THE HANDBOOK ON
MAKING INFERENCES
5.RL.1& 5.IT.1
How to become a text detective
What is an inference?
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Inferences are special kinds of guesses.
To make inferences, you have to come up with your
own ideas, answers, and thoughts about what you
have read.
Good readers can make inferences based on what
a passage says.
STEPS TO TAKE
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1. Read a passage carefully.
2. Look for details about what a person does. What do
the person's actions tell you?
3. Look for details that describe a place or event.
Based on real life, what do those details tell you?
4. Make a guess (inference) about a character or item
in the passage.
5. Check to see if you can find a detail or sentence that
led to your guess. If you cannot find something to
support your guess, then your guess might be wrong.
Watch this clip!
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https://c2568332.ssl.cf0.rackcdn.com/ela_05_maki
nginferences.swf
Make some inferences!
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How do you think this person feels?
What clues do you have?
Practice Making Inferences
•Laura
had $5.00. Her mother had given the money to her so that
she could buy a present for her brother. While Laura was shopping,
she saw a book she had been wanting to read. It cost $4.50.
Fact or Inference
A. Laura had $5.00
B. The book cost $4.50
C. Laura bought the book she
wanted.
D. She didn’t have a present to give
her brother.
What the author said
The
weather
had been
scorchin
g for
weeks.
+ what I know
Summer
is the
hottest
time of
the year.
= my inference
It is
summer.
What the author said
Al took
out a
pitcher of
cold
lemonad
e.
+ what I know
You keep
things
cold in a
refridgerator.
= my inference
Al took
the
lemonad
e out of
the
refridgerator.
Read the passage
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A package came for you today,” Greg’s mother
said as he walked in. “I think it’s from Aunt Ginny.”
Greg peeled the tape from the box and ripped off
the brown paper. He tore off the gift wrap to find
a stuffed bear inside. Aunt Ginny never seemed to
realize that he was no longer three years old and
hadn’t been for more than seven years. Then he
thought about the trouble Aunt Ginny had gone
through to select the present and mail it. Greg sat
Inference Chart
Prior Knowledge
Evidence From Text
My Inference
•I know that people get
packages for special
occasions
•I know that if I was a 10
year old boy I wouldn’t want
a teddy bear.
•I know that you are
supposed to write thank-you
notes when you receive a
gift.
•Greg tore the gift wrap
offthe package
•Aunt Ginny never
seemed to realize that he
was no longer three
years old
•Greg sat down at the
kitchen table with a pen
and paper
It was Greg’s birthday
•He did not like the
present very much
•He wrote Aunt Ginny a
thank-you note for the
present
Making inferences
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There are two ways to answer inference and
conclusion questions. You can make a guess or
support a guess.
Let’s practice !
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Landon was excited about his mother's birthday. He asked his older brother,
Hunter, to take him to the store to buy a present.
"Sure, I'll take you to the store anytime. Tell me what you would like to get, and
I'll take you to a store that sells it."
"I want to get her flowers. She loves them," Landon said.
"Great. I'll take you to the florist. How much money do you have?" Hunter asked.
Landon frowned. "None. Can I borrow some from you?"
"Sorry, little brother," Hunter said. "My money's gone. I would give you some if I
had any."
Landon sat down at the kitchen table and put his chin on his hands. He looked
out the window and tried not to cry. What could he do? Then he knew. Through the
kitchen window he saw wildflowers in bloom. He saw pink, white, and some tiny blue
splashes. He would just make a bouquet of flowers on his own. He could put the
flowers in a jar and paint hearts on it. He felt better when he thought of how much his
mom would love her present. He got to work.
Make a GUESS:
Use details from the passage to make an inference or conclusion.
Question: From information in the story, what can the reader conclude about Landon?
Think: Look for details in the story about Landon. He has a problem in the story
because he does not have money for a gift. Then, he comes up with a way to solve his
problem. He does not need anyone's help in the end. He thinks of a special gift for his
mom.
Answer: Landon can solve problems on his own.
Landon was excited about his mother's birthday. He asked his older brother, Hunter, to take him to
the store to buy a present.
"Sure, I'll take you to the store anytime. Tell me what you would like to get, and I'll take you to
a store that sells it."
"I want to get her flowers. She loves them," Landon said.
"Great. I'll take you to the florist. How much money do you have?" Hunter asked.
Landon frowned. "None. Can I borrow some from you?"
"Sorry, little brother," Hunter said. "My money's gone. I would give you some if I had any."
Landon sat down at the kitchen table and put his chin on his hands. He looked out the window
and tried not to cry. What could he do? Then he knew. Through the kitchen window he saw
wildflowers in bloom. He saw pink, white, and some tiny blue splashes. He would just make a
bouquet of flowers on his own. He could put the flowers in a jar and paint hearts on it. He felt
better when he thought of how much his mom would love her present. He got to work.
Support a guess:
The question below gives an inference or conclusion. You have to show that it is correct.
Question: How can the reader tell that Landon and Hunter have a good relationship?
Think: Look in the story for details about Landon and Hunter's relationship. When Landon asks
Hunter to take him to the store, Hunter agrees. Hunter also says that he would give Landon money
if he had any. You know from real life that people want to help others if they have a good
relationship with them.
Answer Hunter is willing to help Landon get a present.
Make an inference
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Turner almost wished that he hadn’t listened to the
radio. He went to the closet and grabbed his umbrella.
He would feel silly carrying to the bus stop on such a
sunny morning.
Which probably happened?
A. Turner realizes that he had an unnatural fear and falling
radio parts.
 B. Turner had promised himself to do something silly that
morning.
 C. Turner had heard a weather forecast that predicted rain.
 D. Turner planned to trade his umbrella for a bus ride.
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Make an Inference
A giant hand inside my chest
 Stretched out and takes
 My heart within its mighty grasp
 And squeezes till it breaks
 A gentle hand inside my chest,
 With mending tape and glue,
 Patches up my heart until
 It’s almost good as new.
 I ought to know by now that
 Broken hearts will heal again .
 But while I wait for glue and tape,
 The Pain!
 The Pain!
 The Pain!
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1.The poem is probably about
A. a woman
b. a MAN
C. a broken heart
D. heart surgery
2. It can be inferred that the subject of
the poem
A. is in a lot of physical pain
B. enjoys arts and crafts
C. is a good friend
D. has had a broken heart