Mini-Lesson

Make Inferences

Mini-Lesson: Grades 4-6

Students will use information in a news story to make inferences.

1. After students read the timeforkids.com news story, Read This! ask, "What kind of person is Laura Amy Schlitz?" Elicit students' responses. (Examples include creative, thoughtful and dedicated.)

2. Next, ask students to explain their characterizations of the author. Ask: What makes you say this about the author? What makes you describe Laura Amy Schlitz in this way? Explain that when we get an idea about someone based on what we read, we are making an inference.

3. Follow up by asking students to focus next on Caldecott Award-winner Brian Selznick. Ask: By reading the article, what can you infer, or tell, about Brian Selznick? What kind of person is he?