Reading

Strategies!

CARS & STARS Level C

#1. Main Idea

The main idea is the most
important part of the story.
It tells you what the story is
mostly about.

How do you find the main

idea?
It can be in the first or last sentence.

The main idea is sometimes not in

the story. You can figure it out by
thinking, what is the story telling
me?
The title of the story can tell you
about the main idea.

#2. Facts and Details

What is a fact?
A fact is something that is known to
be true.
example: Ms. Dennis is a teacher.
What is a detail?
A detail describes something or give
more information.
example: Ms. Dennis is a teacher. She
is very good at teaching.

How do you find facts and

details?
You can find facts and details in a
story by thinking about the main
idea.
First find the main idea. The other
sentences are details.
They tell more about
the main idea.

#3. Sequence
Stories have a beginning, a
middle and an ending. Sequence
is the order in which things
happen.

How do you find sequence?

Think about the beginning,
middle, and end of the story.
Look for key words

First
To begin
Time of day

Next
After
Then

Last
Finally

#4. Cause and Effect

There is a reason for everything that
happens. What happens is called the
effect.
Why it happens is called the cause.

 What happens when you pour

too much water into a glass?
The water spilled
because you
poured too much
water in the glass

What is the cause and effect

in this photo?

The girl tripped and dropped her

food because her shoe was untied.

A great white shark was trapped in a small bay off

Cape Cod. The shark had been looking for food and
got lost.

What happened? Why did it happen?

(effect)
(cause)

What happened? Why did it happen?

(effect)
(cause)
A great white
It had been
shark was
looking for food
trapped in a
and got lost.
small bay.
A great white shark was trapped
in a small bay because it had
been looking for food and got lost.

 Clue words:
so
so that
since
because
if
reason
as a result

These words
often signal
cause and effect.

Read the article about annual

rings on trees. As you read, ask
yourself,
What are some things that
happen to trees? Why do these
things happen?

trunk
annual
beneath
bark

1. Why do
trees have
rings?
A)
because they

grow fast
B) because they
are often cut
down
C) because they
get lots of rain
and sunlight
D) because they
grow a new
layer of wood
each year.

2. If there is little rain

or sunlight, a tree
A)
B)
C)

grows faster
grows slower
has no annual
ring
D) grows a thick
annual ring

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

meadow
graze
trick
rescue
spotted (see)