• 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? (Worms live in soil. / We planted beans. / Overall, our class garden was a big success. / Carrots are orange.) → Overall, our class garden was a big success.Prompt: Concluding sentences often begin with words like In conclusion, All in all, Overall, So or That is why.
2. Volcanoes form where hot, melted rock pushes up through the Earth's crust. Over time, layers of lava and ash pile up. Some volcanoes grow into huge mountains. Which sentence would make the best ending? (In short, volcanoes are mountains built by the Earth's own heat. / Mountains can be snowy. / Have you ever eaten lava cake? / I visited the beach last summer.) → In short, volcanoes are mountains built by the Earth's own heat.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? (My favourite fruit is the mango. / Farmers often keep hives near their fields. / Without them, many crops would fail. / They pollinate fruits and vegetables.) → 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) Robots help people in many ways. (2) My brother's bike is blue. (3) Some robots build cars in factories. (4) Others explore places too dangerous for humans, like deep oceans. (5) Doctors even use robots to help with delicate operations. (My brother's bike is blue. / Others explore places too dangerous for humans, like deep oceans. / Some robots build cars in factories. / Robots help people in many ways.) → My brother's bike is blue.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? The Amazon rainforest is home to amazing wildlife. Jaguars hunt along the riverbanks. Colourful toucans fly between the trees. (Recycling metal cans saves energy. / Then they smash shellfish against the stone to open them. / Tiny poison dart frogs live on the forest floor. / It makes your heart and muscles stronger.) → Tiny poison dart frogs live on the forest floor.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? Exercise is good for your body and your mind. It makes your heart and muscles stronger. It helps you sleep better at night. (It can also make you feel happier and calmer. / They float on their backs and place a flat stone on their chests. / First, pack your pyjamas and toothbrush. / We even found a family of ladybirds on the beans.) → It can also make you feel happier and calmer.Prompt: What is the paragraph about? Look at the first sentence.
2. Read the paragraph. Which sentence does not belong? (1) Sea otters are clever tool users. (2) They float on their backs and place a flat stone on their chests. (3) Then they smash shellfish against the stone to open them. (4) Giraffes have very long necks. (5) Some otters keep a favourite stone in a pouch of skin under their arm. (Giraffes have very long necks. / 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.) → Giraffes have very long necks.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.