TEACHING POINT: TO MAKE INFERENCES BY ANALYZING CHARACTERS’ ACTIONS. MAY 15, 2013

MINI-LESSON What is inferencing? Model with Colo and the picture Have students inference with Chantek

WHAT IS INFERENCING? Inferencing is NOT just a guess!!! When you inference you are making an INFORMED guess. You must use clues from the text to make an inference.

MODEL- INFERENCE Consider the time that Charlene Jendry was in her office at the Columbus Zoo and word came to her that a male gorilla named Colo was clutching a suspicious object. Arriving on the scene, Charlene offered Colo some peanuts, only to be met with a blank stare. Realizing that they were negotiating, Charlene upped the ante and offered a piece of pineapple. At this point, without making eye contact with Charlene, Colo opened his hand and revealed that he was holding a key chain, much in the manner that a fence might furtively show a potential customer stolen goods on the street. Relieved that it was not anything dangerous or valuable, Charlene gave Colo the piece of pineapple. Astute bargainer that he was, Colo then broke the key chain and gave Charlene a link, perhaps figuring, "Why give her the whole thing if I can get a bit of pineapple for each piece?" Why does Colo break the key chain in pieces? How did Colo learn to trade?

WHY DOES COLO BREAK THE KEY CHAIN IN PIECES? Text Clue: "Why give her the whole thing if I can get a bit of pineapple for each piece?" Prior Knowledge: When you are trading with someone the more items you have the higher the value of the trade is. Inference: Colo breaks the key chain into pieces because he knows that if the more pieces he has of the key chain the more pieces of pineapple he will be able to get.

MORE INFORMATION FOR PRIOR KNOWLEDGE This video talks about primates being able to “mirror” human behaviors…could this be one reason why Colo was trading?

HOW DID COLO LEARN TO TRADE? Inference Colo learned to trade because he has done this before. He understands that when a trainer offers you something they want something in return and depending on the value you can ask for more or less. Text Clue Arriving on the scene, Charlene offered Colo some peanuts, only to be met with a blank stare. Realizing that they were negotiating, Charlene upped the ante and offered a piece of pineapple. Prior Knowledge When animals are trained they are given a “treat” in return for the animal doing a trick. They are given bigger treats for more valuable tricks or trades.

HOW TO INFER WITH A PICTURE Why is there a giant balloon of a Panda?

INFER WITH A PICTURE Inference:Picture Clues:Prior Knowledge: They are at the thanksgiving day parade. Therefore, there is a giant balloon of a panda. The street signs and crosswalks look like they are in New York City. The streets are closed off. There is a New York City bus sign. I watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade every year and I know that they had a float of Kung Fu Panda one year.

YOUR TURN! Try to answer the first question for the story of Chantek with your partner! Fill out the organizer.

WORK-TIME Continue with the rest of the organizer. Fill in the answers for all of the questions. If you finish before the rest of the group take a packet of pictures with inferencing questions to further assess your inferencing skills!!

SHARE Go over answers