• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Choose the best summary of a short text). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Octopuses are clever problem-solvers. In aquariums they have unscrewed jar lids to reach food and escaped from their tanks. Scientists think their large brains and flexible arms help them explore and learn. Which is the best summary? (Octopuses are smart animals that can solve problems, helped by their large brains and flexible arms. / One octopus opened a jar. / Octopuses are scary. / Octopuses live in aquariums.) → Octopuses are smart animals that can solve problems, helped by their large brains and flexible arms.Prompt: A summary is short and covers the WHOLE text, not just one part.
2. When the class robot, Bolt, broke down the day before the science fair, Jai wanted to give up. Instead, his team stayed after school, found a loose wire, and rebuilt Bolt's arm. At the fair, Bolt sorted coloured blocks perfectly and the team won second prize. Which is the best summary of the story? (Jai wanted to give up. / Jai's team fixes their broken robot in time and does well at the science fair. / There was a loose wire. / Bolt sorted coloured blocks.) → Jai's team fixes their broken robot in time and does well at the science fair.Prompt: A summary is short and covers the WHOLE text, not just one part.
3. Honeybees live in colonies of thousands. The queen lays the eggs. Worker bees collect nectar and pollen, look after the young and guard the hive. Drones have one job: to mate with a queen. Every bee has a role that keeps the colony alive. Which is the best summary? (Worker bees collect nectar and pollen. / Drones are male bees. / Bees are the most amazing insects in the world. / In a honeybee colony, the queen, workers and drones each have a job that keeps the hive alive.) → In a honeybee colony, the queen, workers and drones each have a job that keeps the hive alive.Prompt: A summary is short and covers the WHOLE text, not just one part.

• Read the first lines of a short text aloud and ask what students predict will happen and why.
• Share the objective: Compare and contrast: how are they alike and different?. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Story A: Priya trained every morning before school and won the cross-country race. Story B: Tom rehearsed the piano every evening and played perfectly at the concert. How are Priya and Tom ALIKE?
• Step 1: Comparing means finding what is the same; contrasting means finding what is different.
• Step 2: So the answer is: Both worked hard and succeeded.
• Answer: Both worked hard and succeeded.
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

1. Text A: Bats are mammals that fly at night and use echoes to find insects. Text B: Dolphins are mammals that live in the sea and use echoes to find fish. How are bats and dolphins ALIKE? (Both eat insects. / Both live in the sea. / Both fly at night. / Both are mammals that use echoes to find food.) → Both are mammals that use echoes to find food.Prompt: Read both texts and note what each says about the same topic.
2. Which signal word or phrase shows a SIMILARITY? (on the other hand / whereas / in the same way / unlike) → in the same wayPrompt: Try the word in a sentence: 'Cats purr; ___, dogs bark.'

• Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
• Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. Story A: Priya trained every morning before school and won the cross-country race. Story B: Tom rehearsed the piano every evening and played perfectly at the concert. How are Priya and Tom ALIKE? (Both play the piano. / Both won a race. / Both worked hard and succeeded. / Both gave up.) → Both worked hard and succeeded.Prompt: Read both texts and note what each says about the same topic.
2. Which signal word or phrase shows a DIFFERENCE? (similarly / whereas / in the same way / likewise) → whereasPrompt: Try the word in a sentence: 'Cats purr; ___, dogs bark.'

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-5.