Summarising with a Twist: Literacy Lesson Using ‘Defective Detective’ (Short Film Activity)

Bring laughter and learning into your literacy classroom with this engaging story summarising lesson using the animated short film Defective Detective. Designed to develop key comprehension and summarising skills, this interactive resource helps students identify main ideas, sequence key events, and craft concise summaries—all while enjoying a humorous and imaginative detective tale.

What’s Included:

• Full lesson ActivInspire presentation (6 slides) and PDF.
• Link to the animated short film Defective Detective
• Guided note-taking
• Multiple-choice questions to support recall, sequencing and inference
• Final writing task: summarising the story in the students’ own words
• Plenary: pair-share and discussion to consolidate learning

Key Learning Objectives

• Understand what it means to summarise a story
• Identify main events and details that move the plot forward
• Sequence key story points logically
• Practice using concise language and paraphrasing

Skills Covered:

• Comprehension
• Inference
• Summarising and sequencing
• Oral communication (partner sharing)
• Written response and editing

Perfect For:

• KS2 English / Literacy lessons (Years 4–6)
• Grades 3–5 (suitable for international settings)
• SPaG and comprehension units
• Creative starter for writing lessons
• Homework, cover, or standalone literacy sessions