1st Grade Summarizing

Content Objective: I can identify the main ideas and details

of a text.
Language Objective: I can talk about the characters,
setting, and events in a text.
Materials: Somebody, Wanted, But, So, Then (SWBST)
graphic organizer and interactive anchor chart, Ira Sleeps
Over by Bernard Weber, The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Procedure:
1. Using the Gradual Release of Responsibility (GRR) model, show
students how you would summarize a text by practicing with a
familiar story. Read aloud The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric
Carle to the whole class. This is a familiar story that students will
be able to follow along with as I fill out the SWBST chart.
2. Model how to fill out the SWBST chart as you are reading the
story to the whole class on the reading carpet.
a. Identify the characters for the Somebody category.
b. Identify what the character Wanted category.
c. Identify what the problem was for the But category.
d. Identify what the steps to resolve the problem were for the
So category.
e. Identify the solution for the Then category.
3. Read aloud the story Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard
Weber to the whole class n the reading carpet.
As you read, stop periodically to fill in the
SWBST interactive anchor chart as you
encounter each category.
a. Follow the above step A-E for this read
aloud as an all inclusive and interactive
process.
b. Encourage students to raise their hands
to answer various parts of the anchor
chart.
c. Complete the SWBST anchor chart as a
whole group.
4. Read through the SWBST anchor chart with
the class to make sure the details make sense
in the places they are written. Make any
changes that the students find necessary and
logical to keep the story structure.
5. Write the final summarizing sentence together
as a class.

6. Complete the GRR model by having the students fill out their
own SWBST graphic organizer on their own at their desks.
a. Have the anchor chart displayed in the classroom for
students who need extra support when completing the
graphic organizer on their own.
b. Encourage advanced students to complete the graphic
organizer on their own with a new text that they are
reading in small reading groups.

nam
e____________________
BookTitle____________________________

Som
ebody

But

So

Wanted

Then