• 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? (Worms live in soil. / Carrots are orange. / We planted beans. / Overall, our class garden was a big success.) → Overall, our class garden was a big success.Prompt: Concluding sentences often begin with words like In conclusion, All in all, Overall, So or That is why.
2. Volcanoes form where hot, melted rock pushes up through the Earth's crust. Over time, layers of lava and ash pile up. Some volcanoes grow into huge mountains. Which sentence would make the best ending? (Have you ever eaten lava cake? / Mountains can be snowy. / In short, volcanoes are mountains built by the Earth's own heat. / I visited the beach last summer.) → In short, volcanoes are mountains built by the Earth's own heat.Prompt: A concluding sentence wraps up the whole paragraph.
3. Our class trip to the museum was amazing. We saw a real dinosaur skeleton. My cousin lives in another city. Then we tried on armour in the history room. At the end, we visited the gift shop. Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph? (We saw a real dinosaur skeleton. / At the end, we visited the gift shop. / My cousin lives in another city. / Then we tried on armour in the history room.) → My cousin lives in another city.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) Getting ready for a sleepover is fun. (2) First, pack your pyjamas and toothbrush. (3) Volcanoes can erupt without warning. (4) Next, choose a game or a film to share. (5) Finally, remember your sleeping bag and pillow. (First, pack your pyjamas and toothbrush. / Getting ready for a sleepover is fun. / Volcanoes can erupt without warning. / Finally, remember your sleeping bag and pillow.) → Volcanoes can erupt without warning.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? Penguins are birds that cannot fly. Instead, their wings work like flippers for swimming. Some penguins can dive more than 500 metres deep. (Recycling plastic keeps it out of rivers and seas. / Doctors even use robots to help with delicate operations. / On land, they waddle or slide on their bellies. / The tomatoes are bright red and ready to pick.) → On land, they waddle or slide on their bellies.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 start of the paragraph. Which sentence would fit best as the next sentence? Our class garden has grown so much this term. The tomatoes are bright red and ready to pick. The sunflowers are taller than our teacher. (It makes your heart and muscles stronger. / Some robots build cars in factories. / We even found a family of ladybirds on the beans. / Jaguars hunt along the riverbanks.) → We even found a family of ladybirds on the beans.Prompt: What is the paragraph about? Look at the first sentence.
2. 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. (It helps you sleep better at night. / Exercise is good for your body and your mind. / It makes your heart and muscles stronger. / The Moon goes round the Earth.) → The Moon goes round the Earth.Prompt: Read the first sentence: it tells you what the paragraph is about.

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