Authors don't always tell readers everything about the characters and events in a story.  Instead readers should look for details, such as what a character says or does, to draw conclusions, or figure out the details the author didn't include.

An author can use words in different ways to tell a story.  One way is to use a word's literal meaning, or its exact meaning.

Another way is to use a word's nonliteral meaning, or a symbolic or figurative meaning of a word.

 

 

 

 

 

You can use story details to infer, or figure out, the message the author is  trying to give readers.  You can also use the conclusions you draw to help you make inferences about the story's characters, events and message.

 

As you read, you should predict what is going to happen or the message the author wants to give readers through the story.

 

 

harvest  - the crop that is gathered during one growing season

 

separate - divide a group of objects into smaller groups or categories

 

ashamed - feeling embarrassed or guilty about something that you did or didn't do

 

borders - the dividing lines between two pieces of land

 

advice - an idea or suggestion about how to solve a problem

 

borrow - to get something from someone else with their permission and plan to return it later

 

patch -a small area of land where certain plants or crops grow

 

serious - not joking or fooling

 

 

 

 itch         knife