🦅

Reading – Summarizing

Reading · Level 5 · CCSS: RI.5.2, RL.5.2 · Worksheet 2 of 5 · Practice Set 10

Level 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Practice SetsSet 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Set 6 Set 7 Set 8 Set 9 Set 10

1 Read the Story

📖 Read this story carefully. You will write a summary of it!

The Aquarium Field Trip

Mrs. Bennett's fifth-grade class took a field trip to the city aquarium to study ocean habitats. A student named Diego was especially excited because he had been researching sea turtles for weeks.

During the trip, one of the aquarium guides noticed Diego asking detailed questions about turtle migration patterns. The guide invited Diego to help feed the sea turtles during a special behind-the-scenes demonstration for the class. Diego carefully followed the guide's instructions, feeding lettuce to a large turtle named Pearl.

The whole class cheered when Pearl swam over and gently took the food from Diego's hand. Diego went home that day and told his family he wanted to become a marine biologist when he grew up.

2 Somebody-Wanted-But-So-Then

🎯 Use the SWBST strategy to organize your summary.

Somebody → Wanted → But → So → Then

Part	Fill In
Somebody (Who?)
Wanted (What did they want?)
But (What was the problem?)
So (What did they do?)
Then (How did it end?)

3 Write a Summary

✍️ Now write your summary in 2–3 sentences. Include only the MOST important parts — leave out small details!

Tip: A good summary does NOT include: the exact size of the aquarium tank, what Diego's family said at dinner, or how many students were on the trip.

4 Summary vs. Detail

📋 Decide: does each statement belong in a summary, or is it just a detail?

Statement	Summary or Detail?
Mrs. Bennett's class visited the aquarium to study ocean habitats.
Diego had researched sea turtles for weeks.
A guide invited Diego to help feed the turtles.
Diego fed lettuce to a turtle named Pearl.
The experience inspired Diego to want to become a marine biologist.
The whole class cheered when Pearl took the food.

5 SBA Performance Task: Extended Response

This section is like a performance task on the state test. Read carefully, find evidence, and write a complete response.

Question: Write a summary of this passage that includes the main idea and the most important supporting details. Leave out minor details.

My claim or answer:

Evidence 1: (Quote or detail from the text)

Evidence 2: (Another quote or detail)

My explanation: (Connect the evidence to your claim in 2-3 sentences)

+ Bonus Reading Practice

Use this short practice to extend Set 10.

Topic words: science lab, model, test, result

1. Write one sentence using two of the words above.

2. What detail would you expect to find in a passage about this topic?

3. Write one inference a reader could make from a text about this topic.