Year 6 · SPaG · Summer: After the test: cohesion
Year 6 ordering sentences within a paragraph worksheet and PowerPoint
To organise sentences within a paragraph in a logical order, and to remove a sentence that does not belong.
Sentences in a paragraph
The sentences in a paragraph must be in an order that makes sense. Order words help the reader: first, next, then, finally. A sentence that is not about the main idea should be moved or removed.
| order words | first, next, then, finally |
|---|---|
| time words | at dawn, by noon, in the afternoon |
| points | firstly, secondly, thirdly, in conclusion |
| odd one out | a sentence that is not about the main idea does not belong |
Examples
- First, wash the potatoes. Next, cut them into chips.
- My brother likes football. (not about penguins)
Key words
- logical order
- an order that makes sense
- topic sentence
- says what the paragraph is about
- relevant
- connected to the main idea
- irrelevant
- not connected to the main idea
What is on the worksheet
Every sheet for this lesson has a short teaching box and 12 questions that get gradually harder: 8 fluency questions, then 4 reasoning questions that ask pupils to explain or choose. A writing challenge follows. The questions use the same styles as the key stage 2 grammar and punctuation test (circle, underline, tick, fill the gap, add punctuation, rewrite, explain). They are written for this website, not copied from past papers.
All the answers are on the last page of the same editable Word file. New questions are made every time, so you can print a different sheet for every group or for homework. The same sheet code always gives the same sheet.
Writing challenge: Write instructions for making your favourite sandwich in four sentences with order words. Mix the sentences up and ask a friend to put them back in order.
Pupil target: I can put sentences in a sensible order.
The PowerPoint
A 20-slide lesson deck for the same lesson: a starter that revisits earlier learning, key words, an I do and a You do question on each slide with a countdown timer, answers that appear one click at a time, and a challenge. Download the ordering sentences within a paragraph PowerPoint.
Where this lesson fits
This is lesson 65 of 72 in the Year 6 SPaG scheme, in the Summer term, block “After the test: cohesion”. It is taught after the SATs grammar test in May, as a writing skill the test does not ask.
Other lessons in this block
- Recognising cohesion: linking ideas
- Paragraphs in fiction
- Paragraphs in non-fiction
- Linking paragraphs in a text
- Avoiding repetition
- Using cohesive devices
- Ellipsis
- Layout and organisation of texts
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