Mini-Lesson

Making Inferences

Grades 2-3

Students will practice making inferences.

1. After reading the timeforkids.com news story The President's A-Team draw students' attention to the three opening sentences: President-elect Barack Obama won't officially take office until January 20, 2009. But he is already moving quickly to select the top advisers who will help him govern the nation. On Monday, Obama named his national security team. Ask: Why do you think Obama is "moving quickly" to choose advisers when he doesn't take office until January 20, more than seven weeks away? Have students share responses.

2. Next, explain to students that their responses are inferences. Readers make inferences based on information contained in a story, and on their own prior knowledge. Good readers make inferences to help them better understand what they are reading. This is an important comprehension strategy.

3. Finally, close the mini lesson by sharing your own inference and pointing out the information in the text that led you to make this inference. For example, When I read the opening sentences of this story I inferred that Obama is choosing his national security team now because he wants the American people to feel safe and secure. I made this inference because I know that American troops are fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. I also know that the American people hope the fighting will end soon. Then, when I got to the end of the story I read that the U.S. military is fighting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and that Obama wants to work on ending the war in Iraq when he takes office. This makes me feel like my inference was on target.