Guiding students in drawing conclusions feels like performing a magical feat. It’s like providing them with a secret decoder ring, allowing them to unravel the mysteries of texts, decode hidden messages, and piece together the puzzle of understanding.
This blog post provides a lesson for teaching upper elementary students the skills to make connections between different pieces of text. From deciphering the motives of literary characters to unraveling the cause-and-effect relationships in historical events, students will be able to evaluate a world of information.
This comprehensive lesson plan includes activities, essential questions, vocabulary, and resources to support students’ learning.
Don’t forget to download the handout. It includes the printables and links you need to complete some of the activities.
Drawing Conclusions Lesson Plan
Activity 1: Hook Activity
Engage students in a hands-on activity where they must make inferences and draw conclusions about the owner of various bags based on their contents. Ask students to tell details about the owner’s characteristics and intentions based on the contents of a bag they are carrying.
Example:
- tote bag with bathrobe, socks, two pairs of pajamas, ID, insurance card, crossword puzzle book, and medical records
Inference — The person with the tote bag is going to the hospital. The reader infers this based on the clothing and medical records enclosed.
Conclusions — The person plans an operation/procedure to keep him in the hospital for at least two days. The operation is probably minor because the person only has two clothing sets. The owner plans on getting out of bed because otherwise, a bathrobe would not be needed. The person expects to be bored. The crossword puzzle book will provide entertainment, so the owner does not plan to sleep much.
Activity #2: Brochure Fold Graphic Organizer
Print the foldable organizer from the handout that defines and provides examples of drawing conclusions. Show the instructional video that guides students through completing the organizer by adding a definition and examples.
Activity #3: Drawing Conclusions (YouTube)
Share instructional videos available on YouTube. Students watch the videos and learn practical strategies by analyzing paragraphs and evaluating evidence. Facilitate a class discussion to review the techniques and approaches discussed.
Drawing Conclusions [10:50]
Drawing Conclusions and Making Inferences [8:21]
Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions [4:51]
Activity #4: Classified Ads from the Newspaper
Provide a selection of job-wanted ads from the newspaper or online sources. Instruct students to read the ads and draw conclusions about the type of people who will apply for each job based on the provided information. Encourage students to support each decision with a fact or detail in the ads. Facilitate small group or whole class discussions to share and discuss their findings.
Activity #5: Books
Introduce a variety of books that provide opportunities for drawing conclusions. Allow students to choose a book or assign one to each student. Instruct students to read the selected book and identify instances where they need to draw conclusions based on the provided information. Conduct a class discussion to share and evaluate the conclusions drawn by different students. Here are two great books for this activity.
- Earthquakes by Seymour Simon
- Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens
Mastering the skill of drawing conclusions is crucial for students’ reading comprehension and critical thinking abilities. By teaching students to evaluate information, analyze evidence, and draw logical conclusions, we empower them to become proficient readers. Through activities and thoughtful discussions, this comprehensive lesson plan helps students develop this important skill.
Remember, concluding is a lifelong skill that students can continue to refine and apply in various contexts. Encourage students to practice drawing conclusions in everyday life, analyzing information, and making informed judgments based on evidence and logical reasoning. Students will learn to draw accurate conclusions that enhance their comprehension skills with time and practice.
