How to Teach Theme and Inference Using Song Lyrics

Let’s be real: when you’re juggling everything from classroom management to testing season, the last thing you want is to prep a massive reading comprehension lesson from scratch. But what if I told you there’s a low-prep, high-engagement way to teach fictional inferences that your students will actually beg to do again?

This blog post is going to walk you through one of my favorite reading comprehension activities for upper elementary—one that gets students analyzing lyrics from popular songs to draw inferences about meaning, mood, and character. It’s collaborative, fun, standards-aligned, and yes, the test prep vocabulary review is baked right in.

And the best part? It’s already done for you.

Let’s dive into this powerful, music-based ELA game for upper elementary that will turn tricky inferencing skills into one of