Multiple Accounts of One Event
A 40-minute Grade 5 lesson on analysing multiple accounts of the same event, noting important similarities and differences in point of view.
Multiple Accounts of One Event is a free 40-minute Grade 5 English lesson plan for Common Core standard RI.5.6 — compare several accounts of one event and the viewpoints behind them. It is timed across 5 sections, gives the exact wording to use where the wording carries the mathematics, names 3 misconceptions with the teaching move that addresses each, and ends with an exit ticket and a printable worksheet with its answer key.
- Grade:
- Grade 5
- Length:
- 40 minutes
- Standard:
- RI.5.6
Grade 5 · Reading: Informational Text
RI.5.6
Analyze multiple accounts of the same event or topic, noting important similarities and differences in the point of view they represent.
Objective
Students will be able to analyse three accounts of one event and explain why they differ.
Students are successful when they can
- Identifies each account's position.
- Names a difference and explains it.
- Identifies what all three agree on.
What you need
- Three accounts of one event from different positions
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — three headlines
5 min- Read three headlines about one event.
- Ask what each emphasises and what each leaves out.
Teach — the core and the variation
13 min- Read all three accounts. List what all three assert.
- That is the core, and it is the most reliable part.
- Take one difference and explain it from the writers' positions.
- Take one where an account is simply silent, not contradicting.
- Say the method: agreement first, then explain the variation.
“All three say this happened. That is the part you can be most confident about.”
Guided practice — core and variation
12 min- Pairs list what all three accounts share.
- They explain two differences from position.
- They mark one silence that is not a contradiction.
Independent practice
8 min- Students complete the accounts page.
- All three passages are on the sheet.
Close
2 min- Take the core all three agree on.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Picks the account they trust and dismisses the rest.
Why: One position is more sympathetic.
Fix: Find the core first. Trust follows the analysis, not the other way round.
Treats silence as denial.
Why: Absence looks like disagreement.
Fix: Ask whether the account contradicts or simply does not mention.
Explains a difference as one writer lying.
Why: It is the simplest explanation.
Fix: Position, access and purpose explain most differences. Deception is rarer than any of them.
If they are not there yet
- Two accounts rather than three.
- Give the core.
If they finish early
- Add a fourth account and place it.
- Say what account is missing entirely.
- Decide what you can and cannot conclude from all three.
Exit ticket
What do all three accounts agree on? Explain one difference.
What to look for: A core plus a position-based explanation. 'One is lying' means the position-access-purpose list needs sharing.
Printable practice for RI.5.6
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- Multiple AccountsTick the right answer.
Questions about Multiple Accounts of One Event
How long does the Multiple Accounts of One Event lesson take?
40 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 5 min, teach 13 min, guided practice 12 min, independent practice 8 min, close 2 min. The minutes are stated per section and add up to the stated length, so the plan can be cut or extended at a section boundary rather than abandoned halfway.
Which standard does Multiple Accounts of One Event teach?
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.6 — RI.5.6, Reading: Informational Text for Grade 5: “Analyze multiple accounts of the same event or topic, noting important similarities and differences in the point of view they represent.” In plain terms, compare several accounts of one event and the viewpoints behind them.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
Three accounts of one event from different positions and the printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan. Everything listed is either ordinary classroom equipment or a free printable from this site — there is nothing to buy and nothing to prepare beyond photocopying.
What mistakes should I expect in this lesson?
Three, each a reasoning error rather than carelessness: picks the account they trust and dismisses the rest; treats silence as denial and explains a difference as one writer lying. The plan gives the thinking behind each one and the teaching move that addresses the thinking rather than the symptom.
How do I know whether the lesson worked?
The exit ticket asks: “What do all three accounts agree on? Explain one difference.” A core plus a position-based explanation. 'One is lying' means the position-access-purpose list needs sharing. That tells you whether the class needs a reteach or a thirty-second conversation before you plan tomorrow.
Is there a worksheet to go with Multiple Accounts of One Event?
Yes — 1 printable RI.5.6 worksheet, linked at the end of the plan and free like the rest of the site. Each one comes with an answer key and 25 versions, so the practice after the lesson can be a different paper on every desk.
Is Multiple Accounts of One Event free to use?
Yes. The plan, its printables and their answer keys are free to read, print and photocopy for your own class, with no account and no email capture. It was last reviewed on 7 September 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.
Last reviewed 2026-09-07. Aligned to RI.5.6 of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts.