Activity
Say Something
Say Something
Activity Overview
Partners take turns reading aloud and stopping at designated points to make observations, predictions, connections, or ask questions.
Grade Levels
Subject Areas
Activity Types
Detailed Example
Analyzing Informational Text on Ecosystems (Science/English - 5th Grade)
Materials Needed
- Copies of text with stopping points marked
- Say Something prompt cards
- Partner seating arrangement
Preparation
Select text and mark 4-6 stopping points at natural breaks. Create prompt cards with options: Make a prediction, Ask a question, Make a connection, Share a reaction, Summarize so far. Assign reading partners.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Pair students and distribute marked texts. Explain: 'You'll read with a partner and stop to talk about the text.'
Model with a student volunteer. Read first section aloud, stop at mark, then 'say something': 'I'm wondering why rainforests have so many species. That connects to what we learned about habitats.'
Show prompt cards and explain options for what to 'say': predictions, questions, connections, reactions, or summaries.
Partner A reads first section aloud while Partner B follows along.
At the stop mark, Partner B 'says something' about what was just read.
Partners switch roles for next section.
Continue alternating through the text.
Whole class: Share interesting observations and questions that emerged.
Differentiation Strategies
Pre-teach vocabulary for struggling readers. Provide sentence stems: 'I predict...', 'I wonder...', 'This reminds me of...' Pair strategic readers together. For advanced pairs, remove prompt cards and let responses be open-ended.
Assessment Guidelines
Circulate and listen to partner conversations. Note quality of observations and questions. Check for text evidence in responses. Use observations to guide whole-class discussion.