Inferring Characters' Feelings and Motives
Draw inferences from independently-read texts, such as inferring characters' feelings, thoughts and motives from their actions, and justifying inferences with evidence from the text
Typical age: 7–10 years
“After your child reads a chapter of a novel, can they explain how a character was feeling and why — pointing to something the character said or did as their evidence?”
0 / 3 mastered
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Needs first
- Predicting what happens next
Drawing inferences about characters' feelings and justifying them with evidence is enriched by prior experience predicting what might happen next — both require reading ahead of the literal text
- Reading between the linesREQUIRED
Inferring characters' feelings/motives with evidence builds on identifying key details and making simple inferences
- Self-Correcting While Reading
Inferring and justifying inferences with text evidence requires the metacognitive habit of checking that the text makes sense as you read — a reader who doesn't self-monitor will miss the cues on which inference depends
- Story Sequence and Central Message
Drawing inferences about motivations is enriched by the prior ability to understand and discuss the sequence of events and connections between them — inference relies on understanding what happened and in what order
- Domain Vocabulary Across Subject Areas
Drawing inferences from complex texts requires academic vocabulary for reasoning about evidence and argument
Unlocks next
- Quoting Accurately from TextsREQUIRED
Quoting accurately builds on drawing inferences with evidence
- Evidence Supporting Ideas
Evaluating scientific evidence to support or refute arguments draws on the inference and evidence-reading skills developed in English comprehension
- Historical Sources on Ancient Egypt
Critically evaluating the reliability and bias of historical sources requires sophisticated inference skills developed in English reading comprehension
- Using and Evaluating Textual EvidenceREQUIRED
Evidence-based inference builds on KS2 drawing inferences from texts
- Plot Structure and Character DevelopmentREQUIRED
Character analysis builds on KS2 inferring feelings, thoughts, and motives
- Justifying Views About TextsREQUIRED
Justified views requires drawing inferences with evidence
- Character Traits and MotivationREQUIRED
Analysing character motivations requires inference skills
- Literary Evidence in WritingREQUIRED
Drawing evidence from literary texts in writing requires the ability to draw inferences from texts with evidence
- Questioning Historical Sources
Asking who made a source, when, and why — and interpreting what that means — requires the inference skills developed in English reading comprehension