Making Inferences using Making Inferences using Context CluesContext Clues

Info from: Frank Shaffer PublicationsInfo from: Frank Shaffer Publications

What are Inferences?What are Inferences?

Inferences: Inferences:

Using information (clues) in the Using information (clues) in the story to help you decide what is story to help you decide what is happening.happening.

Excuses, Excuses!Excuses, Excuses!

My dog chewed it! Mom threw it out! My dog chewed it! Mom threw it out! The wind blew it up the waterspout! Little The wind blew it up the waterspout! Little Brother flew it as a plane that didn’t stop Brother flew it as a plane that didn’t stop ‘til it reached Spain! I’ve got excuses, ‘til it reached Spain! I’ve got excuses, but which is best? Tomorrow when I go but which is best? Tomorrow when I go to school, I’ll put one to the test. to school, I’ll put one to the test.

1.1. What is the speaker talking about? What clues did you What is the speaker talking about? What clues did you use?use?

He is making excuses for not He is making excuses for not having his homework. having his homework.

An “Egg”citing DiscoveryAn “Egg”citing Discovery

I discovered a gray egg in my yard. I discovered a gray egg in my yard. Its shell is large and very hard. I know it Its shell is large and very hard. I know it must be very old, ‘cuz it’s surrounded by a must be very old, ‘cuz it’s surrounded by a lot of mold. When my reptile hatches, I’ll lot of mold. When my reptile hatches, I’ll be so proud! Its baby cry will be so loud. be so proud! Its baby cry will be so loud. We’ll go walking, it will look distinct, We’ll go walking, it will look distinct, towering above me-it’s NOT extinct. towering above me-it’s NOT extinct.

1. What reptile will hatch from the egg? What clues did you 1. What reptile will hatch from the egg? What clues did you use?use?

A baby dinosaur. A baby dinosaur.

What a Ride!What a Ride!

I need to go across the street, but I am I need to go across the street, but I am too tired. I have eight sore feet! I’ll climb upon too tired. I have eight sore feet! I’ll climb upon this person’s shoe. I am clever and know just this person’s shoe. I am clever and know just what to do. Hey! Just a minute! It’s time to what to do. Hey! Just a minute! It’s time to stop! Now let me off at the nearest shop!...One stop! Now let me off at the nearest shop!...One hour later, and miles away…Just my luck to hour later, and miles away…Just my luck to ride a jogger today!ride a jogger today!

1.1. Who is the speaker? What clues did you use?Who is the speaker? What clues did you use?

2.2. Did the speaker go where he wanted? What clues did you use?Did the speaker go where he wanted? What clues did you use?

A spiderA spider

Let’s TradeLet’s Trade

Tony’s lunch looks better than mine! He Tony’s lunch looks better than mine! He really knows the way to dine. He traded with really knows the way to dine. He traded with me; I was ready to eat. But the best-looking me; I was ready to eat. But the best-looking food belonged to Pete! I had to convince him, food belonged to Pete! I had to convince him, but convince him I did. We traded lunches. I but convince him I did. We traded lunches. I grinned like a kid. When I tasted the food, it grinned like a kid. When I tasted the food, it wasn’t that great, but Tony and Pete both wasn’t that great, but Tony and Pete both cleaned their plates!cleaned their plates!

1.1. Who had the worst-tasting food? What clues did you use?Who had the worst-tasting food? What clues did you use?2.2. Who had the best-tasting food? What clues did you use?Who had the best-tasting food? What clues did you use?3.3. How do you know that Tony and Pete liked their lunches. How do you know that Tony and Pete liked their lunches.