1 provides details about each of these animals, but remember a detail is not the main topic.
The size of dogs, how cats walk, and how fish swim are all details found in the text. The main topic of the text is types of pets.
African Elephants
Elephants are the biggest animals living on land. An adult elephant can weigh as much as a school bus! The biggest elephants live in Africa.
Trunk
Elephants have a long trunk. An elephant uses its trunk in many ways. An elephant’s trunk is its nose. It uses its trunk to smell and breathe. Elephants also use their trunks like a hand. An elephant can pick up grass and branches with its trunk. It uses its trunk to reach high up and grab food from trees. Elephants eat fruit, leaves and plants. An elephant also uses its trunk to take a shower. Elephants use their trunks to make sounds. Elephants roar, rumble and growl. When there is danger, elephants use their trunks make a loud horn noise to warn others and scare away predators.
Tusks
African elephants have tusks. Tusks are long teeth. Elephants use their tusks to dig holes. They also use their tusks to carry things. Elephants can rest their trunk on their tusks. Elephant’s tusks also help them stay safe. They can use their tusks to protect themselves from enemies.
Ears
Elephants have big ears. Elephants use their ears to stay cool on hot days. Elephants flap their ears to cool off and keep insects away from their face.
Wrinkled Skin
Elephants have wrinkled skin. Elephants cover their skin in mud and dirt to protect their skin from sunburn and bug bites.
Feet
Elephants have big feet. Elephants have pads on the bottom of their feet to help them walk quietly.
What has a long trunk, two big tusks, big ears and wrinkled skin? It’s an African elephant!
What is the text mostly about?
The size of African elephants
Where African elephants live
The body parts of African elephants
What African elephants eat
This text is about the different body parts of an elephant. Each paragraph talks about a different body part: trunk, tusks, ears, wrinkled skin, and feet.
Animals That Swim
Many different animals can swim.
Fish can swim. Fish use their tails and fins to help them swim.
Ducks can swim. Ducks use their webbed feet to help them swim.
Penguins can swim. Penguins use their wings to help them swim.
Turtles can swim. They use their flippers to help them swim.
Sharks can swim. They use their tails and fins to help them swim.
Otters can swim. They use their feet and tails to help them swim.
Bears can swim. They use their paws to help them swim.
Seals can swim. They use their flippers to help them swim.
Snakes can swim. They use their bodies to help them swim.
Frogs can swim. They use their feet to help them swim.
What is the book mostly about?
Animals that cannot swim
Body parts that animals use to swim
Places animals swim
Animals that like the water
The text gives examples of different animals that swim and what body part(s) they use to help then swim.