📖 ReadingGrade 3Lesson 14
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Make Predictions and Inferences

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Learning Objectives

  • 1Use clues from the text and prior knowledge to predict what happens next
  • 2Make inferences about character feelings and motives based on story details
  • 3Distinguish between a prediction and an inference
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Mini Lesson

Good readers do not just read the words — they think ahead and read between the lines. Predicting means using clues to guess what will happen next. Inferring means figuring out something the author does not say directly.

Predictions

  • A prediction is a guess about what will happen next in the story.
  • Base your prediction on clues already given in the text plus what you know from real life.
  • A good prediction is not a random guess — it is supported by evidence.
  • After you read on, check whether your prediction was right. If not, revise it.

Inferences

  • An inference fills in information the author left out.
  • Combine what the text tells you with what you already know.
  • Ask: "What does this detail tell me about the character, setting, or events?"
  • Inferences help you understand feelings, motives, and hidden meanings.
Prediction vs Inference comparisonTwo columns comparing predictions (what happens next) and inferences (what is implied but not stated).Prediction vs InferencePredictionWhat happens next?Uses text clues+ prior knowledgeCheck and reviseInferenceWhat is implied?Text clue +what you know= conclusion
Inference equation diagramA diagram showing that text clues plus prior knowledge equals an inference.How to Make an InferenceStep 1: Find the text clue"She slammed the door and walked away."+Step 2: Add prior knowledgePeople slam doors when they are angry.=Inference: She is angry or upset.
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Think of yourself as a detective. The text gives you clues. Your brain adds what you already know. Together they lead you to a logical conclusion — that is your inference or prediction.

Vocabulary
Predict
To make a smart guess about what will happen nexte.g. I predict the dog will find his way home.
Prediction
A smart guess about what will happen next in a storye.g. My prediction was right!
Infer
To use clues plus what you know to figure something oute.g. I infer she is upset from the way she stomps.
Inference
A reasonable idea based on clues and what you knowe.g. My inference is that the boy feels lonely.
Clue
A hint in the text that helps you figure something oute.g. The dark sky was a clue that a storm was coming.
Evidence
Proof from the story that supports your ideae.g. The evidence is the boy's tears.
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← Lesson 13: Sequence Story EventsLesson 15: Find Author's Purpose →