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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.

Set 15 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Main Ideas from What You Heard

SL.3.2

NameDate

Circle the main idea of what you heard.

1.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.Roads have curbs
  • B.How to cross the road safely
  • C.Cars drive fast
2.A librarian says: "The library is free. You can borrow ten books at a time and keep them for three weeks." What is the main idea?
  • A.Librarians like books
  • B.Three weeks is a long time
  • C.Anyone can borrow library books for free
3.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.Owls are built for hunting at night
  • B.Owls have feathers
  • C.Rangers work in parks
4.A baker says: "Bread needs time. If you rush the rising, the loaf comes out flat and heavy." What is the main idea?
  • A.Bread must be given time to rise
  • B.Some loaves are heavy
  • C.Bakers get up early
5.A zookeeper says: "Elephants keep growing new teeth. When one set wears down, another moves forward." What is the main idea?
  • A.Elephants keep getting new teeth
  • B.Zookeepers feed elephants
  • C.Elephants are heavy
6.A weather forecaster says: "Storms will reach the coast by evening. Bring in anything loose from your yard." What is the main idea?
  • A.Gardens have things in them
  • B.Evening comes after afternoon
  • C.Get ready, because a storm is coming
7.A firefighter says: "Check your smoke alarm every month. Press the button, and if it does not beep, change the battery." What is the main idea?
  • A.Alarms have buttons
  • B.Batteries are expensive
  • C.Smoke alarms need checking regularly
8.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

LessonPrint · SL.3.2 · Set 15 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Main Ideas from What You Heard

Set 15. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.How to cross the road safely
  2. 2.Anyone can borrow library books for free
  3. 3.Owls are built for hunting at night
  4. 4.Bread must be given time to rise
  5. 5.Elephants keep getting new teeth
  6. 6.Get ready, because a storm is coming
  7. 7.Smoke alarms need checking regularly
  8. 8.Nothing on the Moon wipes the footprints away

More practice for SL.3.2

Pick out the main ideas and details from something you heard or saw.

Teaching this next? Getting the Main Ideas From Listening is the 40-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.

All Grade 3 worksheets

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to SL.3.2 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.