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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 6 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 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
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.Three weeks is a long time
  • B.Librarians like books
  • C.Anyone can borrow library books for free
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.Alarms have buttons
  • B.Smoke alarms need checking regularly
  • C.Batteries are expensive
4.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.Nurses wear uniforms
  • C.Washing well with soap removes germs
5.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 help gardens grow
  • B.Worms live underground
  • C.Roots need water
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.Rangers work in parks
  • B.Owls are built for hunting at night
  • C.Owls have feathers
7.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
8.A recycling worker says: "Rinse your cans and bottles. Food left inside can spoil a whole truckload." What is the main idea?
  • A.Trucks are big
  • B.Bottles are made of glass
  • C.Rinse recycling so it is not spoiled

LessonPrint · SL.3.2 · Set 6 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Main Ideas from What You Heard

Set 6. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Brushing properly protects your teeth
  2. 2.Anyone can borrow library books for free
  3. 3.Smoke alarms need checking regularly
  4. 4.Washing well with soap removes germs
  5. 5.Worms help gardens grow
  6. 6.Owls are built for hunting at night
  7. 7.Bread must be given time to rise
  8. 8.Rinse recycling so it is not spoiled

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.