Answer the Prompt Activity for The Secret Garden

This Storyboard That activity is part of the lesson plans for Secret Garden, The




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Activity Overview

Provide students with a question or prompt to answer with a storyboard using textual evidence. The example prompt is, "How does “Magic” effect Mary and Colin?" Possible answers to the prompt include:




Other prompts might include:

  1. In what ways does Dickon help Mary and Colin?
  2. Why do you think Mary and Colin like Dickon and Mrs. Sowersby as much as they do?
  3. How do Mary and Colin change throughout the text?
  4. How does Mary’s experience help her to change Colin?


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Template and Class Instructions

(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)


Student Instructions

Create a storyboard that answers the prompt using at least three examples from The Secret Garden. Click on "Add / Delete Cells" to change the number of examples.


  1. Type the question into the central black box.
  2. Think about examples from the text that support your answer.
  3. Type text evidence in the description boxes. Paraphrase or quote directly from the text.
  4. Illustrate each example using scenes, characters, items, etc.


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How To Help Students Draw Inferences From the Text

1

Introduce and Explain the Concept

To start, establish what an inference is. Describe how it entails forming informed assumptions or predictions from the text's evidence. Teachers can explain the procedure by drawing their own conclusions as they read aloud a paragraph to set an example. Encourage the students to think aloud to demonstrate the use of the text to draw conclusions.

2

Explain the Significance of Context Clues

Be sure to emphasize how crucial context is when drawing conclusions. Show how the phrases and paragraphs around the unknown words or acts give hints as to their meaning. Students can analyze these clues to enhance their understanding of the text and use them to provide textual evidence.

3

Highlight the Importance of Textual Evidence

Explain how important of a connection textual evidence has with drawing inferences. Encourage the students to always back up their predictions and arguments with facts to make their points more convincing. Students can highlight important parts of the text as they read to use later for discussion.

4

Hold Discussions and Debates

Teachers can pick a topic from the text or come up with a question for debate such as “Was there actually magic present in The Secret Garden?” and ask the students to form teams to either defend this topic or oppose it with the help of textual evidence and from the story. This will improve their critical thinking skills and enhance their arguments.

5

Provide Support and Guidance

Provide students with support and guidance whenever they feel confused. Encourage them to be confident in their arguments can provide enough evidence to convince the other person. Teachers can also provide constructive feedback on the debates and discussions to promote learning.

Frequently Asked Questions About Using Textual Evidence To Draw Inferences from The Secret Garden

Why is it crucial to support conclusions from the text with textual evidence?

The inferences made have more validity and trustworthiness when supported by textual evidence. It highlights how interpretations are grounded in the author's real words and specific facts. It also helps the readers to apply this concept to other subjects and improve the credibility of their work.

Provide an example of an Inference drawn from the story which can also be backed by textual evidence.

Certainly! You may use textual evidence such as, "Mary had thought it must be different from all the other gardens which had not been left all by themselves for so long.." to support the inference that Mary is starting to believe that there is something magical about The Secret Garden which can change her life forever.

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