Inference Centers Activity

Description

Teaching students how to make inferences doesn’t get more engaging than this! In these inference centers students will become investigators tasked with tracking down and returning missing packages – finding clues and making inferences along the way!

What is this set of inference centers all about?

In this center activity, students will be ‘transformed’ into missing package investigators. It’s their job to locate misdelivered packages and return each package safely to its intended owner. As each neighbor is being investigated, students will use their inference skills to determine:

What was the package’s intended destination?

Which house was the package mistakenly delivered to?

Which house belongs to which person?

How do I set up these inference centers in my classroom?

There isn’t too much to prepare when setting up these centers, I promise! If you’re planning to use them year after year (and you’ll want to, I just know it!) many pieces can be printed and laminated for reuse.

You will prepare 6 reusable stations (1 for each of the neighbors being investigated), each with 4 sets of engaging clues. 

Each student will need a set of printable sheets to record their inferences about each neighbor and a printable introduction booklet that ‘sets the scene’ for the whole investigation! 

What is included in this inference centers activity?

• Detailed teacher instructions
• Printable Introduction Booklet (also available as a full-color version to laminate and reuse)
• 6 printable inference stations where students will ‘investigate’ a neighbor to determine if they have received, or are missing, a package. These stations include four detailed clues about each neighbor.
• Student Worksheets – 6 neighbor investigation worksheets to gather evidence and make inferences about each neighbor.
• Suggested Answers
• A DIGITAL, Google Slides version of the entire activity! 

I am always on the hunt for engaging resources that help our students practice their inference skills… without them even realizing it! That’s where this center-based activity was born. I just know your students will love this activity as well. 

Looking for more resources to teach students to make inferences?

I've got you covered!

• ‘Kickin' It At Camp Conundrum' – An Inference Reading Project
• Making Inferences Task Cards
• Literal vs. Inferential Picture Task Cards

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