A Fun and Easy Way to Review Inferences Before the End of the Year
Let’s be honest—by the end of the school year, reviewing reading skills like inferencing can feel like an uphill battle. Your students are wiggly, your energy is low, and everyone’s got summer on the brain.
But that doesn’t mean your lessons can’t still be effective and fun.
If you’re looking for a low-prep, high-engagement way to review how to make inferences, this post is for you. I’ll walk you through a 3-step inference lesson that gets students thinking deeply without making you do a ton of extra work.
From using your own personal bag as a lesson hook to getting students up and moving with a “Scoot,” these activities are perfect for upper elementary students who need a refresher on this essential reading strategy.
Why Reviewing Inferences Still Matters (Even in May!)
By now, your students have probably practiced making inferences dozens of times this year. But reviewing the skill before the end of the year is still incredibly important—and here’s why:
Inferencing is foundational to reading comprehension. Whether your students are reading fiction or nonfiction, the ability to "read between the lines" helps them engage more deeply with text.
It’s a high-leverage test skill, and practicing it in a meaningful way can boost their confidence for end-of-year assessments.
Most importantly, reviewing inferencing helps students internalize the thinking process of using background knowledge + text clues to draw conclusions.
So how do we make this feel fresh and exciting during a time when attention spans are running thin?
Simple—you make it interactive, personal, and fun.
My Go-To 3-Step Lesson Plan for Reviewing Inferences
Step 1: Hook Students with a Personal Inference Activity
Start with a memorable hook that introduces inference-making in a real-world, non-academic context. This gets students thinking critically before text is even involved.
Here’s how:
Grab your personal bag, backpack, or purse (yes, really!)
Pull out 4–5 items and place them in front of the class
Ask students to make inferences about the type of person you are based on the contents
For example:
A reusable water bottle → “She probably cares about the environment.”
Planner and sticky notes → “She’s organized and likes to plan.”
Headphones → “She listens to music or podcasts.”
This is such a powerful moment because it introduces the basic equation:
Inference = Text Clues + Background Knowledge
Except here, the “text” is a group of items. It’s accessible, fun, and gets everyone engaged immediately.
Teacher tip: You can even turn this into a partner activity where students infer about each other using items from their desks (with clear guidelines, of course!).
Step 2: Scaffold Inference Skills with Visual Prompts
Now that students are warmed up, it’s time to build the skill. You want to scaffold inferencing by using visuals before jumping into text.
One of my favorite ways to do this is with a holiday-themed picture activity.
Here’s how it works:
Choose 4–5 holiday images (you can project them or print them as task cards)
Cover up or blur out part of each image so students only see a partial scene
Ask students: What holiday do you think is being celebrated? What clues led you to that conclusion?
This works well because it trains students to:
Look for key details
Combine what they already know (e.g., "pumpkins = Halloween") with the clues they see
Support their thinking with evidence
Some image ideas:
A tree with twinkling lights and wrapped boxes → Christmas
A grill, fireworks, and flags → 4th of July
A table with a menorah → Hanukkah
You can also create a class discussion after each one:
“What did you notice first? Did everyone make the same inference? Why or why not?”
This naturally leads into deeper conversations and builds the bridge between visual inferences and textual ones.
Step 3: Bring It All Together with an Inference Scoot
Once students understand what it means to make an inference and have had visual practice, it’s time for independent application—but in a fun, movement-based format.
That’s where an Inference Scoot comes in.
What is a Scoot? It’s a simple game where students move from desk to desk (or station to station), completing a task card at each stop. It gets students up, moving, and reviewing—without realizing they’re working hard!
How to set it up:
Print out 12–20 inference task cards. Each card should have a short scenario or paragraph and ask: What can you infer?
Tape each card to a different desk or area.
Give each student a recording sheet and assign a starting number.
Set a timer for 1–2 minutes per station.
After the timer rings, students “scoot” to the next station!
Here’s a sample inference card:
Jessica’s mom walked into the house carrying balloons, streamers, and a cake box. Jessica saw her whispering to her dad while looking at the calendar.
What can you infer is going to happen?
By the end of the scoot, students will have completed a full review set of inference practice, and you’ll be able to see how well they’re applying their skills.
Bonus: You can even use this as an informal assessment or exit ticket to check for understanding.
Why This 3-Step Plan Works
This mini-lesson hits all the right notes for upper elementary students—and busy teachers.
Here’s why it’s so effective:
It’s personal and relatable (students LOVE the bag activity!)
It scaffolds learning from visuals to text-based inferences
It encourages movement and engagement through the scoot format
It’s easy to prep and flexible to reuse throughout the year
It reviews the key elements of inferencing without boring repetition
Plus, it hits a range of Depth of Knowledge (DOK) levels—from simple observation to high-level textual analysis.
Want This Lesson Plan Done for You?
If you love this 3-step inference review but don’t have time to create all the materials—don’t worry, I’ve got you.
Inference Scoot Game | Upper Elementary Literacy Game
> All templates are in google slides format and EDITABLE (:
> 18 Scoot holiday cards, that ask students to infer.
> Student recording sheet and word bank included.
> Inferencing intro included with cute BOHO slides.
> Highly engaging game that students will LOVE.
Final Thoughts
Reviewing inferences doesn’t have to be another checklist item you’re rushing to complete. With this 3-step plan, you’ll give your students a meaningful, engaging, and effective review that sets them up for success—not just on tests, but as lifelong readers.
So, to recap:
Hook students with a personal item inference activity
Scaffold with visual prompts, like holiday pictures
Challenge them with a Scoot game for high-level practice
These lessons are fun, fast, and easy to prep—and they leave your students feeling confident in one of the most essential reading skills. You’ve got this!
