• 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? (It rained twice. / The coach had a whistle. / In the end, the team's hard work paid off. / The team trained on Mondays.) → 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 school should have a reading den. It would give us a quiet place to read at lunchtime. It would also help younger children love books. Which sentence would make the best ending? (That is why a reading den would make our school even better. / Some books have pictures. / I like football too. / Lunch is at twelve o'clock.) → That is why a reading den would make our school even better.Prompt: A concluding sentence wraps up the whole paragraph.
3. ___ They can see in near darkness. Their soft feathers let them fly silently. Their sharp talons grip prey tightly. Which is the best topic sentence? (I saw an owl once. / Owls are birds. / Some birds eat seeds. / Owls are well equipped for hunting at night.) → Owls are well equipped for hunting at night.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) Sea otters are clever tool users. (2) They float on their backs and place a flat stone on their chests. (3) Giraffes have very long necks. (4) Then they smash shellfish against the stone to open them. (5) Some otters keep a favourite stone in a pouch of skin under their arm. (Some otters keep a favourite stone in a pouch of skin under their arm. / They float on their backs and place a flat stone on their chests. / Sea otters are clever tool users. / Giraffes have very long necks.) → Giraffes have very long necks.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? Sea otters are clever tool users. They float on their backs and place a flat stone on their chests. Then they smash shellfish against the stone to open them. (It makes your heart and muscles stronger. / Some otters keep a favourite stone in a pouch of skin under their arm. / Some penguins can dive more than 500 metres deep. / Colourful toucans fly between the trees.) → Some otters keep a favourite stone in a pouch of skin under their arm.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 paragraph. Which sentence does not belong? (1) Exercise is good for your body and your mind. (2) It makes your heart and muscles stronger. (3) The Moon goes round the Earth. (4) It helps you sleep better at night. (5) It can also make you feel happier and calmer. (The Moon goes round the Earth. / Exercise is good for your body and your mind. / It can also make you feel happier and calmer. / It helps you sleep better at night.) → 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? Sea otters are clever tool users. They float on their backs and place a flat stone on their chests. Then they smash shellfish against the stone to open them. (On land, they waddle or slide on their bellies. / Recycling plastic keeps it out of rivers and seas. / Jaguars hunt along the riverbanks. / Some otters keep a favourite stone in a pouch of skin under their arm.) → Some otters keep a favourite stone in a pouch of skin under their arm.Prompt: What is the paragraph about? Look at the first sentence.

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