If you are looking for some high-interest activities, try using animated shorts to teach inference. Free handouts focus on student learning.
Teaching from a book can be quite a challenge. Sometimes you really have to dig to find good examples. Luckily for you, I have made things a bit easier by creating mini passages that feature three built-in inferences each. Don't forget to sign up for the Newsletter to receive a FREE Making Inferences Resource
With the Common Core Standards in place, students are being asked more and more to use critical thinking skills to analyze literary and informational text. Inference is a prime example of a critical thinking skill used in classrooms today. Students are asked to read text and analyze it by
If you are looking for some high-interest activities, try using animated shorts to teach inference. Free handouts focus on student learning.
So as we wrap up the school year my 5th grade group is working on inferenceing! Let me tell ya, it can be a challenge. BUT....thanks to some awesome teachers who I got some great products from we've h
Making inferences worksheets and activities aren't always easy for students, but there are fun ways to teach this challenging reading skill.
Find fantastic resources for teaching inferences (with free mini lesson). The resources are ideal for 4th graders but also features ideas for grades 1-3.
Looking for a book list for making inferences and predictions? Here you go! Be sure to check out all the book lists I have for teaching comprehension. *This post contains affiliate links. Making inferences and predictions are highly related comprehension strategies. In fact, most books for teaching comprehension lump them together. For the younger ... Read More about Book List for Making Inferences and Predictions
In today's post, I'll share ideas for teaching inferring through a gradual release of responsibility. Make sure to read all the way through the post, because there are several different freebies you can download and use right away!
Looking for new and fun ideas to help teach making inferences? I've got 5 engaging mini-lesson ideas for you to try in your elementary classroom!
Last year, I taught how to make inferences for quite some time. With such an emphasis on close reading, I wanted my students to read between the lines, to dig deeper, and to find out the answer to the question, “what is the author really trying to say?!” I spent a lot of time […]
Need some tips and ideas on how to teach making inferences in your elementary classroom? I've got some great ideas and activities to share!
In today's post, I'll share ideas for teaching inferring through a gradual release of responsibility. Make sure to read all the way through the post, because there are several different freebies you can download and use right away!
Looking for a FUN way to practice Making Inferences, this is it! This print-and-go craft is a great way to assess or practice making inferences at any time of the year. Even better, it can be used with ANY text you'd like - so it's easy to differentiate! This making inferences activity includes: 2 fictional short texts to use with the craft (optional) directions page picture example for students to model after craft pieces Other than printing and separating pieces there is no other prep for the teacher. These make a fun display on bulletin boards or in your classroom to showcase student learning. Teachers are always looking for fun and simple, so here you go! Enjoy!
Classroom Freebies Too is more freebies for more teachers!
"A gruffalo ? What's a gruffalo ?" "A gruffalo! Why didn't you know?" Let me introduce you to The Gruffalo , my new favorite book...
Download these free inference pictures to help your students work on building their inferencing skills during reading workshop.
Find fantastic resources for teaching inferences (with free mini lesson). The resources are ideal for 4th graders but also features ideas for grades 1-3.
Can you tell what's happened just by looking at the pictures? Practice drawing conclusions with this visual worksheet.
I mean...why WOULDN'T you use cootie catchers in your reading block? It makes perfect sense. Ok - remember last week how I was talking about doing a little spring cleaning with some of my TpT resources? Well, I did a little spring cleaning in my file folders on my computer as well. Yikes. Now THAT'S a bit of a rabbit hole. I got in a little deeper than I wanted to, but I figured I might as well finish the job. I got rid of a lot (a LOT) of cringe worthy products that just didn't make the cut anymore, and I got some major organizing done as well. BUT - you know what I found? THIS >>> It's a reading comprehension cootie catcher that I TOTALLY forgot I made! And since it resurfaced for me - I thought I'd resurface it for you! I'm sure I made it for you guys in the first place, but I can't for the life of me find it anywhere on the blog. There's actually 3 different versions. They have different comprehension questions that can be used with any fictional book. They work great as a quick partner review game. You can download them here! Find any long-lost things in your spring cleaning, lately? Pin and Share this freebie:
Fun mentor text for making inferences! This is a great book for making inferences with your second grade students. Blog post includes a freebie to use with the book.
A 2nd grade summer early finishers reading worksheet focusing on comparing and contrasting.
