• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Which sentence does not belong in the paragraph?; Putting sentences in order). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

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) Next, choose a game or a film to share. (4) Finally, remember your sleeping bag and pillow. (5) Volcanoes can erupt without warning. (First, pack your pyjamas and toothbrush. / Volcanoes can erupt without warning. / Finally, remember your sleeping bag and pillow. / Next, choose a game or a film to share.) → 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? 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. (The tomatoes are bright red and ready to pick. / Some otters keep a favourite stone in a pouch of skin under their arm. / Others explore places too dangerous for humans, like deep oceans. / Instead, their wings work like flippers for swimming.) → 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.
3. 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. (Then they smash shellfish against the stone to open them. / Sea otters are clever tool users. / Giraffes have very long necks. / They float on their backs and place a flat stone on their chests.) → Giraffes have very long necks.Prompt: Read the first sentence: it tells you what the paragraph is about.

• Show two openings to the same piece of writing and ask which makes them want to read on.
• Share the objective: Put the sentences of a paragraph in a logical order. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: These sentences come from one paragraph. Which one should come FIRST, as the topic sentence?
• Step 1: The topic sentence tells you what the whole paragraph is about; the others give the steps or details.
• Step 2: So the answer is: Making a paper boat is easy.
• Answer: Making a paper boat is easy.
• 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. These sentences come from one paragraph. Which one should come FIRST, as the topic sentence? (In the morning, he could not find his classroom. / Then a girl called Ruby offered to show him the way. / By home time, Kai was already looking forward to tomorrow. / Kai's first day at the new school went better than he expected.) → Kai's first day at the new school went better than he expected.Prompt: A topic sentence introduces the whole paragraph.

• 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 1 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. These sentences come from one paragraph. Which one should come FIRST, as the topic sentence? (Then it forms a chrysalis around itself. / Next, it eats and grows for several weeks. / A caterpillar goes through amazing changes. / First, it hatches from a tiny egg on a leaf.) → A caterpillar goes through amazing changes.Prompt: A topic sentence introduces the whole paragraph.

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