• 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? (In conclusion, owls are amazing night-time hunters. / Some owls are brown. / Owls can turn their heads. / Owls have big eyes.) → In conclusion, owls are amazing night-time hunters.Prompt: Concluding sentences often begin with words like In conclusion, All in all, Overall, So or That is why.
2. Making a bird feeder is easy. First, spread seed butter on a pine cone. Next, roll it in birdseed. Then tie a string to the top. Which sentence would make the best ending? (Finally, hang it on a branch and watch the birds arrive! / I don't like butter. / Birds have feathers. / Pine cones come from trees.) → Finally, hang it on a branch and watch the birds arrive!Prompt: A concluding sentence wraps up the whole paragraph.
3. Bees are vital to our food supply. They pollinate fruits and vegetables. Without them, many crops would fail. My favourite fruit is the mango. Farmers often keep hives near their fields. Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph? (They pollinate fruits and vegetables. / Without them, many crops would fail. / My favourite fruit is the mango. / Farmers often keep hives near their fields.) → My favourite fruit is the mango.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) Recycling helps protect the planet. (2) Pizza is my favourite food. (3) When we recycle paper, fewer trees need to be cut down. (4) Recycling metal cans saves energy. (5) Recycling plastic keeps it out of rivers and seas. (Pizza is my favourite food. / Recycling helps protect the planet. / Recycling metal cans saves energy. / Recycling plastic keeps it out of rivers and seas.) → Pizza is my favourite food.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? Getting ready for a sleepover is fun. First, pack your pyjamas and toothbrush. Next, choose a game or a film to share. (The tomatoes are bright red and ready to pick. / Instead, their wings work like flippers for swimming. / Finally, remember your sleeping bag and pillow. / Others explore places too dangerous for humans, like deep oceans.) → Finally, remember your sleeping bag and pillow.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) 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. (Next, choose a game or a film to share. / Getting ready for a sleepover is fun. / First, pack your pyjamas and toothbrush. / Volcanoes can erupt without warning.) → 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? Robots help people in many ways. Some robots build cars in factories. Others explore places too dangerous for humans, like deep oceans. (Recycling metal cans saves energy. / The sunflowers are taller than our teacher. / It helps you sleep better at night. / Doctors even use robots to help with delicate operations.) → Doctors even use robots to help with delicate operations.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.