Inferences are my favorite! There are so many fun ways to teach students how to infer during reading. It requires some higher order thinking skills, so it can be difficult for students to grasp. I have some ways and ideas to make teaching making inferences super fun and engaging! Making inferences is almost like being a reading detective who has to solve a case. The author might not directly state something in a text. The reader has to use the text evidence, along with their schema, to make an inference. Making inferences can also help a student draw a conclusion. Making Inferences Worksheets, Activities, and Crafts I like to kick off the unit with a Pixar short film. (You can find lots of these on YouTube.) I actually show one to kick off each day of the unit as an attention grabber. They are super quick, fun, and get the students thinking. They are inferring and don't even realize it yet. This is a great one to use, but there are tons more out there that would work. You will want to stop throughout the film to ask students inferential questions. As with every new concept, I always make an anchor chart for us to refer to all throughout the unit. I introduce inferences with this chart, and then I have the students talk about it. I then chant the parts of how to make an inference with a motion for each part and have the students echo me. We do this a lot! After about a week of doing that, they will know what an inference is for the rest of the year! It's crazy how it helps them remember! You can just randomly ask them during the year, and they can use the terminology and everything. They're amazing! Since first writing this blog post, I have updated my resources that I use. Here is a new anchor chart I have created that you can print as a poster, along with some posters that you can display during the unit. Another fun activity that I love to do to begin a lesson is the Mystery Bag. I put something in the bag and students have to infer what is in the bag based on the clues I give them. I try to make the object in the bag be something that goes along with the story we are reading. The character on the anchor chart from above is Miss Nelson from Miss Nelson is Missing. That is the first book I use as a read aloud for my students to practice making inferences. Make sure they have not read it before. If someone has heard it, tell them to keep what happens a secret! This book is perfect for making inferences. I use it first because there are always students who have read it before, so I like to use it for the whole group introduction. As I am reading the book, I am completing a graphic organizer, modeling how to properly make an inference and record my clues and schema. Students are filling one out with me on their clipboards at the carpet. You could even make an anchor chart you fill out by sharing the pen, but I like to use one of these to make them familiar with the format. We added the graphic organizer to this fun Miss Swamp craft. I can't help but love Miss Swamp. During my inference unit, I like to incorporate lots of different books and read alouds. These are some of my all time favorites. Chris Van Allsburg may be my favorite author. His books are so mysterious and amazing! So much inferring is required! The following day, I start releasing a little more independence. We, of course, repeat over and over what it means to make an inference using whole brain strategies. We do another story and craft, and then they participate in a cooperative group activity. If time is an issue for you, you could have them do this during small group instruction or even during centers. It would also be a great early finisher activity students could easily grab and work on. I create 3 or 4 case files like the one below and fill each with graphic organizers and a book or passage. Students read the book or passage inside and complete the graphic organizer together. The first time I do this unit, I like to use all picture books. When I do this unit again, I might vary it with other books and passages. The great thing about my inference pack is that you can use it over and over throughout the year. There are too many activities to fit in one week. I like to put a question in which they have to infer in the file. It gives them a purpose and keeps them focused. It's the "CASE" they have to solve! Below are a few different graphic organizers you can use with any read aloud for making inferences. Students wear these little name badges while working. They fit in a name badge holder or you could just paper clip them to their shirts. I also give them bookmarks to use for their independent reading books. I love to incorporate crafts into my instruction. Below are some other books that are great for making inferences. Piggie Pie and Corduroy are great for having students feel like they have to solve a mystery in the story. At the end of each lesson, I try to do some sort of exit ticket to check their understanding. I may read a short passage or story and ask them an inferring question about it. They write their inference on a slip of paper and clip it up. Last year, I had a board for exit tickets. Each student had a clip for their exit ticket. It was quick and simple. It's also really great for observations! I have actually done some of these activities for observations, and my administrators always really love it! I have gotten great scores because of the rigor, pacing, and variety of activities and assessments. I hope this helps you out and makes teaching inferences easier and more fun for you and your students! If you need any of these inference activities, click the pic below. It's been a busy but fun weekend. Fall has definitely been in the air! I went with some teacher friends to the Nashville GoNoodle meet-up. It was so fun! Mr. Catman was there, so that was really cool to sees the man behind the mask! Go Noodle has been a lifesaver in the classroom, so it was really fun to see the people behind such an amazing site. I also went to the Strawberry Patch Barn Sale in Hartsville, Tennessee with my mom, sister, and friend. So many fun booths and yummy food. It definitely made me excited for fall!
Find fantastic resources for teaching inferences (with free mini lesson). The resources are ideal for 4th graders but also features ideas for grades 1-3.
Top 10 Pixar Short Films for teaching middles school literary elements: theme, plot, inference, setting, dialogue, conflict, and more.
Help your child read deeper into a story by having him practice making inferences about what happened. Download to complete online or as a printable!
Making inferences is an important skill that learners need to have as they comprehend text. Making inferences takes comprehension to a deeper level than just the surface. Find more comprehension strategies paired with picture books in our Comprehension Reading Strategies series. *This post contains affiliate links. Why Making Inferences Can be Tricky Now, making ... Read More about Making Inferences using “My Lucky Day”
In this post, I am sharing how to teach inferencing with a Mystery Box! It is an excellent way to encourage kids to think whil having fun!
Science Picture of the Day is a critical thinking activity where students practice analyzing, inferring, and observing real life science in photographs. Targeted skills include making observations and growing scientific vocabulary. The goal is for students to observe science in our everyday lives. These pictures each represent at least one branch of science – physical science, earth science, and life science – and can be utilized for nearly any topic of study in the science curriculum. Regardless of what grade level or content you are studying, students should be able to recognize many examples of science in all pictures. This meets the common core standards of RI.1 (Inference, Key Details and Informational Text) along with SL.2 and 4 (Key discussion and use of vocabulary). Furthermore, this open-ended activity is a great way to get your students to think deeper and more critically. I have provided an answer key for each picture prompt, but the science seen in these pictures are not limited to my answers, as there are many aspects of science in our daily lives. Be sure to have students justify their reasoning, and how deep you go with the science concepts is up to your discretion. File Type PDF (Acrobat) Document File in a ZIP file Be sure that you have an application to open this file type before downloading and/or purchasing.
Making Inferences is fun while you lead your inference detectives through the investigation. Students use clues to rule out suspects and solve the case.
This making inference activity and lesson plan will help all of your readers succeed at making inferences and inferring as they independently read in your upper elementary and middle school classrooms. Making inference mentor text included.
Comprehension Connection is a literacy website dedicated to providing teaching tips and resources for instruction for K-5 teachers focusing on comprehension.
Using movies, short films or animations in the classroom is extremely engaging for students. I use short films from Pixar Studios to teach a variety of skills
Students will make inferences about the various scenes included in this reading exercise.
