Name ___________________
Making Inferences- PowerPoint Companion
A large, grey cloud began to fill the sky and the wind started to blow harder and harder.
Which of these sentences would probably follow?
A.
Andy and his family decided it would be the perfect day for a picnic.
B.
Within 30 minutes, thunder was booming and rain was pouring down.
In the thought
bubbles, write
your thoughts
that helped you
choose the
correct answer.
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Joni’s bedroom…
Those entering Joni’s bedroom are greeted by
bright blue walls. Hanging above her bed is a large
framed photo of a female athlete racing through
the water. Next to her door is a bulletin board
filled with medals and ribbons. Sitting on her desk
are two trophies, and between them is a handmade
card that reads “Go Sharks!” On her bed sits a
gym bag filled with a suit, goggles, and a cap.
Carter’s bedroom…
Carter’s bedroom is spotless. His bed is made
perfectly, without a wrinkle in sight. The books in
his bookshelf are arranged by size - from tallest
to smallest. His closet is most impressive of all –
with his good clothes hanging in one spot, his school
clothes hanging in another area, and his play
clothes in another. His shoes are placed in the
same arrangement below his clothes. I asked, and
his mom swears she doesn’t do it for him!
= Inference
1. Highlight text clues.
2. Record a few schema clues:
3. Make some inferences!
1. Highlight text clues.
2. Record a few schema clues:
3. Make some inferences!
Victoria’s bedroom…
1. Highlight text clues.
The first thing I noticed when I walked into
Victoria’s bedroom was the colorfully painted desk
in the corner of her room. Sitting on top of this
desk was a hand-painted tin can filled with markers,
glue, scissors, and colored pencils. Next to the
desk was a clear container filled with scraps of
construction paper, glitter, and lots of different
little things. Upon her bed sat a magazine called
2. Record a few schema clues:
3. Make some inferences!
Make It Yourself!
Authors assume that readers will make inferences.
They expect you to “read between the lines”.
1. Authors often expect you to infer using CONTEXT CLUES.
Jada grabs her racket and runs out the door. She is supposed to meet Tim at the
court in five minutes!
What is Jada going to do?
Highlight the context clues.
2. Authors often expect you to infer using FEELINGS.
Tim sits at the court, tapping his fingers against his racket as he looks in the
direction Jada should be coming. I should have known, he thought, she’s always late.
How is Tim feeling?
Explain your inference.
3. Authors often expect you to infer MOTIVES.
Jada speeds to the court on her bike. She knows Tim well. He doesn’t wait around,
even if Jada is just a few minutes late.
What is Jada’s motive for speeding to the court?
Explain your inference.
Ashley is constantly doing cartwheels
and tumbling in the house, and her mom is
constantly telling her to stop… that the
house is too small and she is going to
break something. One afternoon, when
Ashley’s mom goes to get the mail, Ashley
does a handstand, loses control, and hits
the end table. This causes the lamp to fall
to the ground and break. Ashley is still
scrambling to pick up the pieces when her
mom walks into the room. Ashley tells her
mom that their dog bumped the table,
causing the lamp to fall and break.
What is the most likely to reason that
Ashley gives her mom a false
explanation of how the lamp broke?
A. She enjoys making up stories.
B. She knows her mom will laugh if she
hears that the dog caused the lamp to
break.
C. She doesn’t want to get into trouble.
D. She forgot what really happened.
Explain how you inferred to determine the correct answer.
Some animals, such as certain snakes
and jellyfish, produce venom that can kill
their prey. In the late 1800s, Albert
Calmette invented the first antivenin used
successfully on humans. When antivenins
are injected into the bloodstream of an
infected person, they stick to the
poisonous venom in the person’s blood.
This causes the venom to stop working.
Unfortunately, antivenins only work
against the type of venom they are made
of. Therefore, when a person is bitten, it
is important to remember what the animal
looked like. Scientists are working to find
ONE antivenin that will work on many types
of animals’ venoms, but so far they have
not found one.
What is the most likely reason why it is
important for a person who is bitten by
a poisonous animal to remember what
the animal looks like?
A. This will help scientists discover new
antivenins.
B. This information will help the doctors
know which antivenin to give you.
C. The doctor will ask you to draw a
picture of it for your medical
records.
D. This information needs to be
recorded for public safety.
Explain how you inferred to determine the correct answer.
All of the students in Mrs. Sadler’s class are
excited about Mother’s Day. They have been
preparing a play, and mothers have been invited
to attend the performance. Curtis is nervous- he
reminded his mom of the event three times that
morning, but she didn’t seem too interested in it.
He asked her one last time before he left for
school if she would come, and she nodded her
head as she gazed at her computer. Now, as
Curtis anxiously watches the door, he sees many
smiling mothers enter the classroom. Students
greet their mothers and lead them to their seats.
When the play begins, there is only one empty
chair in the audience.
What is most likely the reason why
there is an empty chair in the
classroom when the play begins?
A. One of the mothers got sick
and had to leave.
B. Mrs. Sadler decided to stand.
C. Curtis’ mom did not show up.
D. The students miscounted and
set up an extra chair.
Explain how you inferred to determine the correct answer.
The Invention of the Band-aid
Earle Dickson worked for a company called
Johnson & Johnson in 1920. This company
manufactured surgical dressings. He was also
married to a woman, Josephine, who seemed to be
prone to accidents. She frequently cut her
fingers! Whenever this happened, Earle would put
some cotton gauze on the cut, and then hold it in
place with a sticky cloth bandage.
One day, Earle decided to keep one step
ahead of his wife. He put some cotton squares
along a strip of sticky cloth bandage at regular
intervals. Then, Josephine could cut off a strip as
she needed them. Earle told his boss about his
invention, and the rest is history!
From this story,
you can guess that:
A. Josephine wasn’t very smart.
B. Josephine was clumsy.
C. Earle was lazy.
D. Earle was annoyed by his wife.
Explain how you inferred to determine the correct answer.