Story Inference
When Lily woke up, she noticed her room looked brighter than usual. She rubbed her eyes and walked to the window. Outside, everything was covered in a thick, sparkling blanket. Kids from her neighborhood were already outside, laughing and rolling giant balls in their yards. Lily quickly grabbed her warm boots and coat and hurried toward the door, excited for the day.
What can you infer has happened outside overnight?
It snowed
Ella’s shoes are damp, and her umbrella is dripping on the floor. Her backpack has a few mud streaks on it.
What can you infer happened to Ella on her way to school?
It rained while she was walking, and she got wet.
What do you need to make an inference?
Teeny tiny clues and what you already know.
I’m soft, warm, and you wear me when it’s cold. I cover your head and sometimes have a pom-pom on top. What am I?
I'm a winter hat.
Ben gasped, patting his pockets. "Where are my yellow tickets?" he whispered. Then he retraced his steps back through the hallway.”
What is Ben likely going to do next?
Look for/try to find his yellow tickets.
Nina stretched at the starting line, her sneakers tied tight. The whistle blew, and she moved as fast as she could. Her best friend, Carla, was right beside her. Halfway down the path, Nina tripped but quickly got up again. The crowd cheered as she crossed the finish line.
What can you infer Nina is doing?
Nina is running a race.
The desk is filled with faint pencil marks and crumpled pieces of paper are on top. A ruler is lying on the desk too, and the math book is open to a page full of notes.
What can you infer happened in this classroom?
Someone was working hard on math problems or practicing measurements.
When making an inference, do you need all the clues or some clues?
ALL of the clues.
I make a crunchy sound when you walk on me in the fall. I come in reds, yellows, and browns. What am I?
A fallen leaf.
Sasha studied for a week, practiced flashcards, and reread her notes.
What will she do next?
Take a test when she gets to her class at school.
Max stared at his painting and sighed. The colors had mixed together into a muddy brown. He looked over at Lily’s bright, perfect picture of a sunset. The teacher said judging would start soon. Max grabbed a new brush and started again, faster this time.
What can you infer Max is doing and why?
Max is painting because he is going to be in a contest.
The bread on the plate are half-eaten, the butter is smeared across the counter, and the family dog is hiding under the table.
What can you infer happened in the kitchen?
The dog probably knocked over the plate, made a mess, and ate the bread.
True or False: An inference is the same as a guess with no evidence.
False
You can open me to go outside. I’m made of glass so you can see through me. I keep the rain out and the warm in. What am I?
I am a window.
The clouds in the sky turned dark and heavy as Alex carried his soccer ball across the field. A gust of wind blew leaves across the grass, and distant thunder rumbled. He looked at the goalposts and then back at the sky, wondering how long he could practice before the rain started.
What will likely happen next?
It will start raining, so Alex might run inside or stop playing.
Late at night, Anna heard a scratching sound outside her window. She pulled the blanket up to her chin. The noise came again-scratch, scratch. She peeked out and saw two glowing eyes staring back. She then heard the animal making a purring sound.
What can you infer is outside Anna’s window?
A cat
On the grassy field, the PE teacher holds a stopwatch ready, glancing at the line of students stretching and bouncing on their toes. Water bottles sit in a neat row under a tree, and several kids wipe their hands on their shirts. The grass shows a faint, worn path. There is a clipboard with names and numbers resting at the teacher’s feet.
What can you infer is happening?
The students are about to do the mile run in P.E. class.
Why do authors sometimes not tell you everything directly in a story?
They do not because they want you to infer and think about it yourself.
I help you find your way, but I don’t talk. I have lines, symbols, and sometimes a compass rose. What am I?
A map.
Emma opened the oven and the smell of chocolate filled the kitchen. She carefully lifted the tray of cookies, still warm, and placed it on the counter. She wiped her hands on a towel and noticed the timer was still blinking. Outside, her little brother pressed his face against the window with a big grin.
What will likely happen next?
Emma will let her brother have a cookie.
Snowflakes drifted steadily from the gray sky as Nora dragged a large plastic bin across the yard. She opened it and pulled out three old scarves, a wooden broom, and a carrot she had saved from lunch. After packing the snow tightly into three big circles, she stacked them carefully, patting the sides so they wouldn’t crumble. She stepped back, checked the shape, and then pressed two rocks into the top circle. Finally, she pushed the broom under one side and smiled at her work as she brushed snow off her gloves.
What can you infer Nora has just finished making?
A snowman
Tyler came home and found his backpack unzipped, papers scattered across the floor, and pencil shavings near the trash can. His little sister is giggling while holding a crumpled notebook.
What can you infer happened to Tyler’s homework?
His sister probably went through his backpack and played/messed with his homework.
If two students make different inferences from the same story, what must be true for both answers to be correct?
Both inferences must be supported by clues from the story.
I fly without wings, scream without a mouth, and appear whenever storms roll in. What am I?
I am the wind.
Snow covered the playground, and the air smelled crisp and cold. Brian pulled his scarf tighter and carried a sled across the hill, careful to avoid the icy patches. A few friends were already at the top, laughing as they had fun. He set the sled down, glanced at the clouds overhead, and saw gray streaks that promised more snow. Footprints crisscrossed the hill, showing where others had already played, and the wind carried tiny snowflakes across his face.
What will likely happen next?
Brian will slide down the hill on his sled, joining his friends in playing in the snow.