Year 6 - English
Inferring characters' thoughts and motives
'A Kind of Spark': reading
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils read and explore the novel, 'A Kind of Spark'. They gather evidence about the characters by inferring from the text and compare characters both within and between texts. Finally, pupils explore the key concepts and themes from the text.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to infer characters' thoughts and motives based on their actions and the words they say.
Key Notes
- When we read, we make inferences based on evidence.
- We can infer what characters' thoughts might be based on their actions and stated words.
- We can also infer characters' motives - their reasons for acting - which might be different to their stated motives.
- Our inferences will also make use of empathy - and we should remember we can never empathise perfectly with others.
Vocabulary To Learn
- infer: use clues from within a text to draw conclusions
- empathise: get inside a character's head to try and understand their feelings and points of view
- motive: a person's reason for doing something
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may think an inference is just a guess.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
When we read, we make inferences based on evidence. We can infer what characters' thoughts might be based on their actions and stated words.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'infer'
use clues from within a text to draw conclusions.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils may think an inference is just a guess. Correction: Inferences are built on evidence, but they also make use of empathy.
More Lessons In This Unit
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