Inference Detective

In this lesson students will learn how to make inferences.  When you make an inference, you’re reading between the lines or just looking carefully at the facts and coming to conclusions. In order to successfully do a close read of a text, students must be able to think critically and use reading strategies. Making inferences is an important reading strategy that helps to aid in the comprehension process. Comprehension is critical when attempting a close read.

Mission: Detectives I charge you to read three passages and solve the mysteries by reading between the lines.Once you have solved the mysteries provide textual evidence to support each mystery that you have solved. Once you have solved the mysteries you will be rewarded handsomely with the sum of a 100 as a daily grade.

Mission II: Detectives in order to ensure I am not outsmarted by a detective as clever as you, let me see your thinking process.  Paraphrase each mystery the way we have discussed in class. This way I can rest assure you understood what you were reading.

Mission III: Good Luck

The detecives are to read each passage and answer each question related to the passage. Beside the text the detectives will paraphrase what the passage is about.

Directions: Read each passage and then respond to the questions. Each question will ask you to make a logical inference based on textual details. Explain your answer by referencing the text. 
Mr. Johnson looked up at the sky. It was clear as far as the eye could see, except for the cruel sun. The insatiable sun drained the land of all moisture. He cursed the sun. Mr. Johnson ran his fingers through one of the rows of dirt and grabbed a handful. It was bone dry, almost powdery. He let the dirt sift through his fingers and it turned to dust in the wind. Mr. Johnson put his hands on his hips and surveyed the field. It was well seeded, that he knew. He had seeded it himself, yet nothing sprang from the dirt. "Well, there's only one thing left to do," he said to himself. Mr. Johnson headed to church. 
1. What does Mr. Johnson do for a living? ________________________________________________ 
How do you know this?    
2. Why is Mr. Johnson cursing the sun? __________________________________________________ 
How do you know this?    
3. Why does Mr. Johnson go to church at the end of the passage?  _____________________________ 
How do you know this?    
Warren pushed the back door open with his elbow. He was dragging a heavy black plastic sack behind him. Thud, thud, thud. The bag thumped each stair Warren descended. Thud, thud, rip, drip, drip. The bag had gotten caught on a nail and a foul, odorous juice poured out, splashing Warren's leg. "Ew... gross!" Warren shouted as he adjusted the bag. He walked out to the alley and deposited the bag in a large plastic container, closing the lid behind him as he left, still muttering about his pants. 
4. What is Warren doing? _____________________________________________________________ 
How do you know this?    
5. Why does Warren get so angry when the bag spills on his leg? ______________________________ 
How do you know this?    
Pablo slowly got off the ground and wiped the dust from his pants. There were several tears in both legs. He could see blood through the holes. He picked the gravel from his wounds, wiped off the dust and looked at the motorbike. The bike was on its side, the front wheel was turned around, and the wheel was spinning. Pablo's elbow and shoulder hurt as he struggled to pull the heavy bike upright once again. He got back on his seat and headed once more for home. When he got there, he quickly grabbed the hose and sprayed the motorbike. He wiped it down with a rag from his father's garage and then parked it against the wall. He walked into his house where his mother was shocked to see him. "Oh my! By heavens, what happened to you, Pablo?" Pablo did not even hesitate, "I got attacked by a dog after school by Jalen's house. It was one of his neighbor's dogs." 
6. How did Pablo injure himself? _______________________________________________________ 
How do you know this?    
7. Why does Pablo wash his bike off when he gets home?  ___________________________________ 
How do you know this?    
8. Why does Pablo tell his mother the story about the dog? ___________________________________ 
How do you know this?    
Virgil slammed his fist against the locker. The hallway had been packed one minute ago, but now most of the students had filed into their classes. The bell would ring shortly. Virgil looked around urgently but saw no friendly faces. He faced the locker again and started spinning the lock, first right, then left, then right. He took a deep breath and pulled the lock. It held tight. Virgil cursed under his breath at the exact moment that the bell rang. Virgil grabbed the handle of the locker and yanked it repeatedly in a fit of frustration. Then he threw his arms against the locker and burrowed his head into his arms. Finally, he pushed himself off of the locker and went to look for a custodian. 
9. Why is Virgil upset? _______________________________________________________________ 
How do you know this?    
10. Why did Virgil go to look for a custodian at the end of the passage? ________________________ 
How do you know this?

In order for the detectives to receive the full 100 daily grade this rubric must be followed. If they have maximize their points for each column a score of 100 will reach their accounts.

Complete senteces                             Spelling errors                                     All questions answered correctly

Congratulations you did it! You were able to solve each mystery by reading the text and using textual evidence to support your findings! Your reward is waiting!

Credits

Author Biography

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By Alethea Jenkins

This is a lesson on making inferences. This is to help students in the beginning phase of reading between the line and making conclusions based on what they have read. It is an intergral part of the comprehension process.

Hello fellow teachers. My name is Alethea Jenkins. I am a 6th grade reading teacher at Chastain Middle School, in Jackson, MS. It is my passion to help mold critical thinkers. Thinking critically is a process that is new to most of our students however, with patience and proper instruction it is a skill that can be developed.