Predicting and Justifying: Exploring the Unknown

• Reading
• Primary Education

Predicting and Justifying: Exploring the Unknown

Learning Objective

WALT predict what might happen from poems. 

What do you already know about making predictions from a text or image?

What is a Prediction?

A prediction is a guess about what will happen next based on evidence from the text and what you already know. 

Example 1: Fictional Story

‘Daddy,’ she said, ‘do you think you could buy me a book?’

‘A BOOK?’ he said. ‘What d’you want a flaming book for?’

‘To read, Daddy.’

‘What’s wrong with the telly, for heaven’s sake? We’ve got a lovely telly with a twelve-inch screen and now you come asking for a book! You’re getting spoiled, my girl!’

Nearly every weekday afternoon Matilda was left alone in the house. Her brother (five years older than her) went to school. Her father went to work and her mother went out playing bingo in a town eight miles away. Mrs Wormwood was hooked on bingo and played it five afternoons a week. On the afternoon of the day when her father had refused to buy her a book, Matilda set out all by herself to walk to the public library in the village.

What will Matilda's father's reaction be when she returns home?

He will be proud of her.

He will scold her for going alone.

He will apologize and buy her the book.

He will be indifferent to her adventure.

Will Matilda succeed in reaching the public library?

Yes, she will find the library.

No, she will get lost.

Yes, she will meet someone who helps her.

No, she will give up and return home.

Example 2: Non-fiction

The illustrator will sign the contract and start working on the artwork.

Yes, they will be excited!

No, they might not be ready.

Maybe, if they need more time.

Yes, but they might ask for help.

No, if they change their mind.

Do we need the same skills within poems?

Is the way we predict the same?

What do you think?

Poem 1: Prediction - The Small Ghostie

When it's late and it's dark

And everyone sleeps... shhh shhh shhh,

Into our kitchen,

A small ghostie creeps... shhh shhh shhh.

We hear knocking and raps,

And then rattles and taps.

Then clatters and clangs,

And he batters and bangs.

And he whistles and yowls,

And he screeches and howls...

So we pull up our covers our heads,

And we block up our ears and  WE STAY IN OUR BEDS!

The children will seek the help of their parents to deal with the small ghostie.

They will wake up their parents.

They will handle it on their own.

They will call for help.

They will try to resolve it quietly.

The children will try to find out what the ghostie wants.

They will be curious and investigate.

They will be too scared to find out.

They will ask the ghostie directly.

They will try to ignore the ghostie.

The children in the poem will try to confront the small ghostie in the kitchen.

They will be brave and confront.

They will be scared and hide.

They will ask for help.

They will try to communicate peacefully.

Discussion: Justifying PredictionsJustifying Predictions

How did we make the right 

predictions? 

What were we thinking when 

making these predictions?

Recap and Conclusion

Summarize the key points about making predictions and justifying them from texts.