Grade by Grade
B. Foundations of Language · Listening, Speaking and Word Power

Listening to Understand: Purpose, Notes, Clarifying and Responding

B1.2 A1.1 A3.1About 40 minutes
Learning goals
  • I can figure out the purpose of something I listen to: to inform, persuade, entertain or instruct.
  • I can take short listening notes with key words to help me construct meaning.
  • I can ask clarifying questions when I don't understand.
  • I can develop a response that fits what I heard and why it was said.

Words to know

purpose
The reason a text was made: to inform, persuade, entertain or instruct.
construct meaning
To build an understanding of a text in your own mind.
key word
An important word that carries the main meaning, like a name, number or topic word.
signal word
A word that tells listeners what is coming, like first, because or in conclusion.
clarify
To make something clear by asking or checking.
summarize
To tell the most important ideas in a few words.

Remember from Grade 4

In Grade 4 you chose listening strategies for before, during and after listening, like picturing ideas and listening for signal words. In Grade 5 you'll use those strategies with harder texts, like news reports, podcasts, announcements and speeches, and you'll figure out the purpose, take listening notes, clarify and plan a response.

Let's start with a question

You hear this on the school announcements:

"Good morning! The Grade 5 bake sale is this Friday at lunch in the gym. All money raised goes to the local food bank. Bring a loonie or a toonie, and help families in our community!"

Why did the speaker say this? To inform you (when and where) and to persuade you (come and bring money). Knowing a speaker's purpose helps you decide what to listen for and how to respond.

BEFOREpurpose?what I knowDURINGkey wordsmark ? partsAFTERclarifyrespondListening is active from start to finish
Before: think about the purpose and what you already know. During: listen for key words and mark confusing parts with a question mark. After: clarify and respond.
PurposeThe speaker wants you to...Listen for...Example
Informlearn factsnames, numbers, dates, factsa news report about a snowstorm
Instructdo something step by steporder words: first, next, then, finallya coach explaining a new drill
Persuadebelieve or do somethingopinions, reasons, should, must, youan ad for a winter carnival
Entertainenjoy, laugh or feel somethingcharacters, events, funny or exciting partsa story or podcast episode
Some texts have more than one purpose, like the bake sale announcement.

During: take listening notes

You can't reread something you hear, so jot key words, not whole sentences. A simple way is a 5W chart: Who? What? When? Where? Why? (and sometimes How?).

Also notice when you're confused. Put a ? next to anything you don't understand, so you can ask about it later.

After: clarify, then respond

Clarify by asking a short, polite question about the exact part you missed:

  • "Could you repeat the date, please?"
  • "What does 'food insecurity' mean?"
  • "Did you say the gym or the library?"

Then develop a response that fits the purpose:

  • Informative text → summarize it or use the facts.
  • Instructions → follow the steps.
  • Persuasive text → decide if you agree, and why.
  • Entertaining text → share your reaction or a connection.
Worked example

Let's listen and take notes

A grown-up reads this weather report aloud:

"Environment Canada has issued a winter storm warning for our region. Snow will begin Tuesday evening, and 20 to 30 centimetres are expected by Wednesday afternoon. Strong winds will cause blowing snow. Drivers should stay off the roads if possible. School buses may be cancelled Wednesday morning, so check the board website before 7 a.m."

  1. Before: It's a weather report, so the purpose is probably to inform. I'll listen for times and amounts.
  2. During, notes: Who: Environment Canada. What: winter storm, 20–30 cm snow, wind. When: Tue evening to Wed afternoon. Where: our region. Why it matters: roads dangerous, buses may be cancelled.
  3. Notice the second purpose: "Drivers should stay off the roads" and "check the board website" are instructions, so the report also tells people what to do.
  4. Clarify: I wasn't sure what a warning means compared to a watch. I'd ask, "What's the difference between a storm watch and a warning?"
  5. Respond: Summarize for my family: "Big snowstorm Tuesday night into Wednesday, up to 30 centimetres. Check the board website before 7 for buses."

The report's purpose is to inform and instruct. Good notes captured the key facts, a clarifying question handled the confusing part, and the response was a short summary plus an action.

