Sunday, November 2, 2014

Inference Investigators


I have been so excited to use this unit with my first graders!  It seems that discussing and teaching the "Inference" strategy is not always the easiest concept with young primary students.  The unit uses a detective theme to help students realize that using past knowledge and clues from their reading will help make them use good inferencing skills!
To get started, the kids made their own "Top Secret" file folders to hold their inference work.


At whole group time, I used the "What is it?" cards to discuss using clues from reading to solve the "What is it?" mystery.  All you need is post it notes to cover the picture!  They loved helping me read the clues and giving answers.  Talking through possible answers is such a good way for little minds to learn!


After practicing the "What is it?" cards, I used these "What am I?" cards in reading circles and then put them into a center to practice with friends.           


"Secret Squares" was their favorite lesson from the unit!  Each student chose a picture to "hide" with their secret square and they wrote clues on each flap. We shared them whole group and they loved reading their clues and seeing if their classmates could solve the mystery before the whole picture was revealed!




One of my favorite lessons in the unit is the "Finding Clues and Taking Notes" worksheets.  I did a few of these whole group and then let the kids try in reading circles.  They really love using a highlighter to POP out the clues and write their notes.

Finally, the kids made their own "Inference Investigators/Detectives" and wrote their own "What am I ?" clues for an object.  They each got a post it to cover the answer and we hung these out in the hallway to display our hard work as inference investigators!  


If you like what you see, the unit is at my TPT store!

INFERENCE INVESTIGATORS





Have a GREAT week!!







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