Based on Mood - Lesson and Pointers

Contributed by:

Ivan Tue, Mar 01, 2022 06:55 PM UTC

Learning how to make inferences about characters based on their mood. This lesson plan contains a text lesson to provide the facts, an activity that allows students to put what they've learned into practice.

1. Name: ____________________ Date: __________________
Making Inferences
When you are reading a story sometimes you need to infer (make a
guess) about what the character is feeling. The story does not always
tell you directly how a character feels. Often you will see phrases
such as:
 Tammy slammed the door and stomped across the room. She
squinted her eyes and refused to smile at her teacher.
The story above does not tell you exactly how she feels. We can use
key details to help us determine (make a good guess) how she feels.
 Tammy slammed the door and stomped across the room. She
squinted her eyes and refused to smile at her teacher.
All of the words in red are key words and phrases that can help us
determine how she feels. How do we know? We use these words and
connect it to our personal experience. Have you ever slammed the door
when you’re mad? Do you stomp around in a room to let out your anger?
Do you squint at someone to let them know you’re mad and refuse to
smile? When we take the story facts and connect it to why we might do
these same things, we can infer that Tammy is mad.
As you read the following stories use key details that you can connect
with to infer the characters feelings and mood.
Inferenc
Backgroun
d
Inferenc
e
Knowledge e

2. 1. Ron asked Jim if he wanted to go fishing with him today. Jim said sure
and the two went to the lake right after lunch. Ron noticed that Jim
was quiet as they hooked a worm to their lines. Ron asked if Jim was
ok. Jim gave Ron a little smile as he nodded his head. A few minutes
later, Jim told Ron that his parents were getting a divorce.
What can you infer about Jim’s mood?
a. he is happy
b. he is furious
c. he is sad
What key words or phrases helped you determine this?
____________________________________________________
2. Betty danced into the room and gave her little sister a big hug. “How
are you Sally?” she asked. Sally looked at Betty with a shocked look. It
wasn’t often that Betty gave her a hug. “I’m Ok,” Sally replied. “Well I
am glad you are doing good,” responded Betty. Betty gave her another
hug before she left the room whistling her favorite song.
What can you infer about Betty’s mood?
a. she is happy
b. she is furious
c. she is sad
What key words or phrases helped you determine this?
_____________________________________________________

3. 3. Lisa and Jerry were passing notes during class. Before long, the teacher
caught on to what they were doing. Lisa had finished writing back to Jerry
and was sneaking the letter back to him when Mr. Leroy yelled, “Lisa, I’ll
take that letter from you right now.” Lisa turned red as she slowly walked
up to the front of the classroom. Her hands shook as she gave her teacher
the note that was only supposed to be for Jerry. Her stomach felt sick as
he told her to sit back down and to finish her work.
What can you infer about Lisa’s mood?
a. she is happy
b. she is embarrassed
c. she is grumpy
What key words or phrases helped you determine this?
_____________________________________________________
4. The students tapped their legs on the floor as their teacher talked
about cells and other science things. Some students were drawing in their
notebooks and others were starting to fall asleep.
What can you infer about the students mood?
a. they are lonely
b. they are scared
c. they are bored
What key words or phrases helped you determine this?
_____________________________________________________

4. 5. The three little kittens were running around all over the house
chasing a yarn ball. When one kitten was running around the corner she
saw the big dog and hunched her back. The hair on her back was
standing straight up as she quickly backed up and gave a loud hiss.
What can you infer about the kitten’s mood?
a. she is lonely
b. she is scared
c. she is bored
What key words or phrases helped you determine this?
_____________________________________________________

5. Answer Key
1. c  Jim is quiet, Jim tells Ron his parents are getting a divorce.
2. a  Betty danced in the room, hugged Sally, and was whistling.
3. b  Lisa’s face turned red, her hands shook, and she felt sick.
4. c  Students were fidgeting; tapping their legs, and falling asleep.
5. b  The kitten hunched her back, her hair stood up, and she hissed.

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