Imagine you walk into your sister’s room and see her giggling while reading a book. What kind of book do you think she’s reading? Probably a funny one, right? Even though she didn’t tell you, you guessed it because of her laughter. This is called making an inference.
Making an inference means using what you already know to guess something you don’t know. We do this all the time, whether we’re talking to someone or reading a story. It’s like being a detective and figuring out clues!
Inferences help us understand stories better. Sometimes, stories don’t tell us everything directly, so we need to use clues to figure things out. Here are four easy steps to make inferences when you read:
Bradley invited his friend Mandy to see his new birthday present. Mandy was excited and curious about what it could be. When they reached Bradley’s house, he showed her a shiny guitar. But suddenly, Mandy didn’t seem happy anymore and quickly left, saying she had to help her mom.
Why do you think Mandy left so quickly? Let’s use our inference skills to find out!
The next day, Bradley noticed Mandy avoiding him. He followed her home and heard guitar music coming from her house. Peeking inside, he saw Mandy watching a home movie with tears in her eyes. The movie showed a man playing guitar with a little girl.
Even though the story doesn’t say Mandy is sad, we can infer she is because of the tissues and her tears. Who do you think the man and the girl are? Maybe it’s Mandy and her dad. Could the guitar remind Mandy of her dad?
Bradley learned from Mandy’s mom that the man in the movie was Mandy’s dad, who used to play guitar for her before he passed away. Now we understand why Mandy was sad when she saw Bradley’s guitar.
Bradley wanted to cheer Mandy up, so he invited her to play with his other birthday presents, like a dartboard and a robot kit. Mandy smiled and agreed, showing that Bradley’s idea worked!
Now that you know how to make inferences, you can use this skill to understand stories better. Next time you read a book, look for clues and use your knowledge to make guesses about the story. The more you practice, the better you’ll become at making inferences!
Inference Detective Game: Gather a few everyday items, like a spoon, a book, and a toy. Place them in a bag. Ask the children to pick an item without looking and describe a situation where they might use it. Then, have them make an inference about what the item might tell them about the person who owns it. For example, if they pick a book, they might infer that the person likes to read.
Story Clue Hunt: Read a short story or a picture book with the children. Pause at different points and ask them to look for clues in the text or illustrations that hint at what might happen next. Encourage them to share their inferences and discuss why they think that way. This will help them practice combining details with their own knowledge to make educated guesses.
Feelings and Faces: Show the children pictures of people with different facial expressions. Ask them to infer what the person might be feeling and why. Discuss what clues (like a smile or frown) helped them make their inference. This activity helps children understand that inferences are not just about stories but also about understanding people in real life.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript, removing any unnecessary elements and focusing on the content:
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**Making Inferences**
If you walked into your sister’s bedroom and found her smiling and laughing while reading a book, what type of book would you think she was reading? Probably something silly or funny, right? Even though your sister didn’t tell you the book was funny, you’d likely assume it was because of her reactions.
This process is called making an inference. Making an inference means using what you already know to make a guess about something you don’t know. Sometimes, you have to guess or assume what is happening in a situation based on what you see and what you already know. People make inferences every day, both in conversation and in writing.
Making inferences is an important skill in reading comprehension. It helps you understand what is happening in a story, even when it isn’t explicitly stated. To make inferences when you read, follow these four simple steps:
1. Read the text.
2. Look for clues or important facts and details.
3. Combine those details with things that you already know.
4. Make inferences about what you are reading.
Let’s use these steps to make some inferences about a story called “Bradley’s Guitar.”
Bradley called to his best friend, Mandy, as they left school for the day. “Hey Mandy, want to come home with me and check out my new birthday present?”
“Sure,” Mandy replied. “What did you get?”
“I’m going to let you be surprised,” Bradley said.
They walked a few blocks to his house and greeted his mom when they arrived. “Show me already!” Mandy said excitedly.
Bradley led Mandy to the den, where a big black case that looked like it held a musical instrument was sitting on the couch. He raced to it while Mandy walked behind him slowly.
