Unlocking the Power of Verbal Reasoning: A Fun and Engaging Middle School ELA Activity

Verbal reasoning is all about finding meaning in a text. It includes interpreting figurative language—like idioms and metaphors—and making inferences, which is the ability to read between the lines and draw conclusions based on implied information rather than explicit statements.

While some students naturally develop strong inference skills, others need direct guidance to strengthen this critical reading muscle. That’s where an engaging classroom activity can make all the difference.

Making Inferences: A Fun Mystery Activity

One of the best ways to teach inference skills is through a mystery activity—a lesson so engaging that students won’t want to stop! Here’s a step-by-step guide to leading your students through this fun and effective exercise:

Step 1: Activate Prior Knowledge

Start by asking students:

• What do you look for when reading or watching a mystery?

• How do you figure out the solution?

Write their responses on the board or let them discuss in small groups. You can also introduce well-known mystery stories, TV shows, or movies to spark their interest.

Step 2: Define Inference

Explain to students that making an inference means finding clues left by the author and using those clues to understand what’s happening.

For example, if an author describes a character shaking off an umbrella before entering a house, what can we infer? Students will likely conclude that it’s raining. Ask them to identify the clues that led to this inference.

Step 3: Outline Key Inference Strategies

When making inferences, students should:

• Identify clues in the text.

• Connect those clues to prior knowledge (what they already know about the topic or real-life experiences).

• Recognize that more than one interpretation may be possible—but all inferences must be supported by evidence.

Step 4: Introduce a Mystery

Pass out a short mystery story and read it aloud. Alternatively, play an audio or video version for a more immersive experience (bonus points for dramatic music!).

Step 5: Investigate the Clues

In small groups, students will highlight or take notes on clues that lead to solving the mystery. To make this even more engaging, transform them into detective agencies! Have them create a fun agency name and challenge them to solve the case.

Step 6: Write the Solution

Each group writes a short explanation of the mystery’s solution, using:

• Clues from the text.

• Logical reasoning that connects those clues to their conclusion.

• Sentence stems to structure their response (e.g., One clue that suggests… is… or We can infer that… because…).

Step 7: Share and Discuss

Each group presents their conclusions to the class. Discuss which clues were the most useful and how different groups arrived at their answers. This is often the most exciting part, as students are amazed by details they may have overlooked!

Where to Find Mystery Stories

Wondering where to get engaging mysteries for this activity? Here are some ideas:

• Encyclopedia Brown books (a nostalgic favorite!)

• Five-Minute Mystery books (available at most libraries and online)

• Mystery-themed podcasts or YouTube videos

• EB Teachers’ mystery stories, such as The Case of the Stolen Pearls

Final Thoughts

Inference skills are vital for strong readers, and teaching them through mysteries makes learning both meaningful and enjoyable. This activity will help students strengthen their reading comprehension in a way they’ll love.

Try it out and let us know how it goes! We’d love to hear how your students become detectives in the classroom.

If you want to hear more about this topic, check out our podcast Teaching Middle School ELA. 
Unlocking the Power of Verbal Reasoning