1. Look at these pictures What are they? 1 2 3 4 5 6

2. They are … A Hammock A Doll: Charlie Brown A Piano An IguanaA bathroom scaleA phone book 1 2 3 456

3. Making Inferences You have just made inferences of the pictures in the previous activity. An inference is an educated guess about the hidden meaning of something. To make inferences when you read, you need to combine clues in the reading with information that you already know from your experience.

4. Making inference: An important reading skill The ability to make inferences is an important reading skill. Good readers make inferences about thoughts, events, outcomes, and conclusions. As you read, your inferences are confirmed or denied. If they prove invalid, you make new predictions. This constant process helps you become involved with the author's thinking and helps you learn.

5. For example: Situation: Yesterday, Bob asked a girl to be his girlfriend Bob: Would you be my girlfriend? Lucy: Yeah – right (sarcastic voice) Does Bob have a new girlfriend now? What makes you think so? What are the clues that help you make such an inference?

6. Read each statement and make an inference on what will happen next John wanted to buy medicine for his wife at the store, but he forgot his money at home. What do you think will happen next? Henry had been waiting all week to go to the beach. He was all ready to go when his mom said, “I have some bad news.” What do you think will happen next? Jenny was swinging on the swings when she heard a “SNAP!” What do you think will happen next?

7. MAKING INFERENCES

8. Dictation and Inference Write down the sentences that you hear being dictated by the teacher. Then, read the story one more time and make at least one inference about the character in the story.

9. Dictation Text Peter stared at the clock and then flew out of bed. He pulled a shirt and pair of pants from his closet and quickly got dressed. He stepped into his shoes but forgot to put on his socks. After making a quick effort to brush his teeth, he glanced in the mirror, but didn’t stop to wash his face or comb his hair. Grabbing his briefcase, Peter ran out of his apartment and raced to the elevator. After waiting for just 30 seconds, he gave up and instead ran down the stairs. He rushed out of the building, started running down the street and finally jumped into a taxi.

10. Your Inference? Peter is a forgetful and careless person Peter is late and in a hurry to get somewhere Peter is a person who doesn’t like to waste time What are your clues to come to that inference?

11. Strip stories Now, with a partner, do the strip stories activity: Rearrange the sentences to make a good paragraph. Then, choose the best inference about what you read. Circle the clues that help you make an inference.

12. Writing a Paragraph: Group Work Find an interesting picture on the internet. Create a story about the picture. Write it down in one paragraph. Exchange paragraphs. Draw inferences of the other groups’ paragraphs.