“Headup, buttercup. You’re supposed to be working on your inference worksheets not catching up on your sleep,” I said as I tapped Jay on the shoulder. 

“But, Mrs. Kepley, it’s not my fault. This is sooooooooo boring that I just can’t keep my eyes open.” 

He wasn’t trying to be rude - he was just being honest. I took a quick glance around my classroom and saw a lot of bored faces. 

I’m typically one that prides myself in creating an engaging and exciting environment, but I knew at this moment the inference worksheet was not hitting the mark. 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not one who thinks we need to banish worksheets all together. They do serve a purpose and can be meaningful practice for foundational skills. 

However, when you have students who have mastered a skill, worksheets can be tedious and boring busy work. 

In order to breathe some life into my inference lessons for my students who show an understanding of inference, I came up with three activities that require students to apply their knowledge of inference and text evidence. 

If you have students who are bored and need something engaging and fun, check out these three ideas. We’ll start with my favorite:

1. Between the Lines Podcast

With this activity, students create a podcast that is similar to Mike Rowe's The Way I Heard It podcast. 

If you are not familiar with this podcast, Mike Rowe writes a short story about a historical figure or event and does not reveal the topic until the end. He gives clues throughout the podcast and the listener tries to figure out who or what he is talking about before the big reveal at the end. I absolutely LOVE these short podcast episodes and consider it a masterclass in writing, vocabulary, and inference. 

I have students listen to a couple of episodes of the podcast to become familiar with the style. After they analyze about four episodes, students research a historical event or person they are interested in. For example, if they are really interested in Tom Brady, they would find out fun facts, details, and interesting stories about him. They would select one of the stories, maybe how he was the 199th pick in the NFL draft or the backup quarterback for two years at the University of Michigan. They use their research to write and then record a podcast where the listener has to figure out who they are talking about based on the clues provided.

2. Create your own Mystery Game

Students develop a mystery about something or someone who is missing. For example, they could create a game titled The Case of the Missing Airpods. 

With this activity, students create a digital game board where the player can solve the mystery by visiting seven locations. If they were doing The Case of the Missing Airpods, the player might have to “visit” the bus, gym locker room, a classroom, the football field, the band room, and the lunchroom. 

 At each location, the player will have a witness statement, clue, or evidence they have to review. In addition, they will read a page from the detective's journal about the mystery and evidence found. 

Students write the clues, witness statements, and entries in the detective journal in a way that the player can solve the mystery through inference and text evidence.

3. A Figure it Out Story

Students write a short story where the reader has to infer the setting and character traits based on the events and clues provided. In addition, students write a multiple choice test based on their story. All of the questions must be inference and text evidence based. Students can switch stories and take the test associated with the story.

These activities can be used independently or combined in order to provide your students with a choice on how they want to demonstrate their understanding of inference and text evidence. 

If you would like to try this project out in your class, you can download the example I use! It provides your students with an example of how to write so the reader has to infer the character trait and setting. Just fill out the form and the link will open in a new window!

Would you like to use these in your classroom?

If you're like “I love these ideas and what to start tomorrow!” the done-for-you inference application bundle that includes these three projects plus three more activities is available in my TpT store. 

If you’re an ELA Unlimited member, these activities (plus SIX more!) are on the Inference and Text Evidence Choice Board. It is located in Section One --> Inference and Text Evidence Choice Board. Click here to log-in, download, and start using ASAP!