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Drawing Conclusions/Making Inferences
If you've followed me for a while, you may know that I LOVE a good mystery! Growing up, I read Encyclopedia Brown, Nancy Drew, Mandie...if it had a mystery title, I was going to read it. Last year I started creating little "cases" for my kids to solve. These are great for drawing conclusions because the students have to use the clues given to solve the "crime". They're my own little nod to Encyclopedia Brown's short mysteries. I give just enough clues for the student to figure out the mystery, but they aren't so obvious that students get it immediately. They have to really investigate.
Sometimes I will hand out copies and have students highlight important information. Sometimes we leave it all on the Promethean board and dissect the information as a class. But students HAVE to give evidence, and that evidence HAS to be factual. When I did these in 5th grade last year, we talked about "circumstantial evidence", where students would add something like "Well, she MAY have done..." - which I found out from my hubby isn't exactly right, but it sounded more investigator-y. I wouldn't have been corrected if Steven wasn't a Criminal Justice teacher. Anyway, that doesn't count because we're ASSUMING. Using factual evidence builds a stronger case and keeps us from wrongly accusing someone.
Sometimes I will hand out copies and have students highlight important information. Sometimes we leave it all on the Promethean board and dissect the information as a class. But students HAVE to give evidence, and that evidence HAS to be factual. When I did these in 5th grade last year, we talked about "circumstantial evidence", where students would add something like "Well, she MAY have done..." - which I found out from my hubby isn't exactly right, but it sounded more investigator-y. I wouldn't have been corrected if Steven wasn't a Criminal Justice teacher. Anyway, that doesn't count because we're ASSUMING. Using factual evidence builds a stronger case and keeps us from wrongly accusing someone.
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Now that you've learned a little more about drawing conclusions, you're ready for my clue. On your form, record the letter...
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I appreciate your interest in reading instruction and wish you a wonderful school year. Now, on to the...
I love this! One of my students just asked me if we were going to do mysteries, so it's been weighing on my mind, Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteA Teaspoon of Teaching
I can't wait to use this with one of my tutoring students this week! It's adorable! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you like it!
DeleteThanks so much for the Case of the Candy Snatcher! I can't wait to use it!
ReplyDeleteBethany
FabandFunin4th!
Thanks for the great activity!!! You have a mistake on the page "Clues." You wrote the word 'though' instead of 'thought.' Thought you might want to know.
ReplyDeletesusanlulu@yahoo.com
Melissa-I love how you explained how you use these with your kids. I can't wait to add them to my plans for this coming week. I selected all mysteries for my groups since this was going on, and I know we'll have a blast.
ReplyDeleteCarla Comprehension Connection
Thank you so much! I needed something for my fourth graders, and this is so perfect! Thanks so much!!
ReplyDeleteAndrea
Reading Toward the Stars
Looks great! Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteChristina :)
Apples, Books, and Crayons
applesbooksandcrayons@gmail.com
Did this today and my students LOVED it! They are so excited about Halloween so this was perfect for them. They were all engaged throughout the lesson and had a blast voting for the culprit! Thanks again for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I'm using this next week with a 5th grader that I tutor. He will love it! :-) Lauren
ReplyDeleteLove the Case of the Candy Snatcher- thanks for sharing:-)
DeleteThanks, Melissa! I can't wait to use this activity on Thursday with my reading groups. They will LOVE it!
ReplyDeleteWendy
Read With Me ABC
Awesome ! I love this...what a great way to teach drawing conclusions Melissa !
ReplyDeleteWendy
www.msdsliteracylab.blogspot.com
This looks like so much fun! I really think they will enjoy this because it is about Halloween and candy! Two things that they love for sure :)
ReplyDeleteEm
Curious Firsties
What a fab product! Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteNajda
www.gardenfullofknowledge.blogspot.ca/
Thank you so much! This will be a great activity for the week ahead, when my kids are going a little crazy with Halloween excitement but I still need them learning! :) Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteJenny
Luckeyfrog's Lilypad
Hi Melissa,
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to let you know that I included a link to your Case of the Candy Snatchers in a post tonight. I'm using that activity with my kiddos tomorrow. They are so excited to "crack the case"!
Wendy
Read With Me ABC