Why pick another title for a passage?

A good title names the main idea in a few words. Trash Into Treasure fits a passage about recycling old things into new things, while Trucks on Our Street covers only one small part.

Is there an answer key?

Yes. All 4 sheets have an answer key.

What reading comprehension skills do 2nd graders learn?

They ask and answer who, what, where, when and why questions (CCSS RL.2.1, RI.2.1), describe how characters respond to events (RL.2.3), tell how a story begins and ends (RL.2.5), find the main topic of a passage (RI.2.2), connect causes and effects (RI.2.3) and name an author's purpose (RI.2.6).

Should 2nd graders look back at the passage to answer?

Yes. Many sheets print the passage on page 1 and the questions on page 2, and their answer keys point to the paragraph that holds each answer. Going back to find proof is a reading skill to practice, not cheating.

Do these sheets use stories or nonfiction?

Both. Nonfiction sheets include Main Idea and Details About Owls, Cause and Effect When Snow Melts in Spring and Fact or Opinion About Dolphins. Stories include Plot of the Wagon Race Story and Characters at the Chess Club.

2nd Grade Main Ideas & Details Worksheets

Ages 7-8 · Free previews · Print-ready PDFs

Written by Adi Ackerman, Head Teacher

The main idea is what a whole passage is mostly about, and details are the facts that support it. These main ideas and details worksheets for 2nd grade hold 4 sheets, each with an answer key. Original nonfiction passages cover owls, recycling, camels in the desert and how rainbows form. Children choose the sentence that tells the main idea, write 3 different details in boxes and pick another good title, such as Night Hunters or Made for the Desert (CCSS RI.2.2).

2nd Grade Reading Comprehension Exercises Main ideas & details Clear All

Main Idea and Details About Camels

Grade2nd Grade

TopicComprehension Exercises

Main Idea and Details About Owls

Grade2nd Grade

TopicComprehension Exercises

Main Idea and Details About Rainbows

Grade2nd Grade

TopicComprehension Exercises

Main Idea and Details About Recycling

Grade2nd Grade

TopicComprehension Exercises

More comprehension exercises worksheets

Explore all of our 2nd grade comprehension exercises worksheets, covering main ideas & details, reading for the 5ws, characters, compare & contrast, and more.

Reading for the 5Ws Characters Compare & contrast Setting Plot Sequencing Cause and effect worksheets Prediction worksheets Fact vs fiction Fact vs opinion Author's purpose Text connections

Frequently Asked Questions

The main idea covers the whole passage, and a detail covers one small part. Many owls are built to hunt at night is the main idea of Main Idea and Details About Owls, and An owl can hear a mouse moving under leaves is a detail.

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2nd Grade Main Ideas & Details Worksheets

Main Idea and Details About Camels

Main Idea and Details About Owls

Main Idea and Details About Rainbows

Main Idea and Details About Recycling

More comprehension exercises worksheets

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a main idea different from a detail?

Why pick another title for a passage?

Is there an answer key?

What reading comprehension skills do 2nd graders learn?

Should 2nd graders look back at the passage to answer?

Do these sheets use stories or nonfiction?

What is ClassWeekly?