Project GRAD Houston
1510 Jensen Dr.
Houston, TX 77020
832-325-0325 (main)
Mailing address:
Project GRAD Houston
PO Box 15568
Houston TX 77220-5568
Take a Guess, and Make an Inference
Grade Level: 3- 5
Classroom Time: Two 45 minute periods
Skills Addressed:
- ELA skill: making inferences
- ELA skill: using predictions
- Visual Arts skill: analysis/evaluation of art
- Visual Arts skill: using color to imply meaning
Process: Day One
- Teacher reviews the skill of inference choosing one of the suggested activities on the following link: http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001680.shtml
These websites can help elementary students learn how to infer while reading. There are activities, graphic organizers, and short lessons on inference. Includes a link on inference for middle school students.
- Art Connection: In art, we use inferring as a way to understand the artist’s intent or meaning. Look at Renoir’s famous painting “Luncheon of the Boating Party” http://www.the-athenaeum.org/art/detail.php?ID=4475. Have your students tell the story of this painting by using the visual clues provided by the artist. Another example of inferring would be Van Gogh’s painting, “The Night Café.” http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/gogh/ gogh.the-night-cafe.jpg In this painting, Van Gogh uses color to infer meaning. In a letter to Van Gogh’s brother Theo, Vincent explains his use of red and green to create tension.
“In my picture of the Night Café, I have tried to express the idea that the café is a place where one can ruin oneself, run mad, or commit a crime. Have tried to express the terrible passions of humanity by means of red and green…Everywhere there is a clash and contrast of the most alien reds and greens…”
- For a final reinforcement of the skill of inference, access http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/palmasola/ readcompindexa.htm
Scroll down until you see the two bears on either side of the computer monitor.
Click on the heart that is on the computer screen. The next screen you see is titled “Reading Workshop” Scroll down to the word “Inference” and click on the red button to the left. Read the introduction aloud to the students, and let them listen to the paragraph that follows. They will answer the questions on inference that pertain to the paragraph that was read aloud to them.
National ELA Standards
- Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts. They draw on their prior experience, their interactions with other readers and writers, their knowledge of word meaning and of other texts, their word identification strategies, and their understanding of textual features (e.g. sound-letter correspondence, sentence structure, context, graphics)
- Students read a wide range of print and non-print texts to build an understanding of texts, of themselves, and of the cultures of the United States and the world; to acquire new information; to respond to the needs and demands of society and the workplace; and for personal fulfillment. Among those texts are fiction and non-fiction, classic and contemporary works.
National Visual Arts Standards
- Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes.
- Using knowledge of structures and functions.
- Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas.
- Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others.
- Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines.
Art Extension:
Art historians have to be a little bit of a detective to find out what the art means. To look at prehistoric art and to do a fun art activity, go to: http://www.kinderart.com/arthistory/caveart.shtml
Another site, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lascaux has probable explanations and images of these famous cave paintings.
The mission of Project GRAD is to ensure a quality public education for all students in economically disadvantaged communities so that high school and college graduation rates increase.