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.

name____________________
Book Title ____________________________

Somebody

But

Wanted

So

Then