• 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. / We planted beans. / Overall, our class garden was a big success. / Carrots are orange.) → 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. Recycling helps our planet. It means fewer trees are cut down to make paper. It also keeps plastic out of rivers and oceans. Which sentence would make the best ending? (I have a red bin at home. / If everyone recycles, we can all help protect the Earth. / Oceans are salty. / Paper is thin.) → If everyone recycles, we can all help protect the Earth.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? (Owls are birds. / Some birds eat seeds. / I saw an owl once. / 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) The Amazon rainforest is home to amazing wildlife. (2) Jaguars hunt along the riverbanks. (3) Penguins live mostly in the Southern Hemisphere. (4) Colourful toucans fly between the trees. (5) Tiny poison dart frogs live on the forest floor. (Colourful toucans fly between the trees. / Jaguars hunt along the riverbanks. / Penguins live mostly in the Southern Hemisphere. / Tiny poison dart frogs live on the forest floor.) → Penguins live mostly in the Southern Hemisphere.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? Recycling helps protect the planet. When we recycle paper, fewer trees need to be cut down. Recycling metal cans saves energy. (On land, they waddle or slide on their bellies. / Recycling plastic keeps it out of rivers and seas. / It makes your heart and muscles stronger. / Some otters keep a favourite stone in a pouch of skin under their arm.) → Recycling plastic keeps it out of rivers and seas.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 8 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) Robots help people in many ways. (2) My brother's bike is blue. (3) Some robots build cars in factories. (4) Others explore places too dangerous for humans, like deep oceans. (5) Doctors even use robots to help with delicate operations. (Others explore places too dangerous for humans, like deep oceans. / Robots help people in many ways. / My brother's bike is blue. / Doctors even use robots to help with delicate operations.) → My brother's bike is blue.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? The Amazon rainforest is home to amazing wildlife. Jaguars hunt along the riverbanks. Colourful toucans fly between the trees. (Tiny poison dart frogs live on the forest floor. / Some robots build cars in factories. / Recycling metal cans saves energy. / It can also make you feel happier and calmer.) → Tiny poison dart frogs live on the forest floor.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.