Sum It UP!
Reading to Learn
Rationale:
Comprehension is an important goal in reading instruction, and
summarization is a skill that helps students learn to read for
comprehension. In
this lesson students will learn what summarization means and how to
summarize the story being read.
Materials:
1. Delete unimportant information.
2. Delete repeated information.
3. Highlight important details in the story using key words.
4. Select a topic.
5. Invent a topic sentence if there is not one.
Procedure:
1.
I will begin the
lesson by discussing what summarizing is and why it is so important to
reading. "Can anyone tell me what the word summarize means?
The word summarize means to take out the main points in a passage and
put them together to create a summary. A summary is a description
of the main points in the story. We are going to learn more about
summarizing today in class.
2.
After explaining what it
means to summarize, I will go over the five components needed when
summarizing that is written out on the chart paper. The students will
then be given their own checklist with the five components on it for
the students to look at when summarizing a story.
3.
Next, I am going to model to the
class how to use their summary checklists. (Each will be given an
article). "Let's look at the article called "Animal Survivors" and use
our checklist." I will read the article out loud to the class
then ask questions. "What details are important in this article?
Good,
The condors, rhinos and
tamarins almost became extinct animals! " I will allow the students to
go through the article and look for important pieces and I will
highlight what the students point out as important information.
"Now what can we cross through in here that's not really needed or is
said more than once?" I will find one first and then ask the
students if they see any more as I cross them out. "What are some
important key words in here? What about survivor?"
Students, again, will continue as I demonstrate. "Alright, now
what is the topic sentence in this article? Is there one?
What do we do if there isn't one? Right, we create one. Good
job class!"
4.
"Now that we know all about
summarizing, let's take a look at this article called, "Our Giant
Footprints". (Students will have their own copy). I want you all
to read it silently to yourself and as you read through it, I want you
to use your checklists to create a summary for the article."
5.
Students will then individually
go through and read their articles and
summarize them using their checklists.
6.
When students are done going
through and summarizing, I will take volunteers to share their
summarizes with the class.
Assessment:
I will assess the students
based on their completion of the activity and the accuracy of their
summaries that they share.
References:
The Sum Of It All by
Christy Turner:
http://www.auburn.edu/academic/education/reading_genie/voyages/turnerrl.html
Time for Kids: Animal Survivors:
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/teachers/ns/article/0,27972,1926226,00.html
Time
for Kids: Our Giant Footprints:
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/teachers/ns/article/0,27972,1730228,00.html