Summarize a Nonfiction Text

Building academic language

Word

• Explain to students that today they'll be learning how to write a summary of a nonfiction paragraph, but first they'll need to learn new vocabulary terms. Present the vocabulary terms from the vocabulary cards and glossary. Use the visuals as you define each word and allow students to discuss how the visual relates to the new word.
• Remind students of how to complete a Frayer Model.
• Assign groups of 2–3 students to complete a Frayer Model for an assigned Tier 1, 2, or 3 vocabulary word.
• Allow students to create and share aloud their own sentences with the new vocabulary words. For example: "Chickens lay eggs."

Sentence

• On the document camera or projector, display the Make a Summary: Butterflies worksheet and read the text aloud. Ask volunteers to reread each sentence and have students pick out any unfamiliar words or phrases.
• Have students discuss and share the definition of noted unfamiliar words in think-pair-share partnerships.

Discourse

• Distribute the Make a Summary: Butterflies worksheet, read it to the students, and ask them to circle the new vocabulary words.
• Ask the students to tell you what they think the main idea of the paragraph is while you write their responses on the board.
• Ask students to discuss the most important parts versus the supporting details of the text with partners.
• Demonstrate summarizing the first 2–3 sentences of the text into one shorter sentence.
• Ask for volunteers to help you write a second summarizing sentence.