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English lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 45 minutes

Hook your reader: choose the strongest opening

Writing & Editing

CCSS W.5.3.ACCSS W.5.2.AEngland: Y5/6 Writing (openings)England: Y5/6 Writing (composition)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Hook your reader: choose the strongest opening.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Linking words to add and explain: in addition, for instance, as a result; Topic sentences and paragraphs

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: A model text, Planning frame, Checklists for editing, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • 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. Cycling keeps you fit. ___, it is a cheap way to travel. (In other words / As a result / In addition / For instance) → In additionPrompt: Read both sentences. What does the second one do?
  2. The trip was postponed; that is, it was moved to a later date. What job does "that is" do? (adds another point / gives an example / shows a result / explains in other words) → explains in other wordsPrompt: 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? (Teamwork is a word. / Some pupils prefer reading. / Football is played with a ball. / 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?

Hook · 5 min

  • 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.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • 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.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • 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 a report on why we should save bees? (I will now write about bees. / This report is about bees. / Without bees, your breakfast might look very different. / Bees are insects.) → Without bees, your breakfast might look very different.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?

You do: independent practice · 10 min

  • 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.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. What kind of hook is this opening? Can a robot ever be a real friend? (a question / a surprising fact / dialogue (speech) / action or vivid description) → a questionPrompt: Look at the punctuation: a question mark? Speech marks?
  2. Which is the strongest opening for a story about a robot? (The robot's eyes flickered on, and the first thing it saw was me. / There was a robot. / Robots are machines. / This is a story about 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?

Watch out for

  • Writing everything at once without planning.
  • Editing only spelling and not whether the writing makes sense.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Linking words to add and explain: in addition, for instance, as a result.
  • Use concrete materials: a model text.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

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

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Hook your reader: choose the strongest opening

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which is the strongest opening for a story about a lost dog?

    • A. I am going to tell you about my dog.
    • B. Once there was a dog and it got lost.
    • C. This is a story about a dog.
    • D. Somewhere in the storm, a small dog was howling my name.

  2. Question 2

    What kind of hook is this opening? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live on Mars?

    • A. a question
    • B. a surprising fact
    • C. dialogue (speech)
    • D. action or vivid description

  3. Question 3

    Which is the strongest opening for a persuasive letter asking for more trees in the playground?

    • A. Trees are plants.
    • B. Imagine a playground where you can sit in cool green shade on the hottest day.
    • C. We want trees.
    • D. This letter is about trees.

  4. Question 4

    What kind of hook is this opening? Some tortoises can live for more than a hundred years.

    • A. a question
    • B. a surprising fact
    • C. dialogue (speech)
    • D. action or vivid description

  5. Question 5

    Which is the strongest opening for a report on why we should save bees?

    • A. I will now write about bees.
    • B. This report is about bees.
    • C. Bees are insects.
    • D. Without bees, your breakfast might look very different.

  6. Question 6

    What kind of hook is this opening? Octopuses have three hearts and blue blood.

    • A. a question
    • B. a surprising fact
    • C. dialogue (speech)
    • D. action or vivid description

  7. Question 7

    Which is the strongest opening for an article about the deep ocean?

    • A. The ocean is deep.
    • B. I like the ocean.
    • C. Most of the deep ocean floor has never been seen by human eyes.
    • D. This article is about the ocean.

  8. Question 8

    What kind of hook is this opening? Thunder rattled the windows as Leo crept down the dark stairs.

    • A. a question
    • B. a surprising fact
    • C. dialogue (speech)
    • D. action or vivid description

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Answer key: Hook your reader: choose the strongest opening

  1. 1. D. Somewhere in the storm, a small dog was howling my name.

  2. 2. A. a question

  3. 3. B. Imagine a playground where you can sit in cool green shade on the hottest day.

  4. 4. B. a surprising fact

  5. 5. D. Without bees, your breakfast might look very different.

  6. 6. B. a surprising fact

  7. 7. C. Most of the deep ocean floor has never been seen by human eyes.

  8. 8. D. action or vivid description