• 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? (The coach had a whistle. / In the end, the team's hard work paid off. / It rained twice. / 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. Hedgehogs are helpful visitors to gardens. They eat slugs and beetles that damage plants. They also need gaps in fences to travel between gardens at night. Which sentence would make the best ending? (Slugs are slimy. / My cousin has a cat called Pepper. / So, a hedgehog-friendly garden is good for plants and hedgehogs alike. / What is your favourite animal?) → So, a hedgehog-friendly garden is good for plants and hedgehogs alike.Prompt: A concluding sentence wraps up the whole paragraph.
3. ___ First, gather your ingredients. Next, mix them in a large bowl. Finally, bake for twenty minutes. Which is the best topic sentence? (Bowls can be large or small. / Muffins are delicious. / Making muffins is simple if you follow three steps. / My aunt has an oven.) → Making muffins is simple if you follow three steps.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) Exercise is good for your body and your mind. (2) It makes your heart and muscles stronger. (3) It helps you sleep better at night. (4) The Moon goes round the Earth. (5) It can also make you feel happier and calmer. (It helps you sleep better at night. / It can also make you feel happier and calmer. / The Moon goes round the Earth. / It makes your heart and muscles stronger.) → 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. (Others explore places too dangerous for humans, like deep oceans. / Some otters keep a favourite stone in a pouch of skin under their arm. / Finally, remember your sleeping bag and pillow. / 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.

• 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 start of the paragraph. Which sentence would fit best as the next sentence? Exercise is good for your body and your mind. It makes your heart and muscles stronger. It helps you sleep better at night. (Next, choose a game or a film to share. / Then they smash shellfish against the stone to open them. / It can also make you feel happier and calmer. / When we recycle paper, fewer trees need to be cut down.) → It can also make you feel happier and calmer.Prompt: What is the paragraph about? Look at the first sentence.
2. 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. (Getting ready for a sleepover is fun. / Volcanoes can erupt without warning. / Finally, remember your sleeping bag and pillow. / First, pack your pyjamas and toothbrush.) → Volcanoes can erupt without warning.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.