Theme and Inferences

Making Inferences

What is an inference?

An inference is when you take clues from the text and what you already know to draw a conclusion. 

-Schema is your background knowledge- what you ALREADY know.

Text clues + What you know (schema) = Inference! 

What is an inference?

Inferences require you to read between the lines to figure out what the author is trying to tell you. 

Inferences are NOT directly stated in the text.   You must think deeper to understand what is going on.  

Multiple Choice

What is schema?

• Background knowledge or what you already know

• Text evidence or clues in the text

• A guess

Multiple Choice

"Clues" you see or read in the text are called?

• Background knowledge

• Text evidence

• A guess

Multiple Choice

An inference is not directly stated in the text.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

When you infer you...

• Make a random guess

• Read between the lines

• Find the answer directly in the text

Making Inferences

Read the paragraphs.  Use text evidence and your background knowledge to infer. 

Poll

Are you ready to infer?

• Bring it on!

• 100%

• Let's do this!

Multiple Choice

Splat! " Oh, rats!" thought Katie as she stooped to clean up the gooey, runny mess.

"I hope we have another one. " She looked in the fridge and pulled out the carton. "One Left! Breakfast wasn't ruined after all."

What do you infer Katie cleaned up?

• milk

• eggs

• pancakes

• butter

Multiple Choice

The scout leader looked at the dark cloudy sky and muttered something under his breath. Then he looked at the map. "Let's get moving." He called to the group of tired boys. "The faster the better."

Why do you think the scout leader started rushing the boys?

• They were going to be late for dinner

• They were going to miss their ride that was waiting for them

• It was going to rain

• The sun was about to cause it to be too hot for them to stay out much longer

Multiple Choice

It was 8:30 on Sunday night. Emily stared at the large, empty poster board on her bed. Then she looked at the stack of un-read books about Abraham Lincoln on her desk. Emily began to cry.

Why do you think Emily was crying?

• She wanted a different color poster

• It was late and she had a lot of schoolwork to complete before she could end her night

• She did not want to go to sleep

• She wanted a book about George Washington instead

Multiple Choice

"Ouch!" Lucy had fallen again! She shivered and picked herself back up. Then she spotted her older sister Sarah, gliding backwards. She was so graceful. Sarah made everything look so easy.

What do you infer Lucy is doing?

• Swimming

• Ice Skating

• Horse Back Riding

• Dancing

Multiple Choice

Tim looked out the window. The house looked so lonely. Tim's father put the last suitcase in the trunk and started up the car. Thor, his dog, put his head on Tim's lap, like he understood how Tim was feeling. "It's okay Thor," he said, "Dad says we will like it there."

What do you infer is happening?

• Tim is sad because his dog doesn't have a house to live in.

• Tim is taking a trip to visit peolpe he doesn't know.

• Tim is taking Thor to live with his grandmother.

• Tim's family is moving.

Multiple Choice

In many cultures dogs are used to herd sheep. The dogs keep the flock from being attacked by animals such as wolves. They also keep sheep from wandering off. Sheepdogs are known for their loyalty and gentleness.

Based on your reading of the text, you can INFER that:

• Sheepdogs are not very smart dogs.

• Sheepdogs are gentle and loyal.

• There are many breeds of dogs.

Multiple Choice

How is a prediction different from an inference?

• Prediction is a guess of what happens next.

• Prediction is a guess of what already happened.

• A prediction is the same as an inference.

Yay!  You are done!  How did you do?  You can go back and try again if you need to!