• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Choose the best concluding sentence; Topic sentences and paragraphs). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Which sentence sounds most like a CONCLUDING sentence? (The team trained on Mondays. / It rained twice. / In the end, the team's hard work paid off. / The coach had a whistle.) → In the end, the team's hard work paid off.Prompt: Concluding sentences often begin with words like In conclusion, All in all, Overall, So or That is why.
2. Our trip to the science museum was amazing. We touched a real meteorite. We built a robot arm. We even watched a show about lightning. Which sentence would make the best ending? (Robots need batteries. / The bus was blue. / It was the best school trip I have ever been on. / Meteorites are rocks.) → It was the best school trip I have ever been on.Prompt: A concluding sentence wraps up the whole paragraph.
3. Bees are vital to our food supply. They pollinate fruits and vegetables. Without them, many crops would fail. My favourite fruit is the mango. Farmers often keep hives near their fields. Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph? (Farmers often keep hives near their fields. / My favourite fruit is the mango. / Without them, many crops would fail. / They pollinate fruits and vegetables.) → My favourite fruit is the mango.Prompt: What is the paragraph mostly about?

• Show two openings to the same piece of writing and ask which makes them want to read on.
• Share the objective: Which sentence does not belong in the paragraph?. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Read the paragraph. Which sentence does not belong? (1) Robots help people in many ways. (2) Some robots build cars in factories. (3) My brother's bike is blue. (4) Others explore places too dangerous for humans, like deep oceans. (5) Doctors even use robots to help with delicate operations.
• Step 1: The paragraph is about: "Robots help people in many ways." One sentence is off the topic.
• Step 2: So the answer is: My brother's bike is blue.
• Answer: My brother's bike is blue.
• 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. Read the paragraph. Which sentence does not belong? (1) Exercise is good for your body and your mind. (2) The Moon goes round the Earth. (3) It makes your heart and muscles stronger. (4) It helps you sleep better at night. (5) It can also make you feel happier and calmer. (It helps you sleep better at night. / It makes your heart and muscles stronger. / Exercise is good for your body and your mind. / The Moon goes round the Earth.) → The Moon goes round the Earth.Prompt: Read the first sentence: it tells you what the paragraph is about.
2. Read the start of the paragraph. Which sentence would fit best as the next sentence? Penguins are birds that cannot fly. Instead, their wings work like flippers for swimming. Some penguins can dive more than 500 metres deep. (Jaguars hunt along the riverbanks. / On land, they waddle or slide on their bellies. / The tomatoes are bright red and ready to pick. / Next, choose a game or a film to share.) → On land, they waddle or slide on their bellies.Prompt: What is the paragraph about? Look at the first sentence.

• 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. Read the start of the paragraph. Which sentence would fit best as the next sentence? The Amazon rainforest is home to amazing wildlife. Jaguars hunt along the riverbanks. Colourful toucans fly between the trees. (Recycling metal cans saves energy. / Tiny poison dart frogs live on the forest floor. / Finally, remember your sleeping bag and pillow. / It makes your heart and muscles stronger.) → Tiny poison dart frogs live on the forest floor.Prompt: What is the paragraph about? Look at the first sentence.
2. Read the paragraph. Which sentence does not belong? (1) The Amazon rainforest is home to amazing wildlife. (2) Jaguars hunt along the riverbanks. (3) Colourful toucans fly between the trees. (4) Tiny poison dart frogs live on the forest floor. (5) Penguins live mostly in the Southern Hemisphere. (Tiny poison dart frogs live on the forest floor. / Jaguars hunt along the riverbanks. / Penguins live mostly in the Southern Hemisphere. / The Amazon rainforest is home to amazing wildlife.) → Penguins live mostly in the Southern Hemisphere.Prompt: Read the first sentence: it tells you what the paragraph is about.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-4.