In this activity, your child will use what they already know and clues from the text to make a smart guess, or inference, about a story.
Learning Area(s): Reading and Writing
MATERIALS
short stories (provided in the following section)
LET'S PLAY
Choose two or three stories from the following for your child to read aloud. Tell your child, “You’re going to read some short stories today. Like a detective, you will pay close attention to the important clues in each story. When you’ve found as many clues as you can, you’ll follow them to make a smart guess about the story.” Have your child read aloud one story at a time and assist as needed. At the end of each story, ask your child the questions that follow. You can celebrate a smart guess by saying something like, “You found the clues and solved the case! Great detective work!”
Click the button to open each story.
Story 1
Maddie’s family was going on a trip! Her uncle put ice and water bottles in the cooler. Maddie’s dad packed the towels and sunscreen. Maddie’s brother put the buckets, shovels, and a kite in the car. Maddie put on her favorite bathing suit and sunglasses. The family waved goodbye to their house as they drove away.
- “Where is Maddie’s family going?”
- “What clues did you follow that helped you figure it out?”
- “What was the weather like?”
- “How do you know?”
Story 2
Luna turned on the TV and then turned off the lights so that it was very dark. She got in her favorite spot on the couch and waited for the babysitter to sit down, too. They got under blankets and Luna pressed play on the remote. The babysitter asked, “Do you want some popcorn?” Luna fell asleep on the couch before her parents got home from dinner.
- “What are Luna and the babysitter doing?”
- “What clues did you follow that helped you figure it out?”
- “What time of day is it?”
- “How do you know?
Story 3
Nova was sitting at the kitchen counter doing her math homework. She could hear the TV; her favorite show was starting! She sighed and got back to work.
- “What does Nova want?”
- “How do you know?”
Story 4
Pete was watching his mom get ready for work. She braided her hair so that it wouldn’t get caught in the machinery. She tied her work boots tight and grabbed her safety glasses off the dresser. She asked Pete’s dad if he washed her bright orange safety vest. Before she left home, Pete reminded his mom to be safe by wearing her hardhat.
- “What kind of job does Pete’s mom have?”
- “What clues helped you figure it out?”
Story 5
Victor was waiting for his dad to pick him up after school. It started to rain, but Victor didn’t have an umbrella or a raincoat! When Victor’s dad got there a few minutes later, Victor wasn’t wet when he got in the car.
- “How did Victor not get wet from the rain?” (He waited inside.)
- “Why do you think that?”
Using clues in text to make a smart guess is called making an inference. Making inferences is an important skill that children use when they read to figure out things that the author doesn’t say. Children who can make inferences often have a deeper understanding of what they read.
TIPS
To keep practicing making inferences, check out the Stories with Holes series by Nathan Levy.