Listening notes: winter storm warningWho?Environment CanadaWhat?winter storm, 20–30 cm snow, windWhen?Tue evening → Wed afternoonWhere?our regionWhy?roads unsafe; buses may be cancelledDo:check board website before 7 a.m.?storm watch vs. warning?
Listening notes in a 5W chart: key words only, not whole sentences. The ? marks the part to clarify later.

Listening in every subject

These strategies help in science (a guest speaker about energy), social studies (a video about how government works), math (a teacher explaining steps) and phys. ed. (game instructions). Ask yourself first: What's the purpose?

Just for fun

A grown-up says: "Put on your boots, coat, hat, mittens and scarf, then come straight to the car." A listener who takes no notes arrives wearing... one boot and a scarf.

Hands-on activity

Radio reporter notes

You need: a short news story, weather report or podcast for kids (a grown-up can choose one from a public broadcaster, or read a short newspaper article aloud), paper and a pencil.

  1. Before: Hear only the title. Guess the purpose and say one thing you already know about the topic.
  2. During: Listen once without writing. Listen a second time and fill in a 5W chart with key words only. Put a ? beside anything confusing.
  3. After: Ask your grown-up one clarifying question.
  4. Give a 3-sentence summary out loud, then say whether the text was meant to inform, instruct, persuade or entertain (or more than one), and how you know.

What to look for: notes are key words, not sentences; the summary includes the most important facts; the purpose is backed up with clues (facts, steps, should, jokes).

Your turn

1

What is the purpose of a coach saying: "First, line up at the blue line. Next, skate to the net. Then shoot."

2

A commercial says, "You should try Maple Crunch cereal, the tastiest breakfast in Canada!" What is its purpose? Give a clue.

3

Why do we take notes with key words instead of whole sentences while listening?

4

Write a clarifying question you could ask if you missed what time the field trip bus leaves.

5

What are the 5Ws for listening notes?

6

After listening to a funny story podcast, what kind of response fits?

7

How can knowing the purpose help you before you listen?

More practice: warm-up

1

Name the four purposes in this lesson.

2

What symbol can you put beside a note you're confused about?

3

Which signal word tells you the speaker is almost finished: first or in conclusion?

4

What does summarize mean?

5

True or false: A text can have more than one purpose.

More practice: on your own

1

A speaker says, "Monarch butterflies travel thousands of kilometres from Canada to Mexico each fall." What is the purpose, and what kind of response fits?

2

Turn this sentence into key-word notes: "The library will be closed on Thursday, October 22, because of a staff training day."

3

You hear: "Mix the batter until it is homogeneous." You don't know homogeneous. What should you do?

4

Which is the best response to a persuasive speech asking students to walk to school: A. Just clap. B. Decide if you agree and give a reason. C. Repeat the speech word for word.

5

Your friend gives you directions to her house. Which strategy helps most during listening, and why?

Challenge

1

Listen to (or read) this: "Every year, thousands of litres of water are wasted by leaving taps running. Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth. Small changes add up!" Name two purposes and the clue for each.

2

Explain the difference between a clarifying question and a follow-up question.

3

A guest speaker in science talks for ten minutes about solar panels. Plan a before, during and after strategy for this talk.

Check your understanding

Quiz

1.

What is the purpose of a text that tells you how to build a birdhouse step by step?

2.

Which notes are best while listening?

3.

Which is a clarifying question?

4.

An ad says "You must try this new game!" What is its purpose?

5.

Which is a good response to an informative talk?

6.

What does construct meaning mean?

For parents and teachers

Big idea (B1.2): Grade 5 students select and use listening strategies before, during and after listening to determine a text's purpose, construct meaning, seek clarification and develop an appropriate response. The examples connect to A3.1 (using language skills in other subjects) and A1.1 (communication and critical thinking).

How to help at home:

  • Listen to a short news or weather report together and ask: "What was its purpose? What should we do because of it?"
  • During car rides, play a podcast for kids and pause to ask your child to summarize.
  • Encourage clarifying questions; respond warmly so asking feels safe.

Common difficulties:

  • Writing too much while listening. Model key-word notes: one or two words per idea.
  • Not noticing a second purpose. Ask: "Did it also want us to do something?"
  • Feeling embarrassed to ask for clarification. Explain that good listeners always check.