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Making Predictions About a Story

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Making Predictions About a Story
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.1

Basics on the topic Making Predictions About a Story

Let's make predictions about a story!

Transcript Making Predictions About a Story

Making Predictions About a Story A prediction is the best guess about the future. Making predictions will help you better understand what you've read. Let's practice making predictions about Ari and Zayd! Before reading a text, LOOK at its title, any pictures, and other text features. HERE we have the title, 'Camping Disaster', and an illustration showing a camp set up with lightning and storm clouds in the background. So far we can predict that Ari and Zayd are camping and something goes wrong. A good prediction should match what you already know about the story. To make good predictions, pay attention to these clues: how the characters and events are described,... how they think and feel,... what they say and do,... what the author or narrator says will happen,... and what the story is about. When you make predictions, you will not always be right so... use that information to make, correct, or confirm predictions as you read. Ari and Zayd just set up their campsite. Just as they were starting to cook, a gust of wind burst through camp. Dark clouds covered the moon, and lightning cracked through the sky. "This way, Ari, quickly! We can't be out here while it's lightning!" Zayd exclaimed. What do you predict will happen next? Will Ari and Zayd stay put, go to find shelter, or sleep in the tent? (...) Since the events in this story are the wind blowing, dark clouds forming, and lightning happening... and because Zayd asks Ari to follow him quickly... we can predict that they will go to find shelter. Let's make another prediction. Here, we don't have a title but there is an illustration of a narwhal and Zayd and Ari on a boat. So far, we can predict that Ari and Zayd might see the narwhal from their boat, but let's read to make a better prediction that includes more detail. Ari and Zayd are exploring. Ari turned when they heard a splash in the water, and their heart fluttered. "Zayd look! A narwhal! It's coming closer!" Ari chortled. "I hope it doesn't get too close; that horn looks sharp," Zayd thought. What do you predict will happen next? Will they see dolphins, jump in the water, or will the narwhal poke a hole in the boat? (...) Since the story doesn't say anything about dolphins, this is not a good prediction. It is possible that they may jump in the water... but Ari states that the narwhal is coming straight toward them, and Zayd thinks about how sharp its horn looks so... the narwhal poking a hole in their boat is the best prediction. (...) Before we see what Zayd and Ari do about their sinking boat, let's summarize! Remember, (...) a prediction is the best guess about the future. Making predictions will help you better understand what you've read. Before reading a text, LOOK at its title, any pictures, and other text features. Use clues such as characters and events, (...) thoughts and feelings, (...) dialogue and actions, (...) author's descriptions, (...) and the story topic to make predictions! Your prediction won't always be correct, so use that information to make, correct, or confirm predictions as you read. "Ari, what do we do, I can't swim!" "Um, Zayd, the beach is right there."

Making Predictions About a Story exercise

Would you like to apply the knowledge you’ve learned? You can review and practice it with the tasks for the video Making Predictions About a Story.
  • What is a prediction?

    Hints

    Remember, when we make predictions, we are making them about the future.

    Solution

    A prediction is the best guess about the future.

  • Make a prediction about the story.

    Hints

    Look at the title, "A Picnic for Three." Use the title to help you make a prediction about what happens next in the story.

    Look at the text. Ari and Zayd are saying they have a lot of food, and their friend commented that it was a beautiful day for a picnic. Which prediction makes the most sense?

    Solution

    We can predict that they will invite their friend to eat with them. We know they have plenty of food and are happy to see their friend. The title is "A Picnic for Three" and the friend is the third!

  • What do you predict will happen next?

    Hints

    Do you think Ari wants to play in this mess? What does Zayd need to do before they can play?

    In this story, we know Ari wants to play in Zayd's room, but there is a huge mess. Zayd asks them to come back in an hour, which tells us that he will do something to get rid of the mess.

    Solution

    I predict Zayd will clean his room. He knows Ari wants to play there, and asked for an hour alone. We can predict that he is using this time to clean his big mess so he and his friend can play!

  • Predict what Zayd and Ari will do next.

    Hints

    If Ari and Zayd are cold, going swimming would make them more cold. Therefore, we can predict they will not go swimming.

    Solution

    Ari and Zayd will go home. They are cold, so they would not swim in the cold ocean water. Zayd mentions the car is close, so they would not keep walking on the beach. We can predict that they would turn around and drive home.

  • Choose the correct prediction.

    Hints

    Zayd smiles when he sees Ari, so we know he is happy to see his friend. It would not make sense for Zayd to avoid Ari.

    Since Zayd and Ari are friends, Zayd would not be angry that Ari was attending the same school as him.

    Solution

    We can predict that Zayd and Ari will spend the first day of school together. Zayd was feeling nervous, and it is likely that Ari is nervous too. They are already friends, so they can help each other feel comfortable the first day in a new school.

  • What can you do to make a good prediction?

    Hints

    Remember, making predictions helps you understand the story.

    Authors use characters, events, and feelings as clues for what will happen next in a story.

    Solution

    You can make predictions using these guidelines:

    Making predictions will help you better understand what you read.

    Before reading a text look at the title, pictures, and other text features.

    Use clues such as characters, events, thoughts, and feelings.

    Your predictions won't always be correct.