• 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? (Some people cycle to work. / All in all, cycling is a fun way to stay healthy. / Bikes have two wheels. / My bike is green.) → All in all, cycling is a fun way to stay healthy.Prompt: Concluding sentences often begin with words like In conclusion, All in all, Overall, So or That is why.
2. 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 are the best invention ever. / There is a generator in the tower. / Wind turbines use spinning blades to make clean electricity, but only when it is windy. / 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.
3. Our school should have a reading den. It would give us a quiet place to read at lunchtime. It would also help younger children love books. Which sentence would make the best ending? (I like football too. / Some books have pictures. / That is why a reading den would make our school even better. / Lunch is at twelve o'clock.) → That is why a reading den would make our school even better.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. Sam had always been scared of the sea. All summer he took swimming lessons, one nervous length at a time. On the last day of the holiday, he swam out to the rocks beside his sister. Which is the strongest ending for this story? (The sea is made of salt water. / As the waves lifted him, Sam laughed. The sea did not feel like an enemy any more. / And that was the story of Sam. / Then Sam went home and had dinner.) → As the waves lifted him, Sam laughed. The sea did not feel like an enemy any more.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. Sam had always been scared of the sea. All summer he took swimming lessons, one nervous length at a time. On the last day of the holiday, he swam out to the rocks beside his sister. Which is the strongest ending for this story? (Then Sam went home and had dinner. / The sea is made of salt water. / And that was the story of Sam. / As the waves lifted him, Sam laughed. The sea did not feel like an enemy any more.) → As the waves lifted him, Sam laughed. The sea did not feel like an enemy any more.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.