Offer children an explanation of making inferences. Explain that inferences are a combination of observing information and prior knowledge. Inform them that sometimes in books, authors don't tell everything that happens and that making inferences will allow children to gain a better understanding of what is happening in a story.
Create your own scene or select a scene from a book. Mime the scene, using actions and facial expressions to illustrate what is happening and how you feel. Ask children if they can determine what is happening or how you are feeling based on your actions. Explain to them that by making predictions based on your actions and expressions, they are making inferences.
Sort through photographs. Ask children to examine the photographs. Instruct them to guess what the person or people in the photograph are feeling or what may have been going on when the picture was taken based on people's expressions and gestures.
Read aloud a section of a text that contains detailed information regarding character's gestures and emotions. Ask students if they can infer what is happening or how the character feels based on the information presented in the text.
Explain that children make inferences in everyday life. Provide a sample situation of when children may make inferences. For example, ask students if they are waiting on line for a ride at an amusement park and they hear people who are on the ride laughing and see people who have just exited the ride laughing, cheering and smiling, what they would infer about the ride -- that it's fun.