• 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? (Pack some snacks. / Pack a hat. / Pack a water bottle. / So, remember to pack these things for a great day out.) → So, remember to pack these things for a great day out.Prompt: Concluding sentences often begin with words like In conclusion, All in all, Overall, So or That is why.
2. 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? (Paper is thin. / I have a red bin at home. / If everyone recycles, we can all help protect the Earth. / Oceans are salty.) → If everyone recycles, we can all help protect the Earth.Prompt: A concluding sentence wraps up the whole paragraph.
3. ___ They can see in near darkness. Their soft feathers let them fly silently. Their sharp talons grip prey tightly. Which is the best topic sentence? (I saw an owl once. / Owls are well equipped for hunting at night. / Owls are birds. / Some birds eat seeds.) → Owls are well equipped for hunting at night.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) Our class garden has grown so much this term. (2) The tomatoes are bright red and ready to pick. (3) My cousin is learning to play the trumpet. (4) The sunflowers are taller than our teacher. (5) We even found a family of ladybirds on the beans. (The sunflowers are taller than our teacher. / My cousin is learning to play the trumpet. / The tomatoes are bright red and ready to pick. / We even found a family of ladybirds on the beans.) → My cousin is learning to play the trumpet.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? Penguins are birds that cannot fly. Instead, their wings work like flippers for swimming. Some penguins can dive more than 500 metres deep. (On land, they waddle or slide on their bellies. / The tomatoes are bright red and ready to pick. / Others explore places too dangerous for humans, like deep oceans. / Recycling metal cans saves energy.) → On land, they waddle or slide on their bellies.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 start of the paragraph. Which sentence would fit best as the next sentence? The Amazon rainforest is home to amazing wildlife. Jaguars hunt along the riverbanks. Colourful toucans fly between the trees. (Then they smash shellfish against the stone to open them. / Recycling plastic keeps it out of rivers and seas. / Tiny poison dart frogs live on the forest floor. / The tomatoes are bright red and ready to pick.) → Tiny poison dart frogs live on the forest floor.Prompt: What is the paragraph about? Look at the first sentence.
2. Read the paragraph. Which sentence does not belong? (1) Exercise is good for your body and your mind. (2) It makes your heart and muscles stronger. (3) It helps you sleep better at night. (4) It can also make you feel happier and calmer. (5) The Moon goes round the Earth. (It makes your heart and muscles stronger. / The Moon goes round the Earth. / It can also make you feel happier and calmer. / It helps you sleep better at night.) → The Moon goes round the Earth.Prompt: Read the first sentence: it tells you what the paragraph is about.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-4.