Home / English / Printables / Grade 3 / Main Ideas from What You Heard Main Ideas from What You Heard is a free printable Grade 3 English worksheet on naming the main idea of something a speaker said, aligned to Common Core standard SL.3.2. It prints 8 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.
One paper per student
Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.
Main Ideas from What You Heard SL.3.2
Name Date
Circle the main idea of what you heard.
1. A dentist says: "Brush for two minutes, twice a day, and the sugar that harms your teeth is cleared away." What is the main idea?
A. Two minutes is short B. Dentists have chairs C. Brushing properly protects your teeth 2. A crossing patrol says: "Stop at the curb, look both ways, and only cross when the road is clear." What is the main idea?
A. How to cross the road safely B. Cars drive fast C. Roads have curbs 3. You hear on a podcast: "The Moon has no air and no wind, so footprints left there long ago are still there." What is the main idea?
A. Nothing on the Moon wipes the footprints away B. The Moon is far away C. People like podcasts 4. A coach says: "Warming up before a game stretches your muscles, so you are less likely to get hurt." What is the main idea?
A. Warming up helps prevent injury B. Games are fun C. Muscles can stretch 5. A gardener says: "Worms are a garden's best friends. They mix the soil and let air and water reach the roots." What is the main idea?
A. Worms live underground B. Worms help gardens grow C. Roots need water 6. A baker says: "Bread needs time. If you rush the rising, the loaf comes out flat and heavy." What is the main idea?
A. Some loaves are heavy B. Bakers get up early C. Bread must be given time to rise 7. A park ranger tells your class: "Owls hunt at night. Their soft feathers make no sound, and their big eyes see in the dark." What is the main idea?
A. Rangers work in parks B. Owls are built for hunting at night C. Owls have feathers 8. A zookeeper says: "Elephants keep growing new teeth. When one set wears down, another moves forward." What is the main idea?
A. Zookeepers feed elephants B. Elephants are heavy C. Elephants keep getting new teeth LessonPrint · SL.3.2 · Set 10 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Main Ideas from What You Heard Set 10. Prints on its own sheet.
1. Brushing properly protects your teeth 2. How to cross the road safely 3. Nothing on the Moon wipes the footprints away 4. Warming up helps prevent injury 5. Worms help gardens grow 6. Bread must be given time to rise 7. Owls are built for hunting at night 8. Elephants keep getting new teeth Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to SL.3.2 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.