Let’s be honest—when upper elementary kids hear “make a prediction,” their first instinct is often to toss out a wild guess and hope for the best. But there’s a lot more going on under the surface. Teaching students to make predictions while reading isn’t just a fun mental exercise—it’s one of the most powerful ways to help them become active, engaged readers. Instead of passively floating through the pages, they’re suddenly little story detectives (trench coats optional, but encouraged). They’re constantly scanning for clues, asking questions, and thinking ahead.
And the best part? When students are making predictions, they’re blending what they already know with the information the author has given them. That magic combo—background knowledge plus text clues—helps them make sense of the story in a deeper, more meaningful way. Even better, it turns every read-aloud, chapter book, or picture book into an interactive experience.
One important message I always share with my students is this: making predictions isn’t about being right. It’s about thinking. I love when a student boldly predicts something totally off-the-wall and then gets excited when the story takes a totally different turn. That means they’re engaged and thinking ahead—and that’s the goal. Good readers know it’s okay to change their minds. In fact, that’s where the growth happens.
Kick Things Off with a Predictable Hook
You know that moment at the start of a lesson when kids are still shaking off recess energy and your read-aloud is sitting there, waiting patiently on your lap? That’s your golden opportunity to reel them in with a little making predictions magic. Before you even crack open the cover, toss out a few warm-up questions. “What do you think this story might be about, just from the title?” or “What clues can we get from the illustrations?” It’s a simple way to wake up their brains and get them looking for hints from the get-go.
Sometimes I’ll throw out a quick “what-if” question to spark a discussion—nothing fancy, just a low-pressure way to get their wheels turning. “What would you do if you were the character on the cover?” or “Why do you think the author chose that title?” You’ll get a mix of thoughtful ideas and total curveballs, and honestly, both are welcome! The goal isn’t perfection—it’s engagement.
One of my favorite low-prep tools? Picture books. Yes, even with older kids. They’re quick, visual, and packed with just enough mystery to let your students go making predictions-crazy. Stop every few pages and ask, “So…what now?” and watch them light up. It’s basically a reading game disguised as a read-aloud, and the best part? They’re practicing a key comprehension skill without it feeling like work.
Act It Out: Role-Playing for Making Predictions
Alright, time to get those wiggles working for you. Role-playing making predictions activities are a perfect mix of movement, drama, and creative thinking. Give your students a character or a scene setup, and ask them to act out what they think might happen next. Suddenly your quietest student is passionately reenacting a dragon rescue mission, and your classroom is full of kids thinking critically without even realizing it.
One of my go-to moves during read-alouds is to pause at a suspenseful moment, gasp dramatically (yes, channel your inner soap opera), and say, “Wait… what do we think is going to happen next?” Cue instant excitement and a flurry of guesses. Even better, make it your stopping point for the day and listen to students making predictions for the rest of the day as they’ve had time to let their thoughts simmer a bit. It’s a fun way to keep them hanging on every word while flexing those making predictions muscles.
Making Predictions Journals: Let Them Think on Paper
Okay, let’s talk journals—because sometimes, a quiet moment with a pencil can be just as powerful as a lively class discussion. Setting up a making predictions journal gives students a cozy little space to think on paper, and the best part? It grows with them. Whether you’re reading a class novel or a quick short story, students can jot down their thoughts, ideas, and “hmm… I wonder” moments as they go.
If your students need a little boost to get started, sentence stems are your best friend. Prompts like “I think ___ will happen because ___” or “I predict that ___ might do ___ next” help guide their thinking without boxing them in. Over time, they start using those stems naturally, and it’s chef’s kiss to watch it happen.
What really levels this up, though, is having them revisit their earlier predictions. After a few chapters, have them go back and reflect—were they close? Did the story totally surprise them? Giving students permission to revise their thinking teaches flexibility and shows them that changing your mind is a good thing in reading (and in life!).
Anchor Charts That Grow With the Story
Anchor charts are basically the giant, colorful memory keepers of your classroom. And when it comes to making predictions, they’re a gem. Start with a blank chart labeled “Our Predictions” and add to it as you read. It becomes a living, breathing record of your students’ thinking—and let me tell you, they love seeing their ideas up on the wall.
One fun method? Break it down by chapters. After each section of the book, pause and ask, “What do we think might happen next?” Write down a few student predictions and add them to the chart. It’s simple, interactive, and helps the whole class track the story’s twists and turns together.
Sticky notes are another great option if you want to keep things flexible (and fun). Let students jot down their predictions on stickies and place them on the chart under each chapter. As you read, they can move, remove, or revise them. Watching their thinking evolve in real time? Pretty powerful stuff.
