SUMMARIZING

sleuthS
small group and whole group
materials to practice summarizing
fictional text

CREATED BY: DEANA KAHLENBERG

SUMMARIZING SLEUTHS
The following materials were
created for classroom use to
practice summarizing fictional
text with a detective theme. I
have included photos for each
activity. Materials can be used
in both small group or whole
group settings with any age

Created By: Deana Kahlenberg

appropriate leveled text.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
-  Summarizing Posters
-  Summarizing Bookmarks
-  Summarizing Table Tents
-  Magnifying Glass Comprehension
Questions
-  Fictional Story
Map Created By: Deana Kahlenberg
SUMMARIZING POSTERS

Created By: Deana Kahlenberg

CHARACTERS
people, animals or
creatures in the story

Created By: Deana Kahlenberg

CREATED: DEANA KAHLENBERG
 SETTING
when or where the
story takes place

Created By: Deana Kahlenberg

CREATED: DEANA KAHLENBERG
 PROBLEM
what went wrong in
the story

Created By: Deana Kahlenberg

CREATED: DEANA KAHLENBERG
 PLOT
what happened in the
story

Created By: Deana Kahlenberg

CREATED: DEANA KAHLENBERG
 SOLUTION
how the problem was
solved

Created By: Deana Kahlenberg

CREATED: DEANA KAHLENBERG
SUMMARIZING TABLE TENTS
Setting: Small or Whole Group
Directions:
1.  Teach the five aspects of summarizing
(characters, setting, problem, plot and solution)
2.  Assign each student (or group of students) an
aspect of summarizing to look for while
reading.
3.  Place the summarizing table tent in front of
the student assigned.
4.  After reading have the student assigned to each
aspect give a report to record on the story map.
Created By: Deana Kahlenberg
SUMMARIZING TABLE TENTS

Created By: Deana Kahlenberg

 story?
was in the
Who DETECTIVE
CHARACTER

CHARACTER
Who DETECTIVE
was in the
story?
Created By: Deana Kahlenberg

SUMMARIZING TABLE TENTS

Directions: Cut out and fold along the middle line to create a “tent”. Place in front of student or student’s who are searing for this feature in the text.
 place?
story take
DETECTIVE where did the
When and
SETTING

SETTING
When and
where did the DETECTIVE
story take
place?
Created By: Deana Kahlenberg

SUMMARIZING TABLE TENTS

Directions: Cut out and fold along the middle line to create a “tent”. Place in front of student or student’s who are searing for this feature in the text.
 the story?
wrong in
DETECTIVE What went
PROBLEM

PROBLEM
What went DETECTIVE
wrong in
the story?
Created By: Deana Kahlenberg

SUMMARIZING TABLE TENTS

Directions: Cut out and fold along the middle line to create a “tent”. Place in front of student or student’s who are searing for this feature in the text.
 the story?
DETECTIVE happened in
What
PLOT

PLOT
What DETECTIVE
happened in
the story?
Created By: Deana Kahlenberg

SUMMARIZING TABLE TENTS

Directions: Cut out and fold along the middle line to create a “tent”. Place in front of student or student’s who are searing for this feature in the text.
 solved?
the problem
DETECTIVE How was
SOLUTION

SOLUTION
How was DETECTIVE
the problem
solved?
Created By: Deana Kahlenberg

SUMMARIZING TABLE TENTS

Directions: Cut out and fold along the middle line to create a “tent”. Place in front of student or student’s who are searing for this feature in the text.
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
Setting: Small or Whole Group
Directions:
1.  Print, laminate and cut out each
magnifying glass.
2. Using hot glue, attach each magnifying
glass to a popsicle stick.
3.  Place magnifying glasses in a cup or
bucket.
4.  After reading have students in the group
choose a magnifying glass and answer a
question about the text. Created By: Deana Kahlenberg
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

Created By: Deana Kahlenberg

 What What was
was the the setting?
title of the Was there
story? more than
one?

story?
in the
characters
the
Who were
Created By: Deana Kahlenberg
 What
was the What was
the plot of
problem in
the story?
the story?

solution?
the
What was
Created By: Deana Kahlenberg
 What
happened What was
because of the
the author’s
problem? purpose?

solution?
the
because of
happened
What
Created By: Deana Kahlenberg
 Name_______________________________________________ Date_________________
Directions: Read and fill in the spaces with information from the story using words or pictures. FICTION STORY MAP
TITLE: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1. ____________
________________ CHARACTERS
________________

SETTING
2. ______________
PLOT

________________
________________ SOLUTION
3. ______________
______________
Be sure to look
__________ back at the text
to find the
Created By: Deana Kahlenberg

information!

PROBLEM
READING COMPREHENSION BOOKMARK READING COMPREHENSION BOOKMARK READING COMPREHENSION BOOKMARK

SUMMARIZE SUMMARIZE SUMMARIZE

DIRECTIONS: Read a fictional book on your child’s DIRECTIONS: Read a fictional book on your child’s DIRECTIONS: Read a fictional book on your child’s
reading level. After reading. have your student reading level. After reading. have your student reading level. After reading. have your student
answer one or more of the questions below. answer one or more of the questions below. answer one or more of the questions below.
CHARACTERS CHARACTERS CHARACTERS
q  Who were the characters q  Who were the characters q  Who were the characters
in the story? in the story? in the story?
SETTING SETTING SETTING
q  When and where did the q  When and where did the q  When and where did the
story take place? story take place? story take place?
PROBLEM PROBLEM PROBLEM
q  What went wrong in the q  What went wrong in the q  What went wrong in the
story? story? story?
PLOT PLOT PLOT
q  What happened in the q  What happened in the q  What happened in the
story? (be sure to use at story? (be sure to use at story? (be sure to use at
least three details or least three details or least three details or
events in your answer) events in your answer) events in your answer)
SOLUTION SOLUTION SOLUTION
q  How was the problem q  How was the problem q  How was the problem
solved? solved? solved?
CHALLENGE: Ask your student to summarize the text. Can they CHALLENGE: Ask your student to summarize the text. Can they CHALLENGE: Ask your student to summarize the text. Can they
give you all five aspects of summarizing without prompting? give you all five aspects of summarizing without prompting? give you all five aspects of summarizing without prompting?
Created By: Deana Kahlenberg
TERMS OF USE
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*Please note that speech and language therapy should only be conducted with or as advised by a licensed speech-language pathologist.*
CREDITS