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English lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 30 minutes

Choosing the best topic sentence

Writing & Editing

CCSS W.6.2.ACCSS W.6.1.AEngland: KS3 Writing (paragraphing)England: GCSE English Language Paper 2 Q5

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Choosing the best topic sentence.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Main idea and supporting details

Leads to: Choosing the detail that best supports a point

Materials: A model text, Planning frame, Checklists for editing, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Main idea and supporting details). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Sloths move very slowly. They hang upside down in trees for most of the day. They even sleep and eat upside down. Moving slowly helps them save energy. What is the main idea? (Trees are tall. / Sloths sleep a lot. / Sloths live slow, upside-down lives in trees. / Sloths eat leaves.) → Sloths live slow, upside-down lives in trees.Prompt: What is the WHOLE text mostly about, not just one part?
  2. Dolphins are very smart. They can learn tricks, solve puzzles and recognise themselves in a mirror. They also talk to each other with clicks and whistles. What is the main idea? (Dolphins whistle. / Dolphins live in the sea. / Dolphins like mirrors. / Dolphins are intelligent animals.) → Dolphins are intelligent animals.Prompt: What is the WHOLE text mostly about, not just one part?

Hook · 3 min

  • Show two openings to the same piece of writing and ask which makes them want to read on.
  • Share the objective: Choosing the best topic sentence. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: ___ Walking or cycling saves money, keeps you fit and reduces traffic outside the school gates. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph?
  • Step 1: A topic sentence states the main point of a paragraph, and every other sentence supports it.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: There are good reasons to walk or cycle to school.
  • Answer: There are good reasons to walk or cycle to school.
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. ___ They give us oxygen, provide homes for wildlife and cool cities on hot days. Some even help prevent floods by soaking up rainwater. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph? (My favourite tree is in the park. / Floods can be dangerous. / Some trees are very tall. / Trees do far more for us than most people realise.) → Trees do far more for us than most people realise.Prompt: Read the supporting sentences first. What do they ALL have in common?
  2. Topic sentence: "Recycling at home is easier than many families think." Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph? (A labelled box by the bin makes sorting quick. / Plastic was first invented in the 1800s. / Rinsing containers takes only a few seconds. / Most councils collect sorted recycling every week.) → Plastic was first invented in the 1800s.Prompt: Reread the topic sentence. What is the paragraph promising to discuss?

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • 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.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. ___ Octopuses can open jars, escape from tanks and even recognise individual people. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph? (Jars can be hard to open. / The sea is very deep. / Octopuses have eight arms. / Octopuses are among the cleverest animals in the sea.) → Octopuses are among the cleverest animals in the sea.Prompt: Read the supporting sentences first. What do they ALL have in common?
  2. Topic sentence: "Bees are vital to our food supply." Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph? (Some people are frightened of wasps. / Farmers sometimes rent hives to help their crops. / Bees pollinate many fruit and vegetable crops. / Without pollination, harvests of apples and almonds would fall sharply.) → Some people are frightened of wasps.Prompt: Reread the topic sentence. What is the paragraph promising to discuss?

Watch out for

  • Writing everything at once without planning.
  • Editing only spelling and not whether the writing makes sense.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Main idea and supporting details.
  • Use concrete materials: a model text.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Choosing the detail that best supports a point.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-6.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Choosing the best topic sentence

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    ___ Many apps use bright notifications, endless scrolling and rewards to keep users coming back. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph?

    • A. Notifications can be turned off in settings.
    • B. Scrolling is a word for moving down a page.
    • C. Many apps are deliberately designed to hold our attention.
    • D. Phones have screens.

The Phone-Free Lunch Experiment

For one month, students at Brookfield School tried something unusual: no phones at lunch. Phones stayed in lockers from twelve until one, and the dining hall filled with board games, sketchbooks and a lot more noise. The idea came from the student council. In a survey, 61 per cent of students said they spent most of lunch looking at a screen, and many said they wanted a break but found it hard to stop on their own. At first, not everyone was happy. "I thought it was a punishment," admitted Jaden, 12. "But after a week I'd learned to play chess, and now I actually look forward to lunch." Teachers noticed changes too. Ms Ortega, who supervises the hall, said there were fewer arguments and more students sitting in mixed groups. However, some students said they missed messaging family members during the day. The council will now vote on whether to keep the rule. One suggestion is a compromise: phone-free Mondays to Thursdays, with Fridays left free.

  1. Question 2

    Read "The Phone-Free Lunch Experiment". Why does the writer include the sentence beginning 'However' in paragraph 4?

    • A. to show a drawback of the rule, giving a balanced report
    • B. to prove the rule was a total success
    • C. to introduce a new topic
    • D. to tell a joke

  1. Question 3

    Topic sentence: "The school should open a games club at lunchtime." Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph?

    • A. Chess was probably invented in India.
    • B. Several teachers have already offered to help.
    • C. Board games build problem-solving skills.
    • D. It would give quieter students somewhere to go.

  2. Question 4

    ___ They give us oxygen, provide homes for wildlife and cool cities on hot days. Some even help prevent floods by soaking up rainwater. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph?

    • A. My favourite tree is in the park.
    • B. Floods can be dangerous.
    • C. Trees do far more for us than most people realise.
    • D. Some trees are very tall.

  3. Question 5

    Topic sentence: "Bees are vital to our food supply." Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph?

    • A. Bees pollinate many fruit and vegetable crops.
    • B. Farmers sometimes rent hives to help their crops.
    • C. Without pollination, harvests of apples and almonds would fall sharply.
    • D. Some people are frightened of wasps.

  4. Question 6

    ___ Walking or cycling saves money, keeps you fit and reduces traffic outside the school gates. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph?

    • A. There are good reasons to walk or cycle to school.
    • B. Bicycles have two wheels.
    • C. Some people live far away.
    • D. Traffic is sometimes heavy.

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Answer key: Choosing the best topic sentence

  1. 1. C. Many apps are deliberately designed to hold our attention.

  2. 2. A. to show a drawback of the rule, giving a balanced report

  3. 3. A. Chess was probably invented in India.

  4. 4. C. Trees do far more for us than most people realise.

  5. 5. D. Some people are frightened of wasps.

  6. 6. A. There are good reasons to walk or cycle to school.