How to Teach Making Predictions with Enemy Pie

Making predictions is an important reading skill for all kids. It’s not always easy for kids, and in this post, I’m going to share ideas for making predictions with one of my favorites, Enemy Pie by Derek Munson.

Enemy Pie, a Mentor Text for making predictions

Mentor texts are very helpful for modeling with think aloud the process we as teachers use as we read. We can use mentor texts for many many skills. So, let’s dig in and look at using this book which will be SNOW much fun for making predictions.

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  Enemy Pie Comprehension Activities Boom Cards

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Here’s what Amazon has as a description for it.

It was the perfect summer. That is, until Jeremy Ross moved into the house down the street and became neighborhood enemy number one. Luckily Dad had a surefire way to get rid of enemies: Enemy Pie. But part of the secret recipe is spending an entire day playing with the enemy!

 In this funny yet endearing story, one little boy learns an effective recipes for turning your best enemy into your best friend. Accompanied by charming illustrations, Enemy Pie serves up a sweet lesson in the difficulties and ultimate rewards of making new friends.

Making Predictions Lesson

To improve modeling with the book, teachers might want to use this cute Youtube video of the book. It uses closed captioning which I think is great for helping students with fluency.  The students see how the words are grouped for phrasing.  Plus, the teacher can control how much of the book is seen at a time and therefore, pause for questioning and think aloud.

Using DRTA for Making Predictions

I like the idea of using videos of the books are for modeling the idea that we predict and confirm predictions throughout our reading versus only before reading since the full book is projected. To demonstrate predicting with my students, I often use the Directed Reading Thinking Activity method. Students are allowed to only look at predetermined sections of the book, and these predictions are checked as the book is read.  

This simple foldable has worked well with DRTA.  I have my students put the Title, Author, and a picture on the front (mainly because they enjoy it) and use the back of the foldable for beginning, middle, end or a summary. You can get the lesson below as a subscription to my email service. You can use this set with any fictional book that works well for predictions.

Other Links on making Predictions

• Mentor Texts for Making Predictions
• How to Use the DRTA Method with Mr. Lincoln’s Way

More Ideas on Making Predictions

Teaching making predictions virtually

If you love this book and would like to use it with your guided reading groups, you might be interested in the Boom Card deck I created to go with the story. It includes comprehension questions, character comparisons, story elements, cause and effect, and extended response questions.

Making Predictions Paper Bag Book

DRTA Freebie

I hope you’ll give Enemy Pie a try along with this easy to use foldable activity!