Language Arts: Summarizing Nonfiction Text

Read the passage. Honeybees help many plants grow by carrying pollen from flower to flower. As bees collect nectar, pollen sticks to their bodies. When they land on another flower, some pollen rubs off. This process helps plants make seeds and fruit. Write a 1 to 2 sentence summary of the passage.

Include what honeybees do and why it matters.

Choose the best summary of the passage. Passage: The Grand Canyon is a huge canyon in Arizona. The Colorado River helped carve it over millions of years. Today, people visit the Grand Canyon to hike, take photographs, and learn about its rock layers. A. The Grand Canyon has rocks, and people like taking pictures there. B. The Grand Canyon is a large Arizona canyon shaped by the Colorado River over time, and visitors go there to explore and learn. C. The Colorado River is the only interesting part of Arizona.

Read the passage. Sea turtles spend most of their lives in the ocean. Female sea turtles come onto sandy beaches to lay eggs. After the eggs hatch, the baby turtles crawl toward the water. Many sea turtles are threatened by pollution, fishing nets, and loss of nesting beaches. Write the main idea of the passage.

Think about what all the sentences are mostly about.

Read the details: Farmers grow apples in orchards. Apples are picked when they are ripe. The fruit is washed, sorted, packed, and shipped to stores. Write a summary that combines these details.

Use one sentence that tells the whole process.

Read the passage. Volcanoes form when melted rock, called magma, moves up from inside Earth. When magma reaches the surface, it is called lava. Some eruptions are gentle, while others can be explosive. Scientists study volcanoes to learn when eruptions might happen. Write a 2 sentence summary of the passage.

Which detail should be left out of a summary about how libraries help communities? A. Libraries lend books and provide computers. B. Many libraries offer free reading programs. C. The library near my house has a blue door.

A summary should include details that support the main idea, not small or personal details.

Read the passage. A weather balloon carries instruments high into the sky. These instruments measure temperature, air pressure, humidity, and wind speed. The information helps meteorologists make better weather forecasts. Write a summary in one sentence.

Read the passage. Recycling paper saves trees and reduces waste. Used paper can be cleaned, mixed with water, and turned into pulp. The pulp is pressed and dried to make new paper products. Write the main idea and two key details.

The main idea tells the big point, and key details explain how it works.

Read the three summaries of the same passage about the moon. Choose the strongest summary. A. The moon is interesting, and I like looking at it at night. B. The moon orbits Earth, reflects light from the sun, and affects ocean tides. C. The moon has craters, and one crater is very big.

Read the passage. Before bridges were built, people often crossed rivers by boat or at shallow places. Bridges made travel faster and safer. Modern bridges are built from strong materials such as steel and concrete. Engineers design bridges to hold heavy loads and stand up to wind and weather. Write a 2 sentence summary.

Include both the purpose of bridges and how modern bridges are built.

Read the passage. Penguins are birds, but most penguins cannot fly. Their wings work like flippers, helping them swim through the ocean. Penguins eat fish, squid, and krill. Many penguins live in cold places, but some live in warmer areas. Cross out the least important sentence for a summary and explain why.

Read the passage. Germs can spread when people cough, sneeze, or touch shared surfaces. Washing hands with soap and water removes many germs. Doctors recommend scrubbing all parts of the hands for about 20 seconds. Handwashing is one simple way to help prevent illness. Write a summary without using any personal opinions.

Do not write whether you like or dislike washing your hands.

Read the passage. The first step in making a clay pot is shaping wet clay. Next, the pot must dry until it is firm. Then it is heated in a very hot oven called a kiln. Finally, the pot may be painted or glazed. Write a summary that shows the correct sequence.

Use sequence words such as first, next, then, and finally if they help.

Read the passage. National parks protect special places such as forests, mountains, deserts, and lakes. They give plants and animals safe habitats. People can visit national parks to hike, camp, and learn about nature. Park rules help keep the land clean and healthy. Write the main idea in one sentence.

Read the passage. Electric cars use batteries instead of gasoline engines. They do not release exhaust from a tailpipe while being driven. Drivers charge electric cars by plugging them into charging stations or home chargers. Some people choose electric cars to reduce air pollution. Write a clear 2 sentence summary.

Include how electric cars work and one reason people use them.