Reading Skill: Inference - St James' Primary School, Wetherby

This week, we have been learning to infer. Making an inference is often referred to as reading between the lines. It is the process of making a guess about something you don’t know for sure, based on the information available.

The children were presented with some images and they had to find clues in order to answer a question. The class were asked to explain their thinking as they worked.

We need to find clues to get some answers.
We need to add those clues to what we already know or have read.
There can be more than one correct answer.

As the children grow up, they will gain more knowledge and experience of the world around them (and the vocabulary to go with this) and this will help them make inferences effectively.

Discussing illustrations, photographs and pictures is a great way to boost the inference skills for your child.

Help at home by using the images below.

What can you see? I can see a boy in the water.
What do you think? How did the boy get into the water? (inference) I think he fell out of the tree because the branch is broken.
What do you wonder? I wonder if the goat pushed the boy into the water.

The Goat by the Water' : Observation vs Inference (Originally named 'The Boy in the Water') – Middle School Science Blog

Here is another picture.

What is the dad doing?
Why is the girl standing behind him?
Why is she dragging a kite on the floor?
Has she said anything to him? Does he know she’s there?
How is she feeling? What is she thinking?
Do you think this has happened before? Why/why not?
Why is the kite coloured bright red, but everything else is in dull colours?

aaron-becker-dad

A couple more examples of excellent inference skills.