Summarization Anchor Chart

Tom was sitting in the front porch, he had just moved to a new house. He had not met any kids in his street. He missed his old friends from his previous neighborhood. Suddenly, three boys his age came out of the house across the street from his house. They walked up to him and introduced themselves. They invited Tom to play basketball with them. Tom ran inside his house to let his mom know that he would be across the street playing basketball with the boys. He quickly ran outside to play with the boys. Tom enjoyed a great game and made new friends.

What is the best summary of this selection?

• Tom moved into a new house and missed his old friends. Three boys his age from across the street from his house invited him to play basketball. Tom enjoyed a great game and made new friends.

• Some boys invited Tom to play basketball. Tom was sitting in the front porch. Tom ran inside his house to let his mom know he would be across the street playing basketball.

• Tom missed his old friends. Tom played basketball with three boys. He had just moved into a new house.

Susan lived a block away from the fire station. Whenever there was a fire in town, the horns and sirens of the fire truck would scare her little brother Willy. One day, Susan’s parents took both Susan and her brother Willy on a field trip to the fire station. Susan and her brother Willy got to see the fire trucks up close. Willy got to seat in the driver’s seat and wore a fireman’s hat. Both Susan and Willy learned a lot about the fire station and the fire truck. After that, Willy was not scared anymore whenever he heard the sirens of the fire truck.

What is the best summary of this selection?

• Susan’s parents took her and her brother Willy to the fire station. Willy was always scared of the fire truck’s sirens and horns. Willy sat in the driver’s seat of the fire truck.

• Living a block away from the fire station, the sirens and horns of the fire trucks would always scare Susan’s brother Willy. One day, Susan’s parents took both kids on a field trip to the fire station. Both kids learned a lot and after that, Willy was not scared anymore when he heard the sirens of the fire truck.

• Susan and her brother Willy learned a lot about the fire station. Willy wore a fireman’s hat. The sirens and horns always scared Willy.

What is a summary?

• Supporting details

• What the text is about

• A 5 paragraph essay

• A brief retelling of the text

Which of the following should you not include in a summary?

• The central idea

• At least three supporting details

• Opinions

• Facts from the text

Is the following a good or bad summary?

"Red pandas are found in the Himalayan Mountains but recently have entered the endangered animal list. Conservation has begun to help their population increase again in the wild."

• Good summary

• Bad summary

True or False: When writing a summary or central idea you should always write them word for word from the text.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Summaries and Central Ideas should always be written in your own words!

What is a central/main idea?

• The topic of the text

• The moral of the story

• What the text is about

• Who the story is about

True or False: Summaries should only be a sentence long

• True

• False

Last Saturday, my family and I visited the local aquarium. I was very excited to go there for the first time. First, we saw the sting rays. I was able to touch them, they felt very slimy. Next, we saw the sea turtles. They swam gracefully in their tank. After I watched the turtles swim, I looked back and I did not see my family! I tried to stay calm, but I couldn’t help feeling scared. Then, I remembered my mom saying she wanted to go see the dolphins. I decided to go there to look for my parents. Luckily, as I arrived at the dolphin pool, I was able to spot my parents. My mom was already worriedly asking an employee to help find me! She gave me a huge hug when she saw me. After that, she held onto my hand as we enjoyed the rest of the aquarium.

What is the best summary of this selection?

• Last Saturday, my family and I visited the aquarium. Suddenly, I lost my family, then I remembered my mom wanting to go see the dolphins. I walked to where they had dolphins and found my parents worriedly asking an employee to help find me.

• First, I saw the sting rays, they felt slimy. My family and I visited the aquarium last Saturday. I got lost and found my family viewing the dolphins.

• My family and I went to the aquarium. We saw many animals. I touched a sting ray.

playground. They also take their bikes and ride along the sidewalk. Their parents always take along some food for a picnic. However, last Sunday, Marco’s family couldn’t go to the park. Marco’s little brother Joe was feeling sick and his parents had to take him to the doctor. Marco felt bad that their family could not take them to the park. His parents decided that they could make a picnic for him and his brothers in their backyard. Marco hoped that his little brother would feel better soon, so that next Sunday, they could enjoy an afternoon at the park.

What is the best summary of this selection?

• Marco’s brother felt sick and his parents took him to the doctor. His parents made a picnic for him and his brothers in the backyard. Marco and his family go out to the park every Sunday afternoon.

• Marco and his family go out to the park every Sunday afternoon. Last Sunday, Marco’s little brother felt sick and they could not go to the park. His parents decided to make a picnic for the boys in their backyard.

• Marco and his brothers love to play in the playground. They ride their bikes along the sidewalk. Marco’s family goes to the park every Sunday afternoon.