What is Somebody Wanted But So Then?

It is a five part chart for summarizing a story: who the main character is, what they want, the problem that gets in the way, what they do about it and how it ends. Read the five boxes in a row and you have the plan for a summary.

When is a beginning, middle and end chart a better fit?

It works well for stories with a clear chain of events, like a group that gets lost in a museum or a busy night at a restaurant. Have your child write one sentence for each box, then join them with words like first, then and in the end.

Is there an answer key for each worksheet?

Each of the 8 story sheets has an answer key with a filled chart and a sample summary, plus a note on other answers the story supports. Summaries will differ in wording, so check that your child's has the main problem, the key events and the ending.

How many 5th Grade summarizing worksheets are there?

25 printable worksheets, all free to preview. Downloads are included with a ClassWeekly free trial, and every page prints on standard 8.5 x 11 paper.

What age are summarizing worksheets for?

These are written for 5th Grade students, roughly ages 10-11. Many teachers also use them a grade up for review or a grade down as an extension, so use the preview to judge the fit for a particular child.

Are these summarizing worksheets aligned to Common Core?

Yes. Each one shows the Common Core code it covers on its own page, so you can check the alignment yourself rather than taking our word for it.

Can I use these summarizing worksheets for homeschool?

Yes. Nothing here assumes a classroom of 25, so they work the same one-to-one at the kitchen table as they do in a 5th Grade classroom, a learning center, or a tutoring session.

5th Grade Summarizing Worksheets

Ages 10-11 · Free previews · Print-ready PDFs

Written by Adi Ackerman, Head Teacher

These summarizing worksheets for 5th grade teach children to retell a text in a few sentences, in their own words, without small details or opinions (CCSS RL.5.2). Eight original stories come with a Somebody Wanted But So Then chart or a beginning, middle and end chart: a kayak race, a town bake off, a museum trip where a group gets lost, a busy night at a family noodle restaurant, a comet watch, a class newspaper on deadline, a rescue dog's first week and a snow fort contest. Children pick the detail that does not belong in a summary, name the main problem and write a 3 to 4 sentence summary. Seven more sheets pair a nonfiction passage, on topics like the school year calendar, identifying a mineral, interest and credit, and deforestation, with questions (RI.5.2). There are 15 sheets, and each of the 8 story sheets has an answer key.