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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 4 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 recycling worker says: "Rinse your cans and bottles. Food left inside can spoil a whole truckload." What is the main idea?
  • A.Rinse recycling so it is not spoiled
  • B.Bottles are made of glass
  • C.Trucks are big
3.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.Anyone can borrow library books for free
  • C.Three weeks is a long time
4.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
5.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
6.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
7.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
8.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

LessonPrint · SL.3.2 · Set 4 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Main Ideas from What You Heard

Set 4. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Nothing on the Moon wipes the footprints away
  2. 2.Rinse recycling so it is not spoiled
  3. 3.Anyone can borrow library books for free
  4. 4.Get ready, because a storm is coming
  5. 5.Brushing properly protects your teeth
  6. 6.Owls are built for hunting at night
  7. 7.Elephants keep getting new teeth
  8. 8.How to cross the road safely

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.