Inference 1
"The hallway lights flickered, and the janitor hurried down the stairs carrying a toolbox." What can you infer about the janitor's likely destination or task? Cite one piece of textual evidence that supports your inference.
He was going to fix the lightbulb because it "flickered"
"Maya hugged her backpack and smiled when she saw the bus arrive."
Question: What can you infer Maya is feeling?
Happy, excited
"The lights were off in the classroom, and a single desk lamp illuminated the teacher’s open laptop." What can you infer about why the teacher might be at school late at night?
They are grading. They had to stay late to finish working. They are lesson planning and took a while.
"Nina closed her book and turned off the lamp, yawning."
Question: What can you infer Nina will do next? Quote the phrase that supports your inference.
Nina will go to bed next because she is "yawning"
The first team to write a verb gets 100 points
A character says, "I haven't slept in three days, and I keep forgetting my keys." What inference can you make about the character's condition or recent experiences?
The character is forgetting her keys because she is overtired.
Any other inferences?
"Liam put on his raincoat and grabbed an umbrella before leaving."
Question: What can you infer about the weather?
It's raining. It's going to rain today. Rain is in the forecast.
"She rewrote the letter three times, each time erasing whole paragraphs. When she finally mailed it, she exhaled as if relieved." What inference can you make about the letter’s importance and her feelings? Provide text-based evidence
The letter is very important because she "rewrote it three times," which I know shows she gave it careful thought.
She is feeling relieved to be done with the letter as it says, "she exhaled as if relieved. I know being done with a task that takes a lot of work is relieving.
"The mail carrier left a brightly wrapped package on the porch, then walked off into the snow."
Question: What can you infer about the package? Write down your evidence.
The package is a Christmas gift because it's brightly wrapped, and it's snowing outside, showing it's winter.
The first team to write an adjective gets 200 points
Beautiful, majestic, cool, big, small, hot, cold, sad, happy, silly, outrageous, preposterous
When Elsa opened the mailbox, she smiled and quickly set the envelope aside. Later, she sat down and read it twice." What can you infer about the envelope's contents and why?
The envelope contains something important to Elsa because she "smiled" and "read it twice"
or
She didn't want anyone to see what was in the envelope other than herself.
"Ava practiced her spelling words every night and got a gold star on Friday."
Question: What can you infer about Ava's study habits? What kind of student is she?
A good student. A hard worker. She has strong study habits.
"Carlos practiced the piano at dawn while his siblings were still asleep; later he turned down two invitations to hang out." What can you infer about Carlos's priorities?
Carlos is working hard to practice the piano. His priority is getting better at the piano right now.
"Ethan practiced shooting baskets until his shirt was soaked with sweat."
Question: What can you infer about Ethan's effort or attitude? Write down your evidence.
Ethan is a dedicated basketball player. He puts in a lot of effort to practicing basketball. I see this in the text where it says he "practiced... until his shirt was soaked with sweat."
First team to write a simile (comparing 2 things using the words like or as) get 300 points
While reading, you read the line, "He avoided running water and always wore long sleeves, even on hot days." What inference could you draw about the character’s possible concerns or background?
The character may come from someplace cold.
The character may have sensory preferences and want to keep their long sleeves.
"James waited at the playground bench, watched the clock, and waved when his mom walked through the gate."
Question: What can you infer about why James was waiting?
He was waiting for his mom to come pick him up.
"Ben packed a lunch and put a hat in his backpack before the field trip." What can you infer Ben is getting ready to do?
Getting ready to go on a field trip to the park or zoo, any sunny spot without food, because he needs a hat and a lunch.
"A line of empty plates sat on the counter around 7 PM, remnants of a good meal still on them."
Question: What can you infer about what just happened in the kitchen?
Cite the phrase that supports your inference.
The family just had dinner together. The family just ate together. I know this because there's a "line of empty plates" on a counter and "remnants of a good meal" are still there, showing me that dinner was just eaten.
Write a sentence using a metaphor (comparing two things by saying one thing is another)
He is a cow when he eats. The trees are the lungs of the earth.
"During the drill, Maya's hands trembled as she tucked away the family photo into her backpack. She checked the door twice and left without breakfast." What deeper inference can you make about Maya's situation?
Maya seems scared because she is trembling and checks the door twice.
Maya is experiencing a natural disaster of some kind because there is a "drill" going on.
"The neighbors waved at each other but didn't stop to chat." What inference can be made about this person's relationship with their neighbors?
They are acquaintances. They are friendly but not actually friends. The neighbors are shy with talking.
"The town's bakery displayed an empty cake stand with a small note: 'Sold out—thank you.' Across the street, a new shop opened with a huge 'Grand Opening' banner and a long line of customers." What can you infer about the town bakery’s reputation and the community’s response to the new shop?
The town's Bakery being sold out shows that the community likes this spot, they could be loyal to this spot.
I can infer that the community is excited about the new shop as there is a line of people outside.
"The calendar on the wall had today's date circled and 'exam' written in big letters."
Question: What can you infer about how the person feels?
This person is feeling anxious about their exam today because they have it circled on their calendar, showing its importance.
Draw me a noun.
Person, place, thing, or idea!