What Will Happen Next?

When we make predictions, we form ideas about the future based on what we already know or believe. A predictable book is one that features patterns, sequences, and connections in the illustrations or words that enable children to guess "what comes next.?" in_ the story. 

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Tools and Materials

Books for prediction, old magazines and newspapers, heavy paper (cardstock), scissors

Steps to take

Steps detailed below

At Home

If you have more time

  • Before you read a new book to your child, look at the cover together and ask "What do you think the book will be about?" Stop at key points in the book and ask "What do you think will happen next?" Some good books for prediction are: Corduroy by Don Freeman, If You Give a Pig a Pancake (Moose a Muffin, Mouse a Cookie, or Cat a Cupcake) by Laura Numeroff, The Monster at the End of This Book by J. Stone, What Do You Do with A Tail Like This?  by Steve Jenkins, The Mitten by Jan Brett. Similar books - Many books follow the pattern of a well known story, read books that use this pattern and see if your child can make predictions and connect the two stories, some examples include: The Three Little Pigs by David Wisner , The Three Little Fish and The Big Bad Shark by Ken Geist, The Three Little Dassies by Jan Brett, The Three Little Javelenias by Susan Lowell.

On the Go

If you have more time   

  • When you come to a train crossing and the bars go down make predictions with your child about how long the train will be, will it be fast or slow, will it have passengers or will it be a freight train.
  • Make up a story- take turns making up a story with your child. Say, "Once up on a time there was boy named Mateo", have your child give the next sentence and so on.
  • On the walk to the park make predictions about what you will see there (Will there be ducks on the pond? How many will we see? Will the trees have leaves or have the leaves fallen? What color will the tree's leaves be?)
     

Words to Know

Predict    "What comes next?"  Sequence  Guess    Read

Possible Observations

Listens to books; answers questions about a story; guesses what will happen next; draws pictures