This activity is one which I often used as a ‘starter’  (taking 15-20 mins) – either as an introduction to a  whole lesson looking at how to infer, or as a ‘stand alone’ starter. This can work with any year from Year 2/3 upwards, depending upon how much you intend to draw out of it.

Miss Lancaster stormed into the classroom, slamming her bag down onto the table. She glared at the students sitting in the front row, her eyes scanning them for any sign of misbehaviour.

Sitting on the end of the row, Georgia gulped nervously. Hands trembling, she fumbled in her pencil case for a pen. She kept her eyes down, hoping desperately not to catch her teacher’s attention. 

1. Underline the verbs in the first paragraph.
2. What impression do these verbs give us of Miss Lancaster?
3. What can we infer about: a) what kind of teacher she is and  b) what kind of relationship she has with her students?
4. Underline the verbs and adverbs in the second paragraph.
5. What impression do these give us of how Georgia is feeling?
6. What can we infer about Georgia’s feelings towards her teacher?