Year 3 English: Predicting what happens next
Part of the Year 3 English reading fiction chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Predicting what happens next
To predict means to make a sensible guess about what will happen next. Good predictions use clues. Some clues are stated: the writer says them. Others are implied: the reader has to work them out.
A prediction must match the story so far. Give a clue to show why you think it.
Read this short story. Then answer the questions in exercise 7E.
The Locked Shed
The old shed at the bottom of the garden had been locked for as long as Mia could remember. One rainy afternoon, she lifted a flowerpot by the gate and found a small brass key. It fitted the padlock perfectly. Inside, the air smelled of dust and apples. A wooden box sat on a shelf, with a faded label that said 'Grandma's Maps'. Mia lifted the lid and saw a folded paper with a drawing of the river, a bridge and a red X. 'Maybe there is treasure,' she whispered. Then she heard footsteps on the path outside. Someone was coming, and the shed door was still open.
Key ideas
- A prediction is a sensible guess about what will happen next, based on clues.
- A stated clue is written in the text. An implied clue must be worked out.
- A good prediction matches the story so far.
- Always give a clue from the text to show why you think it.
- Writers often end a part of a story with a question or a surprise, so the reader wants to read on.
Method. Look at the clues: the sky, and the sound of thunder.
- Find the clues in the text. Clues are details the writer states or only implies.The sky went dark / Thunder rumbled
- Think about what usually follows. A good prediction matches the clues and what has happened so far.
- Write the answer. It will rain, or a storm will start.
Check. Dark skies and thunder usually come before rain. ✓
Method. Put the two clues together: the food has run out, and Dad is ready to go out with his money.
- Find the clues in the text. Clues are details the writer states or only implies.The fridge was empty / took his wallet
- Think about what usually follows. A good prediction matches the clues and what has happened so far.
- Write the answer. He will go to the shop.
Check. Empty cupboards and a wallet point to a shopping trip. ✓
Watch out. Also accept: He will go out to buy food.
Method. The paw prints are an implied clue: something with paws came in.
- Find the clues in the text. Clues are details the writer states or only implies.a small trail of muddy paw prints led to the kitchen
- Think about what usually follows. A good prediction matches the clues and what has happened so far.
- Write the answer. An animal came in from the garden.
Check. Muddy paw prints lead from the door into the kitchen. ✓
Watch out. Also accept: A pet, such as a dog or a cat, came in.
Watch out
Watch out: a prediction is a guess, not a fact. Do not say what will definitely happen. Say what is most likely, and give the clue that shows why.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Pause a story at an exciting point, and ask your child: what do you think will happen? What clue makes you think that? Then read on to see if the guess was right.
Exercise 7E Practice: predicting from clues
Method. Find the question word: what. Look for the sentence about the flowerpot.
- Find the key words in the question. These words tell us which sentence to read: what.what
- Find the sentence that gives the answer. The text says:found a small brass key
- Write the answer. a small brass key
Check. The text says: "found a small brass key". ✓
Method. Find the question word: what. Look for the sentence about the lid.
- Find the key words in the question. These words tell us which sentence to read: what.what
- Find the sentence that gives the answer. The text says:saw a folded paper with a drawing of the river, a bridge and a red X
- Write the answer. a folded paper with a drawing of the river, a bridge and a red X
Check. The text says: "saw a folded paper with a drawing of the river, a bridge and a red X". ✓
Method. Find the words that show what Mia thought.
- Find the key words in the question. These words tell us which sentence to read: what she thought.what she thought
- Find the sentence that gives the answer. The text says:Maybe there is treasure
- Write the answer. treasure
Check. The text says: "Maybe there is treasure". ✓
Method. Find the sentence about the shed being locked.
- Find the key words in the question. These words tell us which sentence to read: not opened.not opened
- Find the sentence that gives the answer. The text says:had been locked for as long as Mia could remember
- Write the answer. had been locked for as long as Mia could remember
Check. Copy it exactly. ✓
Method. Find the question word: what. Look near the end of the text.
- Find the key words in the question. These words tell us which sentence to read: what.what
- Find the sentence that gives the answer. The text says:heard footsteps on the path outside
- Write the answer. footsteps on the path outside
Check. The text says: "heard footsteps on the path outside". ✓
Method. Use the clues at the end: footsteps are coming, and the door is open.
- Find the clues in the text. Clues are details the writer states or only implies.heard footsteps on the path outside / the shed door was still open
- Think about what usually follows. A good prediction matches the clues and what has happened so far.
- Write the answer. Mia will look out to see who is coming, or she will hide.
Check. The footsteps and the open door are the clues. ✓
Watch out. Also accept any sensible prediction that uses one of these clues.
Method. Look at the clue about the boots and the puddles.
- Find the clues in the text. Clues are details the writer states or only implies.The puddles outside were deep
- Think about what usually follows. A good prediction matches the clues and what has happened so far.
- Write the answer. Walk through the puddles.
Check. Boots and deep puddles suggest he will walk through them. ✓
Watch out. Also accept: Splash in the puddles, because they were deep.
Method. Look at the clue: the bowl is empty, and the cat is asking for food.
- Find the clues in the text. Clues are details the writer states or only implies.The bowl is empty
- Think about what usually follows. A good prediction matches the clues and what has happened so far.
- Write the answer. Someone will fill the bowl with food.
Check. An empty bowl and a meowing cat point to food. ✓
Watch out. Also accept: The cat will be fed.
(a) a guess about what will happen next, based on clues (b) a summary of the whole story (c) a sentence that shows a feeling
Method. Think about the word predict: it means to guess ahead.
- Check option (a). A prediction is a guess about what will happen next, based on clues.(a)
- Check the other options. A summary is about the whole story, and a feeling is shown in a sentence, so they are not predictions.(b) and (c) do not fit
- Write the answer. (a) a guess about what will happen next, based on clues
Check. A prediction looks ahead, so option (a) is right. ✓
Watch out. Also accept: (a).
Method. Look at the clue about practice, and think about what a concert brings.
- Find the clues in the text. Clues are details the writer states or only implies.has practised the piano every day for a month
- Think about what usually follows. A good prediction matches the clues and what has happened so far.
- Write the answer. Proud, because she has practised every day.
Check. Daily practice makes her feel prepared, which suggests pride. ✓
Watch out. Also accept: Excited, or a little nervous, because she has practised so much.
Method. Think about what the ending does to the reader.
- Find the ending. The last sentence says someone is coming and the door is open.Someone was coming, and the shed door was still open.
- Explain the effect. An ending like this is a cliffhanger, so the reader wants to find out what happens.It makes the reader want to read on.
- Write the answer. It makes the reader want to read on and find out what happens next.
Check. The unfinished moment makes the reader curious. ✓
Watch out. Also accept: It leaves the reader wondering, so they want to read the next part.