Four summarizing graphic organizers, two PowerPoint presentations, a video link, five summarizing passages, and rubrics – everything you need to teach your students how to summarize literature.
A variety of options are available: summarizing with a story arc, using “somebody wanted but then so,” or identifying story elements. Pick and choose for your whole class, or differentiate to meet the needs of each student.
BONUS: A new companion website stores all files (and more) in one convenient place. Just click and go. Individual pages are ready to share digitally. You can grab the URL to share with your students or on a closed class website. Click here
for a preview.
Created by master teacher Brenda Kovich
, these activities are classroom-tested and kid-approved.
• Notes for the teacher and lesson plans
• Two Power Point presentations featuring “The Dog and Its Shadow” and “The Fox and the Grapes” (one uses “somebody-wanted-but-then-so” and the other employs story elements)
• Story arc template and link to a three-minute video explaining how to use it
• Five one-page fables (beginning with simple and scaffolding to most complex): “The Fox and the Grapes,” “The Goose and the Golden Egg,” “The Peacock,” “The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse,” and “The Donkey and the Load of Salt”*
• Three levels of organizers, multiple-choice worksheet (with answer key), and themed response sheet for each story
• Three generic organizers that you can use for any story
• Student self-check sheets
The companion website houses even more resources.
• Response sheets with guidance for somebody-wanted-but-then-so
• Response sheets with guidance of summary elements
Click on the PREVIEW button to get a better look! This bundle includes Summarizing PowerPoint
and Summarizing Practice Pack
, lesson plans, notes and text for the PowerPoint - - - everything you need to teach your class how to write a summary!
Direct Instruction (PowerPoint Presentation)
• Presentation 1: using somebody-wanted-but-then-so to summarize
• Presentation 2: using story elements to summarize - main character(s), setting, goal/motivation, obstacle, steps to overcome obstacle, and outcome
Modeling (PowerPoint Presentation)
• Full text of “The Dog and Its Shadow”*
• Modeling of necessary elements from “The Dog and Its Shadow”
• Modeling of drafting of summary for “The Dog and Its Shadow”
• Modeling of improving summary (combining sentences, adding transitional phrases, and adding essential details)
• Final summary for “The Dog and Its Shadow”
Guided Practice (PowerPoint Presentation)
• Full text of “The Fox and the Grapes”
• Students locate necessary elements and write on graphic organizer
• Students check elements with organizer in PowerPoint
• Students write summaries
Independent Practice with Scaffolding
• Four complete fables to summarize
• Fables ordered from least to most complex, which scaffolds instruction for all students in your class
• Multiple-choice worksheets allow students to check a box next to each of the important elements. These can be used at the beginning of the unit with all students and continued for lower readers. Additionally, these offer great opportunities for test prep.
• Organizers guide students to select key elements.
• Themed stationery is provided for summarizing each fable.
- Choose one of three rubrics that best suit your needs:
• Character, Goal, Obstacle, Steps, Outcome
• Character, Setting, Goal, Obstacle, Steps, Outcome
Fourth Grade Literature Skills File Drawer
This file is also included in my Fourth Grade Literature Skills File Drawer
. Eight complete standards-based units, three comprehensive assessments, and a set of media activities are stored in one handy website. Click here
for a preview.
You can purchase the entire file drawer
for a discounted price − or pick and choose from the list below:
• Answering Questions Unit
• Finding a Theme Unit
• Summarizing Unit
• Describing a Character Unit
• Words from Mythology Unit
• Prose, Drama, and Poetry Unit
• Determining and Defending Point of View Unit
• Comparing and Contrasting Folklore Unit
• Literature Assessments - Grade 4
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*Stories were adapted from The Aesop for Children, which was published in 1919 and is now in the public domain.
I'm committed to continual improvement. This resource was updated and enhanced on July 12, 2017.