• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (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. Wind turbines turn moving air into electricity. The wind spins the blades, which turn a generator inside the tower. Wind power does not burn fuel, so it does not release smoke, but turbines only work when the wind blows. Which is the best summary? (Wind turbines use spinning blades to make clean electricity, but only when it is windy. / Wind turbines are the best invention ever. / There is a generator in the tower. / Turbines have blades.) → Wind turbines use spinning blades to make clean electricity, but only when it is windy.Prompt: A summary is short and covers the WHOLE text, not just one part.
2. Lena was nervous about the school talent show. At practice, she forgot the words to her song twice. On the night, she spotted her grandad in the front row, giving her a thumbs-up. She took a deep breath, sang every word, and the hall burst into applause. Which is the best summary of the story? (Lena overcomes her nerves, with her grandad's support, and sings well at the talent show. / Lena's grandad sat in the front row. / Talent shows are a waste of time. / Lena forgot the words twice.) → Lena overcomes her nerves, with her grandad's support, and sings well at the talent show.Prompt: A summary is short and covers the WHOLE text, not just one part.
3. Honeybees live in colonies of thousands. The queen lays the eggs. Worker bees collect nectar and pollen, look after the young and guard the hive. Drones have one job: to mate with a queen. Every bee has a role that keeps the colony alive. Which is the best summary? (Bees are the most amazing insects in the world. / In a honeybee colony, the queen, workers and drones each have a job that keeps the hive alive. / Drones are male bees. / Worker bees collect nectar and pollen.) → In a honeybee colony, the queen, workers and drones each have a job that keeps the hive alive.Prompt: A summary is short and covers the WHOLE text, not just one part.

• Read the first lines of a short text aloud and ask what students predict will happen and why.
• Share the objective: Compare and contrast: how are they alike and different?. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Story A: Priya trained every morning before school and won the cross-country race. Story B: Tom rehearsed the piano every evening and played perfectly at the concert. How are Priya and Tom ALIKE?
• Step 1: Comparing means finding what is the same; contrasting means finding what is different.
• Step 2: So the answer is: Both worked hard and succeeded.
• Answer: Both worked hard and succeeded.
• 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. Story A: Priya trained every morning before school and won the cross-country race. Story B: Tom rehearsed the piano every evening and played perfectly at the concert. How are Priya and Tom ALIKE? (Both gave up. / Both play the piano. / Both won a race. / Both worked hard and succeeded.) → Both worked hard and succeeded.Prompt: Read both texts and note what each says about the same topic.
2. Which signal word or phrase shows a SIMILARITY? (likewise / on the other hand / however / unlike) → likewisePrompt: Try the word in a sentence: 'Cats purr; ___, dogs bark.'

• 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. Which signal word or phrase shows a DIFFERENCE? (whereas / likewise / similarly / in the same way) → whereasPrompt: Try the word in a sentence: 'Cats purr; ___, dogs bark.'
2. Text A: Bats are mammals that fly at night and use echoes to find insects. Text B: Dolphins are mammals that live in the sea and use echoes to find fish. How are bats and dolphins ALIKE? (Both are mammals that use echoes to find food. / Both live in the sea. / Both fly at night. / Both eat insects.) → Both are mammals that use echoes to find food.Prompt: Read both texts and note what each says about the same topic.

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