• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Linking words to add and explain: in addition, for instance, as a result; Topic sentences and paragraphs). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Choose the linking phrase that fits best. The river flooded the fields. ___, the farmers could not plant their crops. (In addition / As a result / For instance / In other words) → As a resultPrompt: Read both sentences. What does the second one do?
2. Some birds migrate. For instance, swallows fly to Africa for the winter. What job does "For instance" do? (adds another point / gives an example / shows a result / explains in other words) → gives an examplePrompt: Read what comes straight after the linking phrase.
3. ___ It gives pupils exercise. It teaches teamwork. It also helps them make friends. Which is the best topic sentence? (Football is played with a ball. / Some pupils prefer reading. / Teamwork is a word. / Playing a team sport has many benefits for pupils.) → Playing a team sport has many benefits for pupils.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: Hook your reader: choose the strongest opening. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Which is the strongest opening for a story about a lost dog?
• Step 1: A strong opening hooks the reader with action, a question, a surprising fact or a vivid detail.
• Step 2: So the answer is: Somewhere in the storm, a small dog was howling my name.
• Answer: Somewhere in the storm, a small dog was howling my name.
• 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. Which is the strongest opening for an article about the deep ocean? (This article is about the ocean. / Most of the deep ocean floor has never been seen by human eyes. / I like the ocean. / The ocean is deep.) → Most of the deep ocean floor has never been seen by human eyes.Prompt: Which one makes you want to keep reading?
2. What kind of hook is this opening? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live on Mars? (a question / a surprising fact / dialogue (speech) / action or vivid description) → a questionPrompt: Look at the punctuation: a question mark? Speech marks?

• 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. Which is the strongest opening for a story about a robot? (This is a story about a robot. / The robot's eyes flickered on, and the first thing it saw was me. / Robots are machines. / There was a robot.) → The robot's eyes flickered on, and the first thing it saw was me.Prompt: Which one makes you want to keep reading?
2. What kind of hook is this opening? "Don't open that door!" shouted Mum, but it was too late. (a question / a surprising fact / dialogue (speech) / action or vivid description) → dialogue (speech)Prompt: Look at the punctuation: a question mark? Speech marks?

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-5.