Main Idea Worksheets (nonfiction): Grades 5-12 - The Teachers Cafe - Free Printable
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Step-by-step solution for: Main Idea Worksheets (nonfiction): Grades 5-12 - The Teachers Cafe
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Main Idea Worksheets (nonfiction): Grades 5-12 - The Teachers Cafe
Let’s go step by step to solve this homework task.
We are given two paragraphs and asked to:
1. Write a one-sentence summary for each paragraph.
2. Make sure the summary is specific and clearly explains the main idea.
3. Also, come up with an appropriate title for each paragraph (though only the first one asks for it explicitly — we’ll do both for practice).
---
Paragraph 1:
> If you find your "baggies" in a 1951 copper penny, it could be worth as much as fifty thousand dollars. In 1943, most pennies were made out of steel since copper was needed for World War II. But the U.S. Mint accidentally produced a few copper pennies in the 1944 date range. These pennies were mistakenly double stamped, so they have overlapping dates and letters. If it's uncirculated, it can easily fetch $25,000 or more. Now that's a pretty penny!
Main ideas:
- Some rare pennies from 1943–1944 are super valuable.
- They’re valuable because they were made by mistake (copper instead of steel, or double-stamped).
- One such penny sold for $50,000; even uncirculated ones can get $25,000+.
- The phrase “pretty penny” is a pun — meaning both “a lot of money” and literally a valuable coin.
So, what’s the main point? It’s about how mistakes at the U.S. Mint created rare, super-valuable pennies that collectors pay huge amounts for.
One-sentence summary:
Some pennies made by accident during WWII — like copper ones in 1943 or double-stamped 1944 coins — are now worth tens of thousands of dollars because they’re extremely rare.
Appropriate title:
“Mistake Pennies That Made Fortunes”
---
Paragraph 2:
> Before you put on that Angry Birds costume and exhaust yourself roving from door to door pounding for candy, take a minute to reflect on the tradition in which you are taking part. Halloween has its roots in an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain, which began some 2,000 years ago. November 1st was the Celtic New Year and marked the end of summer to the Celts, so October 31st became known as All Hallows Eve, or Halloween. People would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. Over the next two millennia, this passionate celebration grew to be candy-fueled costumes half that we know today.
Main ideas:
- Halloween started as an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain.
- It was celebrated around November 1st to mark the end of summer.
- People wore costumes and lit fires to scare away spirits.
- Over time, it changed into today’s version with candy and fun costumes.
So, the main point is: Halloween didn’t start as trick-or-treating — it began as a serious ancient festival, and slowly turned into the holiday we celebrate now.
One-sentence summary:
Halloween began 2,000 years ago as a Celtic festival to honor the new year and scare away ghosts, but over time it evolved into the candy-and-costume celebration we enjoy today.
---
Final Answer:
Summary for Paragraph 1:
Some pennies made by accident during WWII — like copper ones in 1943 or double-stamped 1944 coins — are now worth tens of thousands of dollars because they’re extremely rare.
Appropriate title for Paragraph 1:
“Mistake Pennies That Made Fortunes”
Summary for Paragraph 2:
Halloween began 2,000 years ago as a Celtic festival to honor the new year and scare away ghosts, but over time it evolved into the candy-and-costume celebration we enjoy today.
We are given two paragraphs and asked to:
1. Write a one-sentence summary for each paragraph.
2. Make sure the summary is specific and clearly explains the main idea.
3. Also, come up with an appropriate title for each paragraph (though only the first one asks for it explicitly — we’ll do both for practice).
---
Paragraph 1:
> If you find your "baggies" in a 1951 copper penny, it could be worth as much as fifty thousand dollars. In 1943, most pennies were made out of steel since copper was needed for World War II. But the U.S. Mint accidentally produced a few copper pennies in the 1944 date range. These pennies were mistakenly double stamped, so they have overlapping dates and letters. If it's uncirculated, it can easily fetch $25,000 or more. Now that's a pretty penny!
Main ideas:
- Some rare pennies from 1943–1944 are super valuable.
- They’re valuable because they were made by mistake (copper instead of steel, or double-stamped).
- One such penny sold for $50,000; even uncirculated ones can get $25,000+.
- The phrase “pretty penny” is a pun — meaning both “a lot of money” and literally a valuable coin.
So, what’s the main point? It’s about how mistakes at the U.S. Mint created rare, super-valuable pennies that collectors pay huge amounts for.
One-sentence summary:
Some pennies made by accident during WWII — like copper ones in 1943 or double-stamped 1944 coins — are now worth tens of thousands of dollars because they’re extremely rare.
Appropriate title:
“Mistake Pennies That Made Fortunes”
---
Paragraph 2:
> Before you put on that Angry Birds costume and exhaust yourself roving from door to door pounding for candy, take a minute to reflect on the tradition in which you are taking part. Halloween has its roots in an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain, which began some 2,000 years ago. November 1st was the Celtic New Year and marked the end of summer to the Celts, so October 31st became known as All Hallows Eve, or Halloween. People would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. Over the next two millennia, this passionate celebration grew to be candy-fueled costumes half that we know today.
Main ideas:
- Halloween started as an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain.
- It was celebrated around November 1st to mark the end of summer.
- People wore costumes and lit fires to scare away spirits.
- Over time, it changed into today’s version with candy and fun costumes.
So, the main point is: Halloween didn’t start as trick-or-treating — it began as a serious ancient festival, and slowly turned into the holiday we celebrate now.
One-sentence summary:
Halloween began 2,000 years ago as a Celtic festival to honor the new year and scare away ghosts, but over time it evolved into the candy-and-costume celebration we enjoy today.
---
Final Answer:
Summary for Paragraph 1:
Some pennies made by accident during WWII — like copper ones in 1943 or double-stamped 1944 coins — are now worth tens of thousands of dollars because they’re extremely rare.
Appropriate title for Paragraph 1:
“Mistake Pennies That Made Fortunes”
Summary for Paragraph 2:
Halloween began 2,000 years ago as a Celtic festival to honor the new year and scare away ghosts, but over time it evolved into the candy-and-costume celebration we enjoy today.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of main idea worksheet 5.
