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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 18 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.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.People like podcasts
  • B.Nothing on the Moon wipes the footprints away
  • C.The Moon is far away
2.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 keep getting new teeth
  • C.Elephants are heavy
3.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.Smoke alarms need checking regularly
  • B.Alarms have buttons
  • C.Batteries are expensive
4.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
5.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
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.Evening comes after afternoon
  • B.Gardens have things in them
  • C.Get ready, because a storm is coming
7.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.Brushing properly protects your teeth
  • C.Dentists have chairs
8.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

LessonPrint · SL.3.2 · Set 18 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Main Ideas from What You Heard

Set 18. Prints on its own sheet.

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

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.