“Isn’t it awesome?” Bradley cried, pulling out a beautifully polished guitar.
Mandy stood in the doorway, her excited smile now completely gone. Bradley didn’t notice as he lifted the guitar from the case. “It’s just like my uncle’s,” he said as he strummed the strings. “I can already play a couple of songs. Want to hear?”
“Uh, maybe later,” Mandy replied. “I just remembered I have to help my mom with dinner tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
Mandy waved and practically ran out the door. Bradley frowned, wondering what was going on with his best friend.
Let’s pause the story here to make some inferences. Was Mandy upset when she and Bradley were walking to his house? No, they were having a great time. Was Mandy excited to see Bradley’s birthday present? Yes, she was very excited. Did something change once Mandy saw the guitar? Yes, it seemed like she was suddenly in a hurry to leave.
Do you think something was bothering Mandy, and it might have to do with the guitar? Think about these questions as we continue the story.
The next day, Mandy avoided Bradley at school and ran home as soon as the last bell rang. But Bradley followed her. When he arrived at her house, he was surprised to hear beautiful guitar music coming from the open windows of her living room. He peeked inside before knocking on the door.
Mandy was sitting on the rug in front of the television, holding a box of tissues, her wet eyes glued to the screen where a home movie was playing. Bradley could see a man on the TV playing guitar and singing to a little girl seated next to him.
Let’s pause the story again to make some more inferences. Even though the story doesn’t tell us that Mandy is sad, does it seem like she is? What clues help you know that? Did you notice the box of tissues next to her and her wet eyes? Based on those clues and what you know about wet eyes and tissues, you could infer that Mandy is probably sad.
Who do you think the man and the little girl are in the video? Did you infer that it was Mandy and her dad? If so, what clue made you think that? Was it because Mandy was watching a home movie?
Why do you think this home movie made Mandy sad? Do you wonder if something happened to Mandy’s dad?
Let’s finish the rest of the story to see if we can answer those questions.
Bradley prepared to knock on the door, but just then, Mandy’s mom opened it. “What movie is Mandy watching?” Bradley asked.
“It’s a home movie of Mandy and her dad,” Mandy’s mom replied. “He used to play the guitar for her every night before he died.”
“Oh yeah, I remember,” Bradley said slowly. “Um, can I come in?”
Mandy’s mom hesitated. “I guess that would be okay, but Mandy might not be up for some company right now.”
Bradley followed her inside. When Mandy caught sight of him, she quickly turned off the video and wiped her eyes.
“Oh, hi,” she mumbled. “Do you want me to come over today?” Bradley asked her. “I didn’t get to show you my other presents. I got a dartboard, a gumball machine, and a build-your-own robot kit. It’s pretty cool.”
Mandy’s cheeks lifted as she suddenly smiled. “Building a robot would be fun!”
“Great, let’s go!” Bradley grinned back, happy to see his best friend smiling again.
Now that you’ve listened to the entire story, what inferences could you make about guitars, Mandy’s father, and sadness from this story? Did you infer that Mandy was sad when she saw Bradley’s guitar because it reminded her of her dad? When Mandy first saw the guitar at Bradley’s house, could you infer that she was worried she might cry if she heard him play?
Maybe you’ve lost someone close to you and can understand how Mandy feels. If so, that personal knowledge could help you make that inference. Mandy crying later when she watched the home video of her dad would be a clue that supports that inference.
Let’s make one last inference. Why do you think Bradley suggested darts or building robots as an activity for him and Mandy? Do you think he was trying to cheer her up and take the focus off the guitar now that he understood why she was sad?
When someone is sad, have you ever tried to cheer them up by changing the subject? If so, your personal experience might have helped you make that inference.
Mandy becoming excited again to go to Bradley’s house might be a clue that it worked. Great job! Now that you know how to make inferences, this skill will help you improve your reading comprehension. The next time you read a book, pay attention to the inferences you make about the story. The more you practice, the better you’ll get!
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Hope this helps!
