Help your students become active readers with our purposeful The Speedy Sloth: Making Predictions activity. Designed to accompany a whole class reading of The Speedy Sloth by Rebecca Young, this resource invites students to practise making thoughtful predictions using clues from the text and their own background knowledge.

Making predictions before and during reading is an essential comprehension strategy. These no-prep worksheets encourage students to use details from the title, cover and blurb to form predictions before reading begins. A second option allows them to stop partway through the story to revise or extend their predictions based on new information. These activities help students develop reading stamina, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of narrative structure.

With three differentiated versions included, this resource suits a wide range of abilities and learning styles. Whether students are drawing only, finishing sentences, or writing full paragraphs, they’ll be engaged in predicting what might happen in the story and reflecting on the outcome. This makes it perfect for comprehension lessons, small groups, independent tasks, or even scribing sessions with early writers.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Use visual and written clues to make logical story predictions
• ✅ Develop comprehension through active engagement with text
• ✅ Strengthen critical thinking and reasoning skills
• ✅ Practise sentence and paragraph construction
• ✅ Make connections between prior knowledge and story elements

What’s Included:

• Three worksheet versions in both 24mm and 18mm line options:
•     - Drawing their prediction
•     - Drawing + sentence starter
•     - Drawing + short paragraph writing

Materials Needed:

• Printed templates (select version appropriate for your students)
• Pencils, crayons, or markers for drawing and writing
• Optional: A3 paper for enlarged versions
• Optional: magazines, glue, and craft materials for creative extension

How to Use:

1. Show students the front cover and blurb of The Speedy Sloth.
2. Discuss what clues the title and visuals provide about the story.
3. Students record their prediction using one of the worksheet options.
4. Pause before the end of the book to allow students to revise or add to their prediction.
5. Use completed worksheets to discuss how their ideas changed or stayed the same.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use before a shared reading session to build curiosity and anticipation
• 💡 Include as a comprehension task during literacy rotations
• 💡 Display students’ predictions alongside the book for a visual wall of thinking
• 💡 Have students share their predictions aloud as part of a class discussion
• 💡 Link to writing lessons by discussing how authors set up story expectations

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Enlarge worksheets to A3 to give students more room for drawing and writing
• 💛 Use sentence starters or word banks to support developing writers
• 💛 Turn the drawing page into an art extension by using mixed media
• 💛 Collect predictions before reading and revisit them after finishing the book

Check out more amazing resources related to The Speedy Sloth in our The Speedy Sloth PACKAGE.

Available in our basic fun font and all Australian state fonts.