Tech It Up: Digital Tools for Making Predictions
Got a Chromebook cart or a few tablets hanging out in your room? Let’s put ‘em to work! Tech tools are a fun, low-prep way to keep making predictions practice fresh—especially for your digitally-minded kiddos (which, let’s be real, is all of them these days). One of my favorites? Google Slides. You can set up a simple slide deck where students type their predictions before and after each chapter. Add a few Bitmojis or emojis, and suddenly it’s way more exciting than paper.
Jamboard is another winner—it’s interactive, colorful, and great for collaborative predictions. Let students drag and drop sticky notes, draw arrows to connect ideas, or even add images. They’ll feel like digital detectives piecing together what’s next.
And if you’re feeling fancy, tools like Seesaw or Flipgrid can take it to the next level. On Seesaw, students can record voice memos of their predictions (adorable and insightful), while Flipgrid gives them a space to explain their thinking on video. It’s a perfect way to practice making predictions skills and build speaking confidence at the same time.
Whole-Class Games That Sneak in Making Predictions Practice
Let’s face it: if you turn something into a game, student engagement basically doubles on the spot. That’s why whole-class making predictions games are one of my go-to tricks for sneaky skill-building. One crowd-pleaser is “Guess What Happens Next?”—just play a short video clip (old clips from America’s Funniest Home Videos work great for this) or read part of a chapter, then pause before the big moment and let the guesses fly. You can make it extra fun by having students write their predictions on whiteboards and reveal them all at once.
Predict and Reflect: Closing the Loop
Alright, so you’ve made predictions. You’ve paused, gasped, guessed, and giggled your way through a read-aloud. Now what? It’s time to circle back and reflect. This step is where the magic really happens—because students get to see how their thinking evolved and realize that, hey, they were actually using those critical thinking muscles all along.
One easy way to bring it full circle is with reflection prompts. Try questions like, “What surprised you?” or “Did your prediction change while reading?” I like to have students jot their thoughts in a journal or share with a partner—it doesn’t need to be fancy, just intentional. Even a five-minute conversation can spark some “aha!” moments.
And when it turns out their predictions weren’t spot on? That’s a celebration, too! Talk through what clues were tricky or misleading, and why the author might’ve gone a different direction. These conversations help students become flexible thinkers who aren’t afraid to take risks and revise their ideas. (Spoiler: those are skills they’ll use way beyond reading time.)
Make It Stick with a Novel Study
If you’re looking to go a little deeper and keep that making predictions practice rolling, a novel study is the way to go. There’s something magical about sinking into a longer story and watching your students connect the dots across chapters. It gives them the chance to revisit and revise their predictions as the plot thickens—and that’s where real growth shows up.
Throughout a novel study, you can sprinkle in “prediction checkpoints.” These are little pause-and-think moments where students stop, reflect, and ask themselves, “What do I think will happen next, and why?” It keeps them engaged and thinking ahead, even when the book gets complex. And the longer format gives them space to build on earlier predictions and notice patterns.
Grab-and-Go Resource: Editable Novel Study for Any Book
Now if you’re thinking, “Wow, this all sounds amazing, but also… I’m one coffee away from burnout,” I’ve got you. I created a completely editable, low-prep novel study you can use with any book—and yes, it includes activities that give students opportunities to practice making predictions.
This resource is super flexible. Whether you’re reading a class favorite, letting kids choose their own novels, or doing a read-aloud, the templates and prompts can be customized to fit your needs. The making predictions activity is just one piece of a full, ready-to-go packet that focuses on all the juicy parts of comprehension: character, setting, theme, and more.
And the best part? It’s designed with real classrooms in mind (read: no overcomplicated directions, no fluff, just stuff that works). You can check it out right here on TpT:
👉 Editable Novel Study for Any Book
Whether you’re a planner-extraordinaire or a “print-it-five-minutes-before-class” kind of teacher, this one’s for you.
Here’s the thing, teaching reading strategies doesn’t have to feel heavy or scripted. Making predictions can be playful, meaningful, and full of those magical “aha!” moments we live for as teachers. When students start guessing what’s next, connecting the dots, and even surprising themselves with their own ideas—that’s when we know it’s clicking.
Encourage your kids to take risks with their thinking. Let them be wrong. Let them revise. Let them celebrate the totally-off-the-wall prediction that somehow did end up happening (because plot twists are real, friends). The more you normalize that kind of flexible, curious thinking, the more confident your readers become.
And remember—this is your classroom, your style. Whether you use journals, anchor charts, games, tech tools, or all of the above, find what makes prediction practice fun for you and your students. Sprinkle it into your read-alouds, guided reading groups, and novel studies. Keep it light, keep it meaningful, and keep the “what happens next?” energy alive all year long.
You’ve got this—and your readers are lucky to have you cheering them on, one clever guess at a time.
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Check out even more great ELA ideas in these articles:
Fitting in Read Aloud Time in an Upper Elementary Classroom
Sentence Savvy: Elevating Grammar with Fix the Sentence Task Cards
Spelling Practice Activities for Big Kids to Get Them Moving and Creating