Animal mysteries and critical thinking
Here’s one way to give intermediate and middle grade readers practice with revising predictions about text: Mystery passages. Students read a progressive set of descriptive details or clues about something; And of course, after each clue - they make an inference about what the object could be. Clues are arranged from general to specific; with each new clue, readers rethink their guess based on the new information. When the answer is revealed students can discuss how the clues helped them, how close they got - and, in some cases, reread to see where and why their thinking went awry.
Mystery animal passages are especially fun. Here are a few to try with your students. (Suggestion: print out, and cut out and put individual clues in numbered envelopes - with the answer in a special “Solution!” one.
Some of these are challenging! Remember that success is measured by being open to revising your thinking. And, if you are stumped - it’s an opportunity to learn about an animal new to you!
Want to write your own animal mysteries? Use the animal fact link provided. Or, try other
Animal Mystery #1 Animal Mystery #2 Animal Mystery #3 Animal Mystery #4
Animal Mystery #5 Animal Mystery #6 Animal Mystery #7 READING mystery #8
Animal Mystery #9 Animal Mystery #10
Write more mysteries? Get some animal facts HERE.
Comments
Post a Comment