How do I make a main idea graphic organizer?

Type your passage topic into the prompt box, include the grade level and how many supporting details you want, choose a style, then click Generate. Figviz produces a print-ready main idea organizer. Refine the description and regenerate as many times as you like until it fits your lesson.

Is the main idea graphic organizer generator free?

Yes. Every Figviz account starts with free credits you can use right away, no credit card required. Buying a pay-as-you-go credit pack removes the watermark and unlocks 4K export resolution for large worksheet or poster printing. Credits never expire.

What is the difference between main idea and supporting details?

The main idea is the central point the author wants you to understand, while supporting details are the facts, examples, and reasons that explain or prove that point. A main idea graphic organizer makes this relationship visual, with the main idea in a central box and the supporting details branching off around it.

Can I get a main idea graphic organizer PDF?

Yes. Generate your organizer with Figviz, download the high-resolution image, and print it or save it as a PDF from your browser or any image editor. You can create a blank template to fill in by hand or a completed example to use as a reading model.

Can I print it as a worksheet for my class?

Yes. Figviz exports main idea organizers at up to 4K resolution, sharp enough for clear worksheet printing or large poster printing. Download the PNG and send it to print. For a standard worksheet, choose the portrait (3:4) aspect ratio.

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Main Idea Graphic Organizer Generator Main Idea Graphic Organizers

Describe any reading passage or topic and get a clear main idea and details organizer in seconds. Table, umbrella, and web layouts. Print as a worksheet or share digitally.

Last updated: 2026-06-21

✓Main idea and supporting details layouts✓Table, umbrella and web formats✓Classic, colorful and minimal styles✓Free for teachers and students

Main Idea Graphic Organizer Generator

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Main Idea Graphic Organizer Examples

Browse main idea organizers made with Figviz, or generate your own above

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Main Idea and Details Organizer

A reading comprehension organizer with a central main idea box and four supporting detail boxes that show how each detail backs up the main idea.

readingmain ideadetails

Main Idea Umbrella Organizer

An umbrella layout where the main idea sits on the canopy and supporting details fall below as raindrops, a favorite for younger readers.

readingumbrellacomprehension

Main Idea Table Organizer

A structured table organizer with a main idea row at the top and labeled rows for each supporting detail, ideal for note taking.

readingtablenotes

Main Idea Web Organizer

A web organizer with the main idea in the center circle and supporting detail circles radiating outward, great for brainstorming.

readingwebbrainstorm

Blank Main Idea Template

A clean blank main idea template with an empty central box and four supporting detail boxes, ready to fill in by hand or digitally.

templateblankprintable

Main Idea Nonfiction Example

A worked example using a nonfiction passage, showing how to pull the main idea and supporting details from informational text.

nonfictionexamplereading

What is a main idea graphic organizer?

A main idea graphic organizer is a visual reading tool that helps students separate the central point of a passage from the supporting details that explain it. It usually shows a main idea box at the top or center, with supporting detail boxes branching off below or around it. Teachers use these organizers to build reading comprehension, teach summarizing, and help students prove their thinking with evidence from the text. Figviz turns any passage or topic into a finished organizer in seconds, so you can skip the drawing and focus on the reading.

How to make a main idea graphic organizer with Figviz

Choose your passage or topic: type in the subject of the reading, for example "how bees make honey" or "the causes of the American Revolution."

Add detail: mention the grade level, how many supporting details you want, and any specific evidence to include.

Pick a style: Classic keeps things simple, Colorful uses bright boxes that catch students' eyes, and Minimal works well for clean digital worksheets.

Choose a layout idea: ask for a table, an umbrella, or a web format depending on how you want students to organize their thinking.

Generate and refine: click Generate Main Idea Organizer, then adjust your description and regenerate until the boxes and labels match your lesson.

Download and print: export at 4K resolution for a crisp worksheet or poster, or save the PNG for digital assignments.

Types of main idea graphic organizers

Main idea and details table: a structured grid with a main idea row at the top and rows for each supporting detail. Best for note taking and clear, linear thinking.

Umbrella organizer: the main idea sits on the umbrella canopy while supporting details fall below as raindrops. A friendly, visual format for younger readers.

Web or spider organizer: the main idea sits in a central circle with supporting details radiating outward. Great for brainstorming before writing.

Main idea pyramid: the main idea forms the top of a triangle with broader supporting details forming the base, helpful for showing how details support the bigger point.

Classroom and reading uses

Main idea graphic organizers shine during guided reading, independent practice, and test prep. Use them to teach students how to summarize a nonfiction passage, distinguish the main idea from interesting but minor details, and gather evidence before writing a paragraph or essay. They pair well with informational text, current events articles, and chapter books. Print copies for small groups, project one organizer for a whole-class think-aloud, or assign the digital PNG through your learning management system so students can type their answers from home.

Can I get a blank main idea template?

Yes. To generate a blank main idea graphic organizer template, describe the structure you want: for example "a blank main idea organizer with one main idea box and four empty supporting detail boxes with ruled lines." Figviz will draw the layout with empty boxes you can print and fill in by hand, or annotate digitally in any PDF editor. Blank templates are perfect for co-creating an organizer with students during a lesson, which helps cement the difference between the main idea and the details that support it.

Frequently asked questions

A main idea graphic organizer is a visual reading tool that separates the central point of a passage from its supporting details. It typically shows a main idea box connected to several supporting detail boxes. With Figviz, you describe your passage or topic and the AI designs a clear, printable organizer in seconds.

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