Read the first few paragraphs of the story and chose one of the things that Great-Grandma Elzie tells Sweet Tee. Using a Grid Chart and cells with title boxes, illustrate the memory you’ve chosen in the first box. Think of two outcomes that might happen based on what you know of Elzie’s story. Once you’ve read the story, see if either of your predictions came to pass.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Read the first few paragraphs of the story and chose one of the things that Great-Grandma Elzie tells Sweet Tee. Using a Grid Chart and cells with title boxes, illustrate the memory you’ve chosen in the first box. Think of two outcomes that might happen based on what you know of Elzie’s story. Once you’ve read the story, see if either of your predictions came to pass.
Encourage students to share their predictions with the class in a supportive environment. Discussing ideas aloud helps students refine their thinking and learn from peers’ perspectives.
Prompt students to find clues in the story that support their predictions. Highlighting specific words or actions in the text builds reading comprehension and critical thinking skills.
Demonstrate how to update predictions when new events unfold in the story. Showing flexibility teaches students that good readers adjust their thinking as they read.
Ask students to write a quick note about which prediction was correct and why. Exit tickets give you instant feedback on student learning and help plan next steps.
A prediction chart activity for 'The Luckiest Time of All' asks students to choose a memory from Great-Grandma Elzie, illustrate it in a grid, predict two possible outcomes, and then check if their predictions were correct after reading the story.
To use a grid chart for making predictions, draw boxes with titles, illustrate a key memory or event in the first box, then write two possible outcomes in the next boxes. After reading, revisit the chart to compare your predictions with the actual story events.
Making predictions helps students engage with the text, think critically about character choices, and build comprehension skills by actively anticipating what might happen next in the story.
Two possible outcomes might include Elzie gaining wisdom from her experience or Sweet Tee learning an important lesson about luck and family from her great-grandmother's memory.
This prediction activity is best suited for grades 6–8, as it reinforces reading comprehension and critical thinking in middle school students.