Predicting what happens next
Predict what might happen next in a story based on what has been read so far; discuss the significance of titles and events
What a learner can do afterwards
- Make a prediction before turning the page and explain reasoning
- Discuss why a title fits or hints at the story content
- Revise predictions as new information is encountered in the text
1 · Read
A prediction is a smart guess. You look at clues in the story. Then you guess what might happen next.
Mia sees dark clouds in the sky. She grabs her umbrella. What might happen next? Maybe it will rain soon.
Not every sentence is a clue. A clue is a part that points ahead to what comes next. Other parts just tell you about right now, like a colour or a name. When you make a guess, check that a clue points to it.
Look for things that happen again and again. If a character does the same thing every time, they will most likely do it again. That kind of pattern is a strong clue, even when the character says something different.
Sometimes a new clue changes your guess, and that is fine. A prediction is not a promise. When the story gives you a clue that does not fit your guess, you make a new guess that does fit.
The new clue comes in the middle. The guess after it is the one that fits.
A title can be a big clue. Read the title before you read the page. A book called 'The Snowy Morning' tells you that snow and morning will be part of the story. Pictures are clues too. If your guess does not match the title and the pictures, make a new guess that does.
A prediction is a smart guess from clues, and you can change it as you read more.
More to read
Become a stronger reader: Make and check predictions
Good readers make guesses. A guess about what happens next is called a prediction. Stop as you read. Think about the story so far. What will the character do next? Use what you know about the character to guess. Then keep reading. Was your guess right? It is okay if it was not. You can make a new guess with the new things you learned. Making predictions helps you think about the story.
Story Pirates: Suspense
Some stories keep you on the edge of your seat. You really, really want to know what happens next. That feeling is called suspense. Writers put surprises and mysteries in stories. They make you wonder. What will happen? Will the hero be okay? You have to keep reading to find out. When you feel that wondering feeling, stop and make a guess. That is a prediction. Then read on and see if you were right.
2 · Watch
به انگلیسیTake it off screen
Where it sits
Learn first
Nothing; this is a starting point.
Optional connections
This opens up
Where this leads
24 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.