• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Choose the best concluding sentence; Choose the best summary of a short text). 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 team trained on Mondays. / In the end, the team's hard work paid off. / It rained twice. / The coach had a whistle.) → 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. In 2021, a small town opened a 'repair café'. Once a month, volunteers fix broken toasters, toys and bikes for free. In its first year, the café saved over two tonnes of items from being thrown away. Which is the best summary? (Repair cafés are better than shops. / A town's monthly repair café fixes broken items for free and has kept tonnes of things out of the rubbish. / The café opened in Wales. / Volunteers fix toasters.) → A town's monthly repair café fixes broken items for free and has kept tonnes of things out of the rubbish.Prompt: A summary is short and covers the WHOLE text, not just one part.
3. 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? (Oceans are salty. / Paper is thin. / I have a red bin at home. / If everyone recycles, we can all help protect the Earth.) → If everyone recycles, we can all help protect the Earth.Prompt: A concluding sentence wraps up the whole paragraph.

• Show two openings to the same piece of writing and ask which makes them want to read on.
• Share the objective: Choose the strongest conclusion. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Bees pollinate many of the crops we eat. Sadly, in many places their numbers are falling. The good news is that people can help by planting flowers and avoiding pesticides. Which is the strongest conclusion for this article?
• Step 1: Strong conclusions sum up, reflect or call the reader to act; weak ones just stop or add random facts.
• Step 2: So the answer is: Bees feed the world in secret; a few flowers on every balcony could help repay them.
• Answer: Bees feed the world in secret; a few flowers on every balcony could help repay them.
• 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. What kind of ending is this? As the sun set, Mia smiled; she knew she would never fear the dark again. (sums up the main points / calls the reader to act / reflects on a feeling or lesson) → reflects on a feeling or lessonPrompt: Does it tell the reader to do something, sum up facts, or show what a character feels or learned?
2. Plastic litter washes from streets and rivers into the ocean. Turtles and seabirds can swallow it or get tangled in it. Families can help by choosing reusable bottles and bags. Which is the strongest conclusion for this report? (Plastic was invented a long time ago. / I hope you liked my report. / Every bottle we refuse is one less in the sea; small choices, made by millions, can change the ocean. / Turtles are reptiles.) → Every bottle we refuse is one less in the sea; small choices, made by millions, can change the ocean.Prompt: A good ending links back to the main idea or the beginning.

• 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. At the science fair, Ana's robot kept dropping the blocks. She checked every part and finally found one loose wire. She fixed it, pressed start, and the robot sorted every block perfectly. Which is the strongest ending for this story? (Ana grinned at the little robot. One tiny wire had taught her the biggest lesson: never give up. / Robots need electricity. / Then everyone went home. / The science fair was in the hall.) → Ana grinned at the little robot. One tiny wire had taught her the biggest lesson: never give up.Prompt: A good ending links back to the main idea or the beginning.
2. What kind of ending is this? Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth, and save water every day. (sums up the main points / calls the reader to act / reflects on a feeling or lesson) → calls the reader to actPrompt: Does it tell the reader to do something, sum up facts, or show what a character feels or learned?

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