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Inferences in Bible Stories

Comprehension: Making Inferences

Day 174of 180
Week 35of 36
25Minutes
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Learning Objectives

1

Understand how to make inferences about characters' feelings in stories

2

Identify evidence that supports character feelings

3

Practice making inferences from Bible stories

1 Samuel 16:7

But Yahweh said to Samuel, 'Don't look on his appearance, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For Yahweh sees not as man sees. Man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart.'

1 Samuel 16:7 (WEB)

Shows how we can understand people's true feelings beyond what we first see

📦 Materials Needed

  • Picture Bible or children's Bible
  • Inference graphic organizer
  • Colored pencils
  • Notebook

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather in reading circle. Explain that today we'll be Bible detectives, looking for clues about how characters might be feeling.

💭 Review Question: What does it mean to make a guess about something using clues?
2Teaching (8 min)

When we read stories, we can guess how people feel by looking at what they do and say. Just like a detective looks for clues, we can look for clues about feelings in Bible stories.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Clues can be words characters say
  • Actions show how someone might feel
  • We use our own experiences to understand
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • How might David have felt before fighting Goliath?
  • What clues tell us about Daniel's courage in the lion's den?
3Activity: Bible Character Feelings Detective (7 min)
hands-on

Students will choose a short Bible story and create an inference chart about a character's feelings.

📝 Instructions:
  1. Select a Bible story
  2. Draw the character
  3. Write what the character does
  4. Circle or underline clues about feelings
  5. Write 'I think they feel... because...'
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Teacher helps choose story and provides example

Challenge: Use multiple evidence points for inference

4Closing (5 min)

Share inference charts and discuss how we can understand people's feelings

📝 Review Questions:
  • What clues did you find?
  • How can understanding feelings help us be kind?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear Jesus, help us to understand others the way You understand us.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll practice more detective reading skills!

Proverbs 20:5

Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.

Proverbs 20:5 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Draw a water well and write parts of the verse on water bucket

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Making inferences helps children develop empathy and deeper reading comprehension

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Model thinking out loud about character feelings
  • Encourage looking for multiple clues
  • Validate creative thinking
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might struggle with abstract thinking about emotions

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Evidence of connecting actions to possible feelings

Extension Activities

  • Act out Bible stories showing character feelings
  • Draw emotion faces for different Bible characters
  • Create a feelings detective journal

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 175Back to Phonics & Reading