Inference Clip Cards Inferencing Hands-On Activity

Use these inference clip cards with your early readers. They have been created using ‘workers’ or people who are going ‘somewhere’. The students need to use the image of the person, look at what they’re wearing, what they may be holding and make an inference about where they may be headed. 

For example: 

• The snowboarder who has a snowboard, goggles and a beanie would most likely be heading to the ski slopes rather than singing on a stage. 
• The person dressed as a pilot with headphones and a pilot suit would most likely be heading to the airport, rather than the circus. 

Inference Activities for Early Readers

Use the Inference Clip Cards as a hands-on, interactive way for early readers to practice making inferences from visual clues. These activities focus on building students’ ability to use what they see (clothing, objects, settings) along with what they already know.

• Clip and Explain – Students choose a card, attach a clothespin to the option they think is correct (e.g., where the person is going), and explain their thinking: “I think they are going to the snow because they have a snowboard and goggles.”
• Clue Detective – Encourage students to closely examine their clip card and identify clues:
  • What is the person wearing?
  • What are they holding?
  • What job or activity does this remind you of?
• Turn and Talk – In pairs, students discuss their clip card before placing their clothespin on the correct place. This helps build oral language:
  • “I agree because…”
  • “I think differently because…”
• Create a Story – Students pick a card and extend their inference into a simple oral or written sentence: “The pilot is going to the airport to fly a plane.”

This clip card activity makes inferencing visual, tactile, and engaging, helping early readers connect clues with meaning while building confidence in explaining their thinking.

Download and Make Inferences Today!

Use the dropdown menu to choose between the easy-to-print PDF or the editable Google Slides version of this inference activity.

This resource was created by Lindsey Phillips, a teacher in Michigan and a Teach Starter collaborator. 

More Inference Activities for the Classroom

Are you looking for more inference activities for the classroom? We have you covered…

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