Reading: Reading for Speed Using Skimming and Scanning for JSS 3

Class: JSS 3
Term: First Term
Week: 5
Age: 13-14 years
Duration: 60 minutes
Subject: English Language Studies
Curriculum Theme: Reading
Previous Lesson: Literature: Themes of Non-African Folktales
Topic: Reading: Reading for Speed Using Skimming and Scanning
Subject Matter: Reading for speed techniques Skimming and / or scanning for main points or terms to read, read a lot of materials, read non-text materials quickly and to cultivate the skill of referencing

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils/students should be able to:

Cognitive Domain

• Explain the meaning and purpose of skimming, scanning, and surveying.
• Describe when to use each reading technique effectively.
• Describe how to locate main ideas, keywords, and specific information quickly using these techniques.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the importance of speed reading techniques for academic success.
• Show willingness to apply skimming and scanning in their daily reading.

Psychomotor Domain

• Apply skimming to quickly grasp the general idea of a passage.
• Apply scanning to locate specific information or keywords in a text.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2014 Senior Secondary Education Curriculum (SSEC)
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• A suitable English Language textbook for JSS 3
• FCT ERC/NAPPS Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Selected reading passages (e.g., newspaper articles, short stories, textbook excerpts)
• Worksheets with comprehension questions requiring skimming and scanning
• Charts illustrating the differences between skimming and scanning

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important because it equips students with essential speed reading techniques that improve their reading efficiency and comprehension. Mastering skimming and scanning allows students to process large volumes of information quickly, which is crucial for academic research, examination preparation, and everyday information retrieval. These skills enhance their ability to extract relevant information without getting bogged down by unnecessary details.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should have basic reading comprehension skills and be familiar with identifying main ideas and supporting details in simple texts.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Reading for Speed: Skimming and Scanning

Skimming

Skimming is a rapid reading technique used to quickly get the general idea or gist of a text without reading every word. It involves looking for key elements like titles, headings, subheadings, introductions, conclusions, and topic sentences.

Purpose of Skimming:

1. To determine if a text is relevant to your needs.
2. To get a general overview or main idea of the content.
3. To preview a chapter or article before detailed reading.
4. To quickly decide if a text is worth reading in full.

When to Use Skimming:

1. Reading newspaper headlines or articles for general news.
2. Previewing a chapter in a textbook before a lesson.
3. Looking through a long email or report to grasp its main points.
4. Checking the table of contents or index of a book.

Scanning

Scanning is a rapid reading technique used to locate specific information, keywords, or facts within a text. The reader’s eyes move quickly across the page, searching for particular words, phrases, or numbers rather than reading for comprehension.

Purpose of Scanning:

1. To find a specific name, date, number, or fact.
2. To locate a particular answer to a question.
3. To quickly identify a keyword or phrase in a document.
4. To search for specific details without reading the entire text.

When to Use Scanning:

1. Looking up a word in a dictionary or a name in a phone book.
2. Finding a specific date in a history textbook.
3. Searching for an ingredient in a recipe.
4. Locating a specific answer to a multiple-choice question.

Surveying

Surveying is a pre-reading technique that involves quickly looking over a text to understand its structure and overall content before diving into detailed reading. It often includes examining titles, headings, subheadings, introductions, conclusions, summaries, and any visual aids.

Purpose of Surveying:

1. To activate prior knowledge related to the topic.
2. To set a purpose for reading and formulate questions.
3. To understand the organization and scope of the text.
4. To get a mental map of the material before reading.

When to Use Surveying:

1. Before reading a new chapter in a textbook.
2. When starting a research paper or academic article.
3. To get an initial understanding of a long report or document.

Locating Main Ideas, Keywords, and Specific Information

Effective use of skimming and scanning helps in quickly locating important parts of a text.

For Main Ideas:

1. Read the title, headings, and subheadings.
2. Read the introduction and conclusion paragraphs.
3. Look for topic sentences, usually at the beginning or end of paragraphs.
4. Identify repeated words or phrases that signal the central theme.

For Keywords and Specific Information:

1. Identify the exact word, phrase, or type of information you are looking for.
2. Move your eyes rapidly down the page, looking for that specific item.
3. Focus on bolded, italicized, or underlined words.
4. Pay attention to proper nouns, numbers, and dates.
5. Use your finger or a pen to guide your eyes down the page, focusing on the centre.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Explanation, Guided Practice, Question and Answer, Individual Practice, Demonstration

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Activating prior knowledge

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks students how they usually read when they need to find information quickly or get a general idea of a text. The teacher introduces the topic of reading for speed using skimming and scanning.

Pupils’ Activity: Students share their reading habits and respond to the teacher’s questions.

Learning Point: Introduction to speed reading

Step 2: Explanation of Skimming

Time: 10 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the meaning and purpose of skimming, providing examples of when it is used. The teacher demonstrates skimming a short passage, showing how to look at headings, first/last sentences, and keywords to get the gist.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen attentively, ask questions, and observe the demonstration.

Learning Point: Meaning and purpose of skimming

Step 3: Guided Practice – Skimming

Time: 10 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher provides a short newspaper article or a brief story. Students are instructed to skim the passage within a set time (e.g., 1 minute) and then state the main idea or topic. The teacher guides them through the process.

Pupils’ Activity: Students skim the provided passage and attempt to identify the main idea, sharing their findings with the class.

Learning Point: Applying skimming technique

Step 4: Explanation of Scanning

Time: 10 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the meaning and purpose of scanning, highlighting its difference from skimming. The teacher demonstrates scanning a text to find a specific piece of information (e.g., a date, a name, a number).

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen, ask clarifying questions, and observe the scanning demonstration.

Learning Point: Meaning and purpose of scanning

Step 5: Guided Practice – Scanning

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher provides another passage and asks specific questions that require scanning (e.g., “What year was the event?”, “Who was the main character?”, “What was the capital city mentioned?”). Students are given a short time to find the answers.

Pupils’ Activity: Students scan the passage for specific answers and share their findings.

Learning Point: Applying scanning technique

Step 6: Explanation and Practice – Surveying and Locating Information

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Reinforcement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly explains surveying and reinforces how skimming and scanning help in locating main ideas, keywords, and specific information. The teacher gives a final short passage and asks students to identify the main idea (skimming) and then find a specific detail (scanning).

Pupils’ Activity: Students participate in the combined practice, applying both techniques.

Learning Point: Combined reading techniques

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. What is the main purpose of skimming?
2. When would you use scanning instead of skimming?
3. Mention one way to quickly find the main idea of a paragraph.
4. How can you quickly locate a specific date in a text?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Understanding reading techniques

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 10 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils/students to copy the essential Board Summary notes on skimming, scanning, surveying, and locating information into their notebooks.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.

Learning Point: Recording lesson notes

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Consolidation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarises the importance of skimming and scanning for efficient reading and encourages students to practice these skills regularly in their studies and daily lives.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and ask any final questions.

Learning Point: Reinforcing speed reading benefits

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Read a short article or a chapter from your English textbook. Apply the reading techniques learned today.

1. Skim the article/chapter and write down its main idea in one sentence.
2. Scan the article/chapter to find three specific facts (e.g., a name, a date, a place) and write them down.
3. Explain in your own words the difference between skimming and scanning.

Lesson Keywords

• Skimming – Reading quickly to get the general idea or gist of a text.
• Scanning – Reading quickly to find specific information, keywords, or facts.
• Surveying – A pre-reading technique to get an overview of a text’s structure and content.
• Main Idea – The central point or message of a text or paragraph.
• Keywords – Important words that convey the core meaning of a text.

Differentiation

For students who struggle with reading speed, provide shorter, simpler passages for practice and allow more time. Pair them with stronger readers for peer support during guided practice. For advanced students, provide longer, more complex texts and challenge them to find multiple main ideas or specific details within a stricter time limit.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For further understanding, search on YouTube for: skimming and scanning for jss3 english