• 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? (Owls have big eyes. / Some owls are brown. / In conclusion, owls are amazing night-time hunters. / Owls can turn their heads.) → 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. 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. / Oceans are salty. / If everyone recycles, we can all help protect the Earth. / I have a red bin at home.) → If everyone recycles, we can all help protect the Earth.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) Penguins are birds that cannot fly. (2) Instead, their wings work like flippers for swimming. (3) Some penguins can dive more than 500 metres deep. (4) On land, they waddle or slide on their bellies. (5) Eagles build huge nests on cliffs. (Eagles build huge nests on cliffs. / On land, they waddle or slide on their bellies. / Instead, their wings work like flippers for swimming. / Some penguins can dive more than 500 metres deep.) → Eagles build huge nests on cliffs.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? Sea otters are clever tool users. They float on their backs and place a flat stone on their chests. Then they smash shellfish against the stone to open them. (Finally, remember your sleeping bag and pillow. / Jaguars hunt along the riverbanks. / Some otters keep a favourite stone in a pouch of skin under their arm. / The tomatoes are bright red and ready to pick.) → Some otters keep a favourite stone in a pouch of skin under their arm.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? Sea otters are clever tool users. They float on their backs and place a flat stone on their chests. Then they smash shellfish against the stone to open them. (Some otters keep a favourite stone in a pouch of skin under their arm. / Next, choose a game or a film to share. / Some robots build cars in factories. / It helps you sleep better at night.) → Some otters keep a favourite stone in a pouch of skin under their arm.Prompt: What is the paragraph about? Look at the first sentence.
2. Read the paragraph. Which sentence does not belong? (1) Penguins are birds that cannot fly. (2) Instead, their wings work like flippers for swimming. (3) Some penguins can dive more than 500 metres deep. (4) Eagles build huge nests on cliffs. (5) On land, they waddle or slide on their bellies. (Eagles build huge nests on cliffs. / Penguins are birds that cannot fly. / Instead, their wings work like flippers for swimming. / Some penguins can dive more than 500 metres deep.) → Eagles build huge nests on cliffs.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.