Reading Detective: The Case of the Hidden Clues

A fun, interactive clue-hunt lesson designed to improve reading comprehension skills, specifically making inferences, for a 10-year-old boy with inattentive ADHD. The lesson uses a 'detective' theme to make learning engaging.

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Warm-up: The Mystery Object (5 minutes)

Start with a 'mystery bag' containing an object the student can guess by feeling (e.g., a pinecone, a toy car, a specific fruit). Ask: 'How did you know what it was even though you couldn't see it? You used clues!' Explain that reading is similar – sometimes authors don't tell us everything directly, and we have to use clues, like detectives. This is called 'making an inference'.

Activity: Reading Detective Clue Hunt (20-25 minutes)

  1. Setup: Before the lesson, write 3-4 short scenarios or descriptions on separate cards (Clue Cards). Each card should provide clues leading to a simple inference (e.g., 'The boy squinted. The pavement shimmered. He wiped sweat from his forehead.' Inference: It's a hot, sunny day). Hide these cards around the room or house.
  2. The Mission: Tell the student their mission is to be a 'Reading Detective'. Give them the first Clue Card location (or just the card itself).
  3. Solve the Clue: Have the student read the card aloud (or read it together). Ask: 'What clues do you see here?' and 'What smart guess (inference) can you make based on these clues?'. Discuss their reasoning. Use the graphic organizer ('Clue Collector') to jot down clues and the inference.
  4. Find the Next Clue: Once the inference is made, the back of the Clue Card (or you) can give a hint to find the next Clue Card. Encourage movement to find it.
  5. Repeat: Continue until all Clue Cards are found and discussed. Offer prompts and support as needed, keeping the focus on linking clues to the inference.

Practice: Detective Story Time (10-15 minutes)

Choose a short, high-interest paragraph or picture story (from a book or printed). Read it together. Pause and ask inference questions: 'How do you think this character is feeling? What clues tell you that?' or 'What do you think might happen next? Why do you think so?'. Keep it brief and focused.

Wrap-up: Detective Debrief (5 minutes)

Quickly review what making an inference means ('Using text or picture clues to make a smart guess!'). Ask: 'When might you need to be a reading detective in real life?' (e.g., understanding how someone feels, figuring out instructions). Praise their detective work and effort.