Asking students to summarize the main points of an idea or a problem helps them improve their comprehension skills. They will be more likely to remember the content of what they've read, and start thinking critically about the material. One way to start teaching summary techniques to younger students is to relate a summary to something students are familiar with: movie trailers, music videos or the "previously on..." TV recaps.
Ask students to summarize what they did the previous weekend or on their summer vacation. Help them use the five W's of journalism -- who, what, where, when and why -- to recreate the event. This activity can also work as a group exercise on the board, or you can break the students up into smaller groups to summarize one shared event, such as a recent school play or field trip. The key is to get your students thinking about the important details.
Gather the class together to play "Wheel of Detail" Using Bristol board and colored markers, make a "Wheel of Fortune"-type game wheel. Insert a pin or straightened paper clip through the center of the wheel, and glue or tape a cardboard arrow to it. On the wheel, label each section with different examples of the five W's. Read a story or newspaper article to the group. Divide the students into two teams, and have a representative from each come up to the front and spin the wheel. After spinning the wheel, each one must identify who the story was about, what happened in the story, where and when the story took place and why events unfolded the way they did.
Another game to try is called "Art Gallery." Pick five students from the class to read different parts of a story. Once they've read the story to the group, have the other students try to summarize the events by drawing, painting or creating a cartoon that represents the key plot points. When finished, have the students hang their work around the room. The five original students must answer questions about the story, and they will pick the most accurate drawing as the winner of the art gallery contest.