Making Inferences

Learning how to make inferences is a really tough skill to learn! Often, students want to look back in the text for answers. However, this is not the only aspect students need to do when making their own inferences. They need to use their prior knowledge, personal experience and incorporate it with the information provided. Additionally, in the primary grades, we know that students’ listening comprehension far exceeds their reading comprehension since students in kindergarten and first grade are just NOW learning to decode words. There for, it is essential students learn to strengthen their ability to infer. This important reading skill can be strengthened through the use of a wordless picture book and interactive read alouds. In addition to this, In addition to using picture books, students can also participate in a few HIGH engaging activities that I have included in this blog post.

WHY WE SHOULD TEACH INFERENCE MAKING IN THE PRIMARY GRADES

Making inferences is one of the key foundational skills that active readers must use in real life by using text evidence. This foundational skill asks students to use their own background knowledge to draw a logical conclusion. Students examine various character traits, relevant details, and the events that occur throughout the course of the story to make sense of the author’s meaning.

Young readers can sometimes be uncomfortable when making inferences! To build confidence, using creative lessons is key. Luckily, The Case of the Lucky Charms is a great way to turn students into inference detectives! 

Students keep track of the suspects using the graphic organizer at the top of thier paper. You may even want to create a class anchor chart as support for your younger students.

 

WHAT DOES MAKING INFERENCES MEAN?

When making inferences, readers combine their own experiences with clues in the text. Therefore, inferences do not just involve pulling quotes or evidence from a passage. Instead, they require students to think deeply and form connections based on what they know and what they read. 

Each case file includes short passages that tap into the students’ critical thinking skills and guides them toward drawing conclusions. Inference skills are a critical reading strategy that we use in everyday life. Students will need to pay close attention to the clues and hone in on the relevant information and context clues in order to make good inferences. The clues give the reader the specific details to help them draw conclusions they need in order to solve the case.

THE CASE OF THE LUCKY CHARMS

Sadly, the leprechaun’s cereal is missing! It is time for the inference detectives to get working! Luckily, there are collected clues and gathered up suspects for the detectives to jump right into the case. Now it is time to put on detective hats, deploy their inferring skills, and find the missing cereal. 

After looking through the suspects and paying close attention to each character’s traits, students will start using clues one by one. After each clue, they will remove suspects who do not fit the criteria. Students will use visual clues and context clues. By the last clue, students will be down to one remaining suspect. The main character of the crime has been identified! 

Depending on the age, students may work on this activity as a class, in small groups, or alone. For instance, the teacher may read each clue, and students work together to rule out suspects. Or, students may read the clues themselves to make it more challenging. However, the teacher can also read the clues, and students work independently to rule out suspects. Thankfully, there are multiple ways for students to complete this incredible activity! Regardless if the students are reading the clues or the teacher is reading the clues, the students are still working on this important reading comprehension strategy.

Often, students love to help solve any mysteries that arise! Honestly, this may be where a special pencil went to where all the cracker crumbs came from. Ultimately, they love to use clues to help solve issues. Therefore, this resource combines this interest with making inferences. By doing this, students gain confidence in their skills while having a blast! 

ADDITIONAL CASE FILES 

Students will love putting on their detective hats to find who stole the leprechaun’s Lucky Charms cereal. Thankfully, there are plenty of other inference detective lessons! For instance, The Case of the Missing Apples is perfect as the weather warms up. Students will narrow down suspects to find who stole the farmer’s apples. Furthermore, there are lessons on the case of the missing candy, cape, and toy sack. There are so many options since inferences are tough. However, students will love every minute of these lessons! 

Making inferences can be one of the most challenging standards for students to master. These higher-order thinking skills activities are a fun way for students to practice. The Case of the Lucky Charms is an exciting way to gain confidence in this skill! By putting on detective hats and receiving a case file, students will feel mature and trusted. Therefore, they will put all of their focus into solving the case!

Here are some of the other Inferencing detective grade level activities that you can use to help your students with this important skill:

• THE CASE OF THE MISSING TOY SACK
• THE CASE OF THE MISSING APPLES
• THE CASE OF THE MISSING CANDY
• THE CASE OF THE MISSING CAPE
• THE CASE OF THE MISSING PUMPKIN PIE
• THE CASE OF THE MISSING GINGERBREAD MAN
• THE CASE OF THE SNOWMAN’S MISSING HAT
• THE CASE OF THE SECRET VALENTINE
• THE CASE OF THE LUCKY CHARMS
• THE CASE OF THE MISSING EGGS

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