•

Retell vs. Summary vs. GIST Lesson

Reading Rev

$5.00 USD
$5.00 USD
Shipping calculated at checkout.

Descriptions

This complete 50–60 minute lesson helps students confidently distinguish between a retell, a summary, and a gist. These three skills are essential to comprehension, writing about reading, and responding to prompts. Designed for grades 3–5, this lesson includes a ready-to-teach Google Slides presentation, modeling routines, sentence frames, and guided/independent practice.
Students learn the difference using a memorable movie analogy: 🍿 Retell = the whole movie 🎞️ Summary = the trailer 🎟️ Gist = the movie poster

They then practice each skill using a short text and a simple gist formula: Who/What + Did What + When/How (in ≤ 11 words!)

What’s Included
✔️ Google Slides: “What’s the difference between a summary & retell?”
✔️ Clear definitions + anchor chart visuals
✔️ Explicit modeling of retell → summary → gist
✔️ Guided practice routine for any text
✔️ Gist sentence formula & examples
✔️ Student response expectations (retell paragraph, summary sentence, gist statement)
✔️ Exit ticket + ideas for ongoing practice

Skills Covered
• Retelling a text using sequence and major events
• Summarizing using key details (without the extras!)
• Writing a concise gist statement
• Determining which response type a prompt is asking for
• Strengthening comprehension through talk, writing, and structure
Perfect for:
✔️ Whole-group lessons
✔️ Reading intervention
✔️ Small-group instruction
✔️ Test prep
✔️ Knowledge-building units
This lesson gives students the clarity they need and gives teachers a structured, engaging way to teach three high-leverage comprehension routines. You’ll use it all year long!