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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 20 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 nurse says: "Washing your hands for twenty seconds gets rid of most germs. The soap does the work." What is the main idea?
  • A.Twenty is a big number
  • B.Washing well with soap removes germs
  • C.Nurses wear uniforms
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.Cars drive fast
  • B.How to cross the road safely
  • C.Roads have curbs
3.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
4.A recycling worker says: "Rinse your cans and bottles. Food left inside can spoil a whole truckload." What is the main idea?
  • A.Bottles are made of glass
  • B.Rinse recycling so it is not spoiled
  • C.Trucks are big
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 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
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.Brushing properly protects your teeth
  • B.Two minutes is short
  • 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 20 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Main Ideas from What You Heard

Set 20. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Washing well with soap removes germs
  2. 2.How to cross the road safely
  3. 3.Get ready, because a storm is coming
  4. 4.Rinse recycling so it is not spoiled
  5. 5.Owls are built for hunting at night
  6. 6.Worms help gardens grow
  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.