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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 2 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 zookeeper says: "Elephants keep growing new teeth. When one set wears down, another moves forward." What is the main idea?
  • A.Elephants are heavy
  • B.Elephants keep getting new teeth
  • C.Zookeepers feed elephants
2.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.Muscles can stretch
  • B.Warming up helps prevent injury
  • C.Games are fun
3.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.Bread must be given time to rise
  • C.Bakers get up early
4.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.Roots need water
  • C.Worms help gardens grow
5.A nurse says: "Washing your hands for twenty seconds gets rid of most germs. The soap does the work." What is the main idea?
  • A.Nurses wear uniforms
  • B.Twenty is a big number
  • C.Washing well with soap removes germs
6.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
7.A weather forecaster says: "Storms will reach the coast by evening. Bring in anything loose from your yard." What is the main idea?
  • A.Get ready, because a storm is coming
  • B.Evening comes after afternoon
  • C.Gardens have things in them
8.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.Anyone can borrow library books for free
  • B.Three weeks is a long time
  • C.Librarians like books

LessonPrint · SL.3.2 · Set 2 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Main Ideas from What You Heard

Set 2. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Elephants keep getting new teeth
  2. 2.Warming up helps prevent injury
  3. 3.Bread must be given time to rise
  4. 4.Worms help gardens grow
  5. 5.Washing well with soap removes germs
  6. 6.How to cross the road safely
  7. 7.Get ready, because a storm is coming
  8. 8.Anyone can borrow library books for free

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.