The key aim in this activity is to reduce or summarise information to a set number of words. The challenge is to prioritise the information available, selecting what is important and what is not.

Explain to your pupils that the core aim is to add the most important information to the grid, writing one word in each box from left to right. Unnecessary information should not be included as this will take up much needed boxes in the grid. Punctuation should still be used but it does not need a box of its own.
The teacher might first model the activity using a familiar story or previously read text.
Share a focus for the word summary grid with your pupils, this could be re-telling the main events of a story, recounting a visit, explaining how something works and so on.
Ask your pupils to complete the word summary grid after reading. Highlighting while reading and after reading can be a useful support before beginning the grid.
Ask pupils to a share their grids and to discuss things that may have been omitted. Consider as a class what things most people included or omitted.
You might combine this activity with the 'Remove the Rubble' activity that also focuses on developing summarising skills.

Word Summary Grid

Task Description