• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Choosing the best topic sentence; Citing textual evidence). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. ___ Octopuses can open jars, escape from tanks and even recognise individual people. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph? (Octopuses have eight arms. / Jars can be hard to open. / Octopuses are among the cleverest animals in the sea. / The sea is very deep.) → 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? (Without pollination, harvests of apples and almonds would fall sharply. / Bees pollinate many fruit and vegetable crops. / Some people are frightened of wasps. / Farmers sometimes rent hives to help their crops.) → Some people are frightened of wasps.Prompt: Reread the topic sentence. What is the paragraph promising to discuss?
3. ___ Volunteers collected 300 kilograms of rubbish, planted wildflowers and built two benches from recycled plastic. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph? (Last weekend's clean-up transformed the riverside park. / Wildflowers are colourful. / Rubbish is bad. / Benches can be made of wood.) → Last weekend's clean-up transformed the riverside park.Prompt: Read the supporting sentences first. What do they ALL have in common?

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

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Point: "Our school canteen should offer more plant-based meals." Which detail best supports this point?
• Step 1: The best support is relevant (about the point) and specific (facts, figures, examples).
• Step 2: Survey evidence directly shows demand for the change.
• Step 3: So the answer is: In a canteen survey, 64% of students said they would choose a vegetarian option at least once a week.
• Answer: In a canteen survey, 64% of students said they would choose a vegetarian option at least once a week.
• 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. Point: "Reading for pleasure helps young people do better at school." Which detail best supports this point? (Research has found that children who read for fun tend to make more progress in vocabulary and maths. / Many books have colourful covers. / Some people prefer audiobooks. / Libraries are quiet places.) → Research has found that children who read for fun tend to make more progress in vocabulary and maths.Prompt: Which detail is directly about the point, not just the same topic?
2. Read the question and choose. Point: "The park needs more bins." Which detail is MOST relevant? • Many people walk their dogs there. • Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month. • The park has a duck pond. • The park opened in 1901. (Many people walk their dogs there. / Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month. / The park has a duck pond. / The park opened in 1901.) → Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.Prompt: Does the detail prove or illustrate the point, or is it just on the same topic?

• 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 question and choose. Point: "Teenagers need more sleep than adults." Which detail is MOST relevant? • Many adults drink coffee. • Some teenagers have bunk beds. • Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults. • Sleep is important for everyone. (Many adults drink coffee. / Some teenagers have bunk beds. / Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults. / Sleep is important for everyone.) → Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults.Prompt: Does the detail prove or illustrate the point, or is it just on the same topic?
2. Point: "Our school canteen should offer more plant-based meals." Which detail best supports this point? (The canteen opens at 12.15. / Some students bring packed lunches. / Vegetables come in many colours. / In a canteen survey, 64% of students said they would choose a vegetarian option at least once a week.) → In a canteen survey, 64% of students said they would choose a vegetarian option at least once a week.Prompt: Which detail is directly about the point, not just the same topic?

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-7.