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The Language Page · printable planning page · not a test
The Lantern in the Stacks
Students describe what a witness observed and separate that observation from a guess about who moved the lantern.
Student Name: ______________________
Grade Band: Grades 3-5
Words
- observe. to notice something with your senses Example: Nia can observe the lantern, but she did not see a person.
- evidence. a detail that helps show an idea is reasonable Example: The warm wax is evidence that the lantern was lit recently.
- inference. an idea you build from evidence, not a fact you saw Example: Saying a thief took it is an inference, not an observation.
- witness. a person who tells what they saw or heard Example: Jun is a witness because Jun locked the archive.
- detail. one specific piece of information Example: The copper clip on the lantern is a useful detail.
- report. a spoken or written account of what happened Example: Omar asks Nia to give a short report.
Speaking plan
Tell Omar two things Jun observed and one thing you should not claim yet.
- What did Jun see?
- Where is the lantern now?
- What is still a guess?
Writing plan
Write a short case note. Tell Omar what was observed about the lantern and what you cannot infer yet.
- Where was the lantern at six?
- Which detail shows it had been lit?
- What will you not claim?
Guided frames
- Jun observed ___.
- The evidence is ___.
- I will not claim ___ because ___.
Drafting & Evidence Sketch Space