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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 5 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 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
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.Anyone can borrow library books for free
  • C.Three weeks is a long time
3.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.People like podcasts
  • C.The Moon is far away
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.Roots need water
  • B.Worms live underground
  • C.Worms help gardens grow
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.Dentists have chairs
  • B.Brushing properly protects your teeth
  • C.Two minutes is short
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.Cars drive fast
  • B.Roads have curbs
  • C.How to cross the road safely
7.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.Rangers work in parks
  • C.Owls have feathers
8.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

LessonPrint · SL.3.2 · Set 5 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Main Ideas from What You Heard

Set 5. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Bread must be given time to rise
  2. 2.Anyone can borrow library books for free
  3. 3.Nothing on the Moon wipes the footprints away
  4. 4.Worms help gardens grow
  5. 5.Brushing properly protects your teeth
  6. 6.How to cross the road safely
  7. 7.Owls are built for hunting at night
  8. 8.Elephants keep getting new teeth

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.