• 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. Long ago, people did not have fridges. They kept food cold in cellars, packed it in ice, or dried and salted meat so it would last. What is the main idea? (Cellars are dark. / People once used other ways to keep food from spoiling. / Salt makes food tasty. / Fridges are expensive.) → People once used other ways to keep food from spoiling.Prompt: What is the WHOLE text mostly about, not just one part?
2. Recycling helps our planet. When we recycle paper, fewer trees are cut down. Recycling cans saves energy. It also means less rubbish goes into the ground. What is the main idea? (Rubbish is smelly. / Paper comes from trees. / Recycling helps the planet in many ways. / Cans are made of metal.) → Recycling helps the planet in many ways.Prompt: What is the WHOLE text mostly about, not just one part?
3. 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 like mirrors. / Dolphins live in the sea. / Dolphins whistle. / Dolphins are intelligent animals.) → Dolphins are intelligent animals.Prompt: What is the WHOLE text mostly about, 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: Choose the best summary of a short text. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: In 2021, a small town opened a 'repair café'. Once a month, volunteers fix broken toasters, toys and bikes for free. In its first year, the café saved over two tonnes of items from being thrown away. Which is the best summary?
• Step 1: The best summary states the main idea and the most important points in your own words.
• Step 2: So the answer is: A town's monthly repair café fixes broken items for free and has kept tonnes of things out of the rubbish.
• Answer: A town's monthly repair café fixes broken items for free and has kept tonnes of things out of the rubbish.
• 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. 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? (Bees are the most amazing insects in the world. / Drones are male bees. / 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.
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's team fixes their broken robot in time and does well at the science fair. / Bolt sorted coloured blocks. / Jai wanted to give up. / There was a loose wire.) → 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.

• 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. 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? (In a honeybee colony, the queen, workers and drones each have a job that keeps the hive alive. / Drones are male bees. / Worker bees collect nectar and pollen. / 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.Prompt: A summary is short and covers the WHOLE text, not just one part.
2. Lena was nervous about the school talent show. At practice, she forgot the words to her song twice. On the night, she spotted her grandad in the front row, giving her a thumbs-up. She took a deep breath, sang every word, and the hall burst into applause. Which is the best summary of the story? (Lena's grandad sat in the front row. / Lena forgot the words twice. / Talent shows are a waste of time. / Lena overcomes her nerves, with her grandad's support, and sings well at the talent show.) → Lena overcomes her nerves, with her grandad's support, and sings well at the talent show.Prompt: A summary is short and covers the WHOLE text, not just one part.

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