Make an Inference Read Between the Lines

What is an inference? An inference is something that you conclude based partly on evidence and partly on your own knowledge. When you make an inference, you read something, add what you know to it, and draw a conclusion. You put two and two together or read between the lines. What I Read +What I Know = Already What I Infer A character has tears in his eyes. People with tears in their eyes often are sad. The character might be sad.

Did you know you make inferences everyday in the real world? You compare things. You evaluate situations. You make predictions. These skills help you to choose friends, settle argument, and make decisions. Which toy would I enjoy playing with? Is the computer project not going well? Will the baseball game be canceled?

How do I make inferences when I read? The school is brightly lit, even though it is 7:00 P.M. Parents rush from the parking lot into the front door. Student ushers direct them to the gym. Inside the gym, there are 100 folding chairs set up in rows. All the teachers in the school sit up front, facing the chairs. The principal stands at the podium and waits for the crowd to settle down. A large poster hangs on the wall near the principal. It says: Welcome Parents!!!! Raise your hand if youre looking forward to a great school year! Adapted From: Readers Handbook: A Student Guide for Reading and Learning

After Reading Make an Inference Parents have come to the school for: a board meeting or back-to-school night. What I Read +What I Know = Already What I Infer 1.Parents come to school 2.Welcome sign 3.Asks if people are looking forward to a great school year 1.Our school has a time to meet teachers and see the school at the beginning of every school year. The parents, teachers, principal, and students have gotten together to talk about the upcoming school year.

With Your Partner Make an Inference The principal stands in front because: she is going to speak or there is no seat left for her. What I Read +What I Know = Already What I Infer 1.The principal stands at a podium facing the chairs. 2.The parents and students are sitting in the chairs. 1.On Back-To- School night my principal talks to the parents and students about the new school year. Its Back-To- School night so the principal is going to speak to the parents and students.

Lets Practice Oh, I had a balloon. It was round, it was red. Such a lovely balloon, Almost as big as my head. But I heard a loud noise, And I looked around to see. For I wondered just what, Made that loud noise at me. What can you infer about the balloon? What I Read +What I Know = Already What I Infer

More Practice The Snow-Bird By Frank Dempster Sherman When all the ground with snow is white the merry snow-bird comes. And hops about with great delight to find the scattered crumbs. How glad he seems to get to eat a piece of cake or bread! He wears no shoes upon feet, nor hat upon his head. But happiest is he, I know, because no cage with bars keeps him from walking on the snow and printing it with stars. What can you infer about the balloon? What I Read + What I Know Already = What I Infer

You Can Make Inferences About the Setting After reading you can picture a setting, you are reading the setting. You need to read between the lines and make inferences about what it tells you. Usually the setting tells you: 1.about the feeling, or mood, of the moment 2.about how characters feel or what they are like 3.about something new that is about to happen in the plot

Check Out This Example The house stood at the top of the hill surrounded by twisted, bare trees. The girl shivered in the cold wind and brushed the wet snow from her shoes. She remembered her nice, warm home in Florida with its sandy beaches and bright sunshine. Slowly, she walked towards her new home. How does the girl feel? What I Read +What I Know = Already What I Infer 1.The setting creates a dreary, sad, unwanted mood. 2.The girl thinks of her old home. 3.The girl walked slowly to her new home. 1.It is hard to move to a new place. 2.When you move you lose things you care about or are used to. The girl does not like her new home and prefers her old home.

With Your Partner Make an Inference Fireworks lit the night in flashes of red, blue, green, and yellow. Children ran across the green grass waving sparklers. Parents sat on blankets and drank icy drinks to cool off. Laughter could be heard across the field. What can you infer about the events in the text? What I Read +What I Know = Already What I Infer

Lets Practice Warm sand shifted under my feet as I walked across the beach. The soothing sound of the waves calmed my thoughts. A soft breeze made the heat of the day feel like a warm cozy blanket in winter. I hope this day never ends. What can you infer about how the character feels about the beach based on the mood created by the setting? What I Read +What I Know = Already What I Infer