READING TO LEARN DESIGN

1. Explain to students why summarization is such an important skill. Say: “Have you ever noticed how when you read a text you don’t automatically memorize what you read? That’s because there are just too many words and details. A good reader realizes this and uses a summarization method to remember the really important point that the author is making. Doing this reduces a text from hundreds of words, to just a small list!”

2. Say, “The best way to summarize is to use the “about point” method. When using this method, you have to ask yourself two questions. The first question is the easy one, “What is the text about?” The next question is a little tougher, “What is the main point the author is making about the topic?” To answer this, we must think of a way to summarize all of the important points that the author is trying to make. Once you do this you can use them to create a topic sentence.

3. I am about tow you how to do an about point summary with a story containing information about sharks. What is a shark? Where does it live? How much do great white sharks weigh? What do they eat? Do any of you know anything about sharks? (wait for responses and write what students answer on the board in order to revisit and fact check them later)

4. Now let’s talk about some vocabulary words that we will encounter while reading today: the word is predator. Predators are animals that naturally prey on others. For example, a shark feeds on other fish, which makes him a predator! Can you think of any other animals that may be predators? (Allow time for responses/discussion)

5. We are going to read and summarize the paragraph below for some more facts about great white sharks!

   • When a great white shark is born, along with up to a dozen siblings, it immediately swims away from its mother. Born on the east and west coasts of North America, the south of Africa and southwest Australia, baby sharks are on their own right from the start. Their mother may see them only as prey.

   • Say: “This paragraph is about great white sharks, but what important points is the author making? (write on board) The author is talking about baby sharks, where they are born and what their life as babies is like. Using this information, I can make a topic sentence: As soon as great white sharks are born, they are set to survive on their own.

• Now I want you to use about point on a paragraph:

  • At birth a baby great white shark is already about 5 feet (1.5 meters) long; as it grows it may reach a length up to four times that. The pup (which is what a baby shark is called) will live its life at the top of the ocean's food chain. 

• What is this paragraph about? Correct, sharks! What is the main point the author is trying to make? Because great white sharks grow to be so large, they are at the top of the ocean’s food chain. Putting these together with what we have learned earlier we can summarize the article with topic sentences, let’s try together! (wait for responses and correct what is wrong.

• Now I want you all to practice! Read the article again, silently to yourselves and practice distinguishing important things from unimportant things. Underline what you think is unimportant and highlight what you think is important!

• Now I would like you to finish reading the article and use about-point to make a topic sentence for each paragraph. Once you have finished you will have made a good summary of the article, which will help you remember important facts about great white sharks! You are writing a shorter version of the article in your own words, including only the important ideas to remember.

Assessment: Collect each student’s summary of the article and evaluate the summarization using the following checklist:

• Collected important information

• Ignored trivia and examples in summary

• Significantly reduced the text from the original

• Sentences brought ideas together from each paragraph

• Sentences organized coherently into essay form

Quiz:

1. Why do many baby sharks not survive their first year?

2. How do sharks use the element of surprise to hunt their prey?

3. How does the prey of sharks change as the shark gets older?

4. How can sharks go a month of two without another big meal?

5. What other prey do you think great white sharks hunt for?