Lesson Plan: Summarising
Subject: Reading
Topic: Summarising
Duration: 30 minutes
Grade Level: Appropriate for various levels
Objective
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Understand the concept of summarising.
- Identify key points in a text.
- Create a concise summary of a short passage.
Materials Needed
- Copies of a short passage (1-2 paragraphs long)
- Whiteboard and markers
- Sticky notes
- Highlighters
- Summary handout (template)
Introduction (5 minutes)
Begin with a Question
- Ask students: "What do you think summarising means?"
- Allow a few students to share their ideas.
Introduce the Concept
- Explain that summarising is the process of condensing information to capture the main ideas while leaving out unnecessary details.
Direct Instruction (10 minutes)
Explain Key Features of Summarising
- Identify main ideas and supporting details.
- Use own words to paraphrase information.
- Keep the summary brief (typically one-third the length of the original text).
Give Examples
- Write an example text on the whiteboard and demonstrate how to identify the main points and create a summary together with the class.
Guided Practice (10 minutes)
Distribute Texts
- Hand out copies of the short passage to each student.
Highlight Key Points
- Ask students to read the passage silently and highlight or underline key phrases and ideas.
Create Summaries
- Using their highlighted text, have students write a brief summary (3-5 sentences) of the passage.
Share with a Partner
- Once they finish, have students exchange their summaries with a partner for feedback.
Closing Activity (5 minutes)
Class Share
- Invite a few students to share their summaries with the class.
- Discuss what they found challenging and what strategies helped them summarise effectively.
Reflect and Review
- Recap key points discussed and reinforce the skills learned today in summarising texts.
Assessment
- Collect summaries for assessment based on clarity, conciseness, and accuracy of main ideas.
- Provide feedback on individual understanding and offer guidance for improvement where necessary.
Homework
- Assign students to read a short article or chapter from a book and write a summary, applying the techniques learned in class.
Feel free to adjust any elements of the lesson plan to better suit your class's needs!