• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Choosing the best topic sentence; Citing textual evidence). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. ___ Players need speed to reach the ball, stamina to last ninety minutes and the teamwork to pass accurately. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph? (Some stadiums are huge. / I scored a goal last week. / Football was invented a long time ago. / Football demands a surprising mix of skills.) → Football demands a surprising mix of skills.Prompt: Read the supporting sentences first. What do they ALL have in common?
2. Topic sentence: "Sleep is essential for learning." Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph? (Tired students find it harder to concentrate. / Some beds are more expensive than others. / Teenagers need around eight to ten hours a night. / During sleep, the brain stores what we learned that day.) → Some beds are more expensive than others.Prompt: Reread the topic sentence. What is the paragraph promising to discuss?
3. ___ Volunteers collected 300 kilograms of rubbish, planted wildflowers and built two benches from recycled plastic. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph? (Rubbish is bad. / Wildflowers are colourful. / Benches can be made of wood. / Last weekend's clean-up transformed the riverside park.) → Last weekend's clean-up transformed the riverside park.Prompt: Read the supporting sentences first. What do they ALL have in common?

• Show two openings to the same piece of writing and ask which makes them want to read on.
• Share the objective: Choosing the detail that best supports a point. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Point: "Our school canteen should offer more plant-based meals." Which detail best supports this point?
• Step 1: The best support is relevant (about the point) and specific (facts, figures, examples).
• Step 2: Survey evidence directly shows demand for the change.
• Step 3: So the answer is: In a canteen survey, 64% of students said they would choose a vegetarian option at least once a week.
• Answer: In a canteen survey, 64% of students said they would choose a vegetarian option at least once a week.
• 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. Point: "Wildflower verges help bees." Which detail best supports this point? (Counts along one road found three times as many bees after the verges were left to flower. / Some wildflowers are purple. / Mowing verges is noisy. / Bees can sting.) → Counts along one road found three times as many bees after the verges were left to flower.Prompt: Which detail is directly about the point, not just the same topic?
2. Read the question and choose. Point: "Teenagers need more sleep than adults." Which detail is MOST relevant? • Many adults drink coffee. • Sleep is important for everyone. • Some teenagers have bunk beds. • Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults. (Many adults drink coffee. / Sleep is important for everyone. / Some teenagers have bunk beds. / Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults.) → Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults.Prompt: Does the detail prove or illustrate the point, or is it just on the same topic?

• 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 question and choose. Point: "Teenagers need more sleep than adults." Which detail is MOST relevant? • Many adults drink coffee. • Some teenagers have bunk beds. • Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults. • Sleep is important for everyone. (Many adults drink coffee. / Some teenagers have bunk beds. / Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults. / Sleep is important for everyone.) → Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults.Prompt: Does the detail prove or illustrate the point, or is it just on the same topic?
2. Point: "Dogs can be trained to help people with medical conditions." Which detail best supports this point? (Dogs were domesticated thousands of years ago. / Some trained dogs can alert their owners to a dangerous drop in blood sugar before symptoms start. / My neighbour's dog barks at the postman. / Dogs come in hundreds of breeds.) → Some trained dogs can alert their owners to a dangerous drop in blood sugar before symptoms start.Prompt: Which detail is directly about the point, not just the same topic?

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-7.