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3rd Grade Making Inferences worksheets

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Making Inferences

Grade 3 Reading Worksheet

NameDate

Circle the answer.

  1. Read this first

    Chalk at Recess

    On Monday, a new desk stood next to Owen's in Room 12. A girl named Lucía sat there with her hands folded tight. Ms. Bell introduced her, and Lucía gave a tiny nod. When the class said hello, her cheeks turned pink. She looked down at her shoes.

    During math, Ms. Bell explained the problems out loud. Lucía watched the board carefully. She copied the numbers and solved every problem quickly. But when Ms. Bell asked her a question, Lucía only shook her head. She whispered something in Spanish.

    At recess, Lucía stood alone near the fence. Owen remembered his first day at a new school two years ago. Nobody had talked to him until lunch. He grabbed a piece of chalk and walked over.

    Owen drew a hopscotch board on the blacktop. He pointed at the squares and counted, "One, two, three." Then he handed Lucía the chalk. She smiled for the first time all day. "Uno, dos, tres," she said, writing the numbers in neat rows.

    By the end of recess, three more kids had joined the game. Lucía hopped all the way to ten without stepping on a line. Everyone cheered.

    The next morning, Lucía walked into Room 12 holding two pieces of chalk. She set one on Owen's desk. "For you," she said carefully. "Thank you." Owen grinned. He decided to teach her the English word for every color in the box.

  2. Why did Lucía shake her head when Ms. Bell asked her a question?

    • She was angry at Ms. Bell.
    • She was still learning English.
    • She did not understand the math.
    • She had a sore throat that day.
  3. How did Lucía most likely feel on her first morning?

    • shy and nervous
    • bored and sleepy
    • angry and upset
    • proud and bold
  4. Which clue best supports the idea that Lucía felt shy?

    • She hopped to ten without missing.
    • She wrote the numbers in neat rows.
    • Her cheeks turned pink, and she looked down.
    • She solved every problem quickly.
  5. Why did Owen decide to walk over to Lucía?

    • He needed a partner for a math game.
    • He wanted to borrow her chalk.
    • He remembered how lonely his first day was.
    • Ms. Bell told him to play with her.
  6. Why did Owen point at the squares and count out loud?

    • to share the game without many words
    • to show he was better at math
    • to tell her recess was over
    • because Ms. Bell asked him to count
  7. Why did Lucía bring chalk the next morning?

    • so she could draw during math
    • because every student had to bring some
    • because her chalk had broken
    • to thank Owen for being kind
  8. What will Owen most likely do next?

    • help Lucía learn more English words
    • stop playing hopscotch at recess
    • ask Ms. Bell to move Lucía's desk
    • teach Lucía how to solve math problems
  9. Which sentence is stated directly in the story?

    • Owen wants to be Lucía's friend.
    • Three more kids joined the game.
    • Lucía felt happier at recess.
    • Lucía moved from another country.
  10. Lucía wrote "the numbers in neat rows." What does neat mean?

    • large and bright
    • tidy and careful
    • short and broken
    • messy and fast
  11. Which inference is NOT supported by the story?

    • Lucía enjoyed the hopscotch game.
    • Lucía is new at the school.
    • Owen understands how Lucía feels.
    • Lucía does not like math class.
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3rd Grade Making Inferences worksheet 1 – printable PDF
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About this worksheet

An inference is a smart conclusion based on clues in the text. It is not a wild guess, and it is not always stated directly. This distinction is difficult for third graders because they bring their own experiences to every passage. That background knowledge can help, but the answer still needs support from the words on the page. This worksheet asks students to use short passages to infer feelings, reasons, and character traits.

Other choices sound possible but are not supported by the passage. Encourage your child to say which clue led to the answer. If they cannot name a clue, they should reread before choosing. The goal is evidence-based thinking, not the fastest familiar answer. Students should name the clue that supports the inference.

What your child will learn

  • Use text clues to make an inference
  • Tell supported inferences from guesses
  • Infer character feelings and reasons
  • Connect an inference to evidence

Common Core standard: RL.3.1

Worked example

If a teacher smiles after Leo holds the door, you can infer that the teacher appreciates his helpful choice.

Common mistake

Choosing an inference because it could happen, even though the passage gives no clue.

Helpful hint

An inference needs a clue from the text.

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with making inferences?

Choosing an inference because it could happen, even though the passage gives no clue.

How can I help my child with making inferences?

An inference needs a clue from the text.

Are these 3rd grade reading worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions on this page are free to download and print, with no account needed.

Similar: Ask and Answer Questions · Find Text Evidence

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