How to Summarize Worksheet
A free, printable summarizing worksheet for 4th and 5th grade. Your child uses Somebody-Wanted-But-So-Then to summarize a story and picks the best nonfiction summary. Answer key included.
What's inside
- Page 1: a short story, then a Somebody-Wanted-But-So-Then organizer.
- Page 2: write a summary, then choose the best of three nonfiction summaries.
- Page 3: answer key.
How to use it
- Teach or review the rule first with the how to summarize lesson. It takes about 10 minutes.
- Read the directions for each part out loud. Early readers can point while you read.
- Check Part A together before your child goes on, so any confusion gets fixed early.
- Use the answer key on the last page.
Prints on US Letter paper (8.5 × 11 in). No sign-up needed.
Tips for doing it together
- Keep it short. One page a day is plenty for most young children, and two short sessions beat one long one.
- Let your child read each sentence out loud before answering. Many mistakes get caught by ear.
- Mark a mistake with a small dot instead of an X, and let your child find and fix it. That's where the learning happens.
What your child is practicing
A summary tells only the most important parts in a few sentences, in your own words, with no opinions. Somebody-Wanted-But-So-Then is a simple frame for stories.
Practice online
After the worksheet, the 10-question how to summarize quiz gives instant feedback and reads each question aloud. For a game, try Word Slash.
More reading comprehension worksheets
- Fact and opinion worksheet (2nd–4th grade)
- Making inferences worksheet (3rd–5th grade)
- Theme worksheet (4th–5th grade)
- Text structure worksheet (4th–5th grade)
Last reviewed: November 11, 2026