📖 Introduction
Have you ever paused while reading a story and thought, “I think I know what will happen next!” Or have you finished a story and thought about what lesson it teaches?
These are important reading skills called making predictions and drawing conclusions.
Good readers do more than read words—they use clues from the text and what they already know to think ahead and understand ideas that are not always directly stated.
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to make thoughtful predictions and draw logical conclusions from different types of texts.
🎯 What You’ll Learn
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
- explain what predictions and conclusions are.
- make sensible predictions using clues from a text.
- draw logical conclusions based on evidence.
- support your ideas with information from a passage.
💡 Let’s Explore
What Is a Prediction?
A prediction is an educated guess about what might happen next in a story or passage.
Good predictions are based on:
- clues in the text,
- pictures or illustrations,
- the title,
- and what you already know.
Predictions are not random guesses—they must make sense.
Example
Read the sentence.
Dark clouds covered the sky, and strong winds began to blow.
A sensible prediction is:
It will probably rain soon.
The prediction is based on clues in the sentence.
What Is a Conclusion?
A conclusion is a decision or idea you reach after reading and thinking carefully about the information.
Unlike a prediction, a conclusion is made after you have gathered enough evidence.
Example
Read the passage.
Ella practised the piano every day for three months. During the competition, she played confidently and won first prize.
A logical conclusion is:
Practising regularly helped Ella succeed.
The passage does not say this directly, but the evidence supports the conclusion.
Predictions vs Conclusions
| Prediction | Conclusion |
|---|---|
| Made before or during reading. | Made after reading and thinking about the information. |
| Looks ahead to what might happen. | Explains what the evidence shows. |
| Uses clues and prior knowledge. | Uses facts and evidence from the text. |
Looking for Clues
Good readers look for clues such as:
- characters’ actions,
- feelings,
- settings,
- events,
- problems,
- and important details.
These clues help them make better predictions and conclusions.
🌟 Example
Read the passage.
Sofia studied hard for several weeks. She completed all her assignments, revised every evening and asked her teacher questions whenever she needed help.
Prediction
Before the examination, you might predict:
Sofia is likely to perform well in her exams.
Conclusion
After learning that Sofia earned the highest score in the class, you can conclude:
Hard work and good preparation contributed to her success.
🌍 Real-Life Example
During a camping trip, Ethan noticed dark clouds, a sudden drop in temperature and flashes of lightning in the distance.
He predicted that a storm was approaching, so his group packed their equipment and moved into a shelter.
Later, heavy rain began to fall.
After the storm ended, Ethan concluded that paying attention to weather signs helped keep everyone safe.
💡 Tips for Making Predictions and Drawing Conclusions
✔ Read carefully.
✔ Look for important clues.
✔ Think about what you already know.
✔ Ask yourself, “What is likely to happen next?”
✔ After reading, ask, “What does the evidence show?”
✔ Always support your ideas with information from the text.
✨ Quick Tips
🔍 Predictions look forward.
📖 Conclusions look back at the evidence.
💡 Good readers always use clues from the text.
🌟 Thinking while you read improves understanding.
🎯 Let’s Practise!
Read the passage before answering Questions 1–8.
The Science Fair
Jordan wanted to build a model volcano for the school science fair. He spent several days researching volcanoes, collected all the materials he needed and practised his presentation many times. On the day of the fair, his model worked perfectly, and the judges praised his clear explanation.
A. Choose the Correct Answer
1. Before the science fair, what would be the best prediction?
A. Jordan would forget to attend the fair.
B. Jordan would probably do well because he prepared carefully.
C. Jordan would lose all his materials.
D. Jordan would decide not to finish his project.
2. What conclusion can you draw after reading the passage?
A. Research and practice helped Jordan succeed.
B. Science fairs are held every month.
C. Volcanoes are dangerous.
D. Judges always give everyone a prize.
3. Which clue best supports your conclusion?
A. Jordan collected materials and practised his presentation.
B. The fair was held at school.
C. The volcano was colourful.
D. The judges arrived early.
B. True or False
4. Predictions should be based on clues from the text.
5. A conclusion is simply a random opinion with no evidence.
C. Short Answer
6. Explain the difference between a prediction and a conclusion.
7. List three clues from the passage that suggest Jordan would perform well.
8. Imagine Jordan enters another science competition next year. Make one sensible prediction and explain which clue helped you make it.
Answers: 1 B 2 A 3 A 4 True 5 False