English lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 30 minutes
Which sentence from the text best supports the answer?
Reading Comprehension
CCSS RL.5.1CCSS RI.5.1England: Y5/6 Reading (justifying with evidence)England: KS2 SATs Reading
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Which sentence from the text best supports the answer?.
- 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: Choose the best summary of a short text; Finding and retrieving information
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
Materials: A short text or extract (one copy each), Highlighters, Question cards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Choose the best summary of a short text; Finding and retrieving information). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- 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? (Drones are male bees. / Bees are the most amazing insects in the world. / Worker bees collect nectar and pollen. / 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.
- Mount Everest is the highest mountain above sea level. It is in the Himalayas, on the border between Nepal and China. Which mountain range is Mount Everest in? (the Alps / the Andes / the Himalayas / the Rockies) → the HimalayasPrompt: Find the part of the text that talks about this.
- The blue whale is the largest animal that has ever lived. It can grow longer than two buses and eats tiny shrimp-like animals called krill. What do blue whales eat? (krill / fish / sharks / seaweed) → krillPrompt: Find the part of the text that talks about this.
Hook · 3 min
- Read the first lines of a short text aloud and ask what students predict will happen and why.
- Share the objective: Which sentence from the text best supports the answer?. 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: Mira's robot kept bumping into walls. She rewrote the code three times, tested it every evening and asked her brother for ideas. On Friday, it rolled smoothly round the whole room. Which sentence best shows that Mira does not give up?
- Step 1: The best evidence directly proves the point. Other sentences may be true but do not support the claim as well.
- Step 2: So the answer is: She rewrote the code three times, tested it every evening and asked her brother for ideas.
- Answer: She rewrote the code three times, tested it every evening and asked her brother for ideas.
- 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.
- Honey can last for a very long time. Archaeologists have found pots of honey in ancient Egyptian tombs that had still not gone bad. Bees make honey from flower nectar. Which sentence best supports the idea that honey does not spoil easily? (Archaeologists have found pots of honey in ancient Egyptian tombs that had still not gone bad. / Bees live in hives. / Honey is sweet and sticky. / Bees make honey from flower nectar.) → Archaeologists have found pots of honey in ancient Egyptian tombs that had still not gone bad.Prompt: Read the claim in the question first.
- Kofi dragged his feet to the car. He stared out of the window the whole journey and didn't touch his favourite snack. When Mum asked what was wrong, he just shrugged. Which sentence best shows that Kofi is unhappy? (Kofi got into the car. / He stared out of the window the whole journey and didn't touch his favourite snack. / Mum asked what was wrong. / Kofi has a favourite snack.) → He stared out of the window the whole journey and didn't touch his favourite snack.Prompt: Read the claim in the question first.
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.
- The town council asked people what to do with the empty car park. Most people voted for a skate park. Others wanted a community garden. In the end, the council built both, side by side. Which sentence best shows that the council listened to more than one group? (The car park was empty. / In the end, the council built both, side by side. / The council asked people what to do. / Most people voted for a skate park.) → In the end, the council built both, side by side.Prompt: Read the claim in the question first.
- Zara checked the weather app twice. She packed a raincoat, rain boots and a spare pair of socks. "You never know," she said, glancing at the grey sky. Which sentence best shows that Zara is well prepared? (She packed a raincoat, rain boots and a spare pair of socks. / "You never know," she said. / Zara likes the rain. / Zara checked the weather app twice.) → She packed a raincoat, rain boots and a spare pair of socks.Prompt: Read the claim in the question first.
Watch out for
- Answering from memory or opinion instead of evidence in the text.
- Copying a long quote without explaining what it shows.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Choose the best summary of a short text.
- Use concrete materials: a short text or extract (one copy each).
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- 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-5.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder