Predicting Outcomes

Objectives
Student will be able to:
  • apply likely outcomes for a passage and use prior knowledge to help make predictions.
  • understand details that support a prediction.

Introduction
Good readers predict outcomes while they are reading. They ask questions and try to figure what will happen next in a passage. To predict outcomes, readers get clues from what they read and what they know. Often the first prediction a reader makes is based on the title of the passage.

Exercises
Make a prediction based on the title of the passage. Write your answer in the box below.
1.
The title of the passage you are about to read is "The Missing Necklace." Predict what this passage will be about.
 

Student responses may vary. Acceptable answers include:

  • This passage will be about a necklace that is missing.
  • This passage will be about a person who takes a necklace.
1.
 

Now, read the passage and answer the questions.


Read the predicted outcomes below. Write yes next to each outcome that is likely to happen. Write no next to each outcome that is not likely to happen.
2.
 Nathan will take a piece of his mother's jewelry to use on his shadow box.
yes
2.
 

3.
 Nathan's brother will throw the shadow box in the trash.
no
3.
 

4.
 Nathan's mom will get upset if her jewelry is missing. 
yes
4.
 

5.
 Nathan's mom will help him make decorations that look like jewels from a buried treasure.
yes
5.
 

Read the rest of the story.


6.
Look at the list of possible outcomes above. In the box below, list the outcomes that came true.
 
Nathan will take a piece of his mother's jewelry to use on his shadow box./Nathan's mom will get upset if her jewelry is missing./Nathan's mom will help him make decorations that look like jewels from a buried treasure.
6.
 


Exhibit Preview Close
     Nathan needed something big and bright for the shadow box he was making. It was for his book report on buried treasures. He looked in his brother's room but didn't see anything that would work. He asked his dad, but he didn't have anything, either.
     Nathan went looking for his mother. He wanted to ask for her help. He walked into his parents' room. She was not there. He looked on the dresser and saw his mother's jewelry box. It was open.

Exhibit Preview Close
     Nathan looked in his mother's jewelry box. He saw a bright, shiny diamond necklace. He thought it was perfect for his project.
     Nathan's parents were going out to dinner. His mom went to put on her diamond necklace, but it wasn't there. She ran to the living room to ask the boys if they had seen it. Then, she saw the necklace hanging in Nathan's shadow box.
     "Nathan, you can not use my necklace for your project," she said. "I will help you make something that looks like a buried treasure when I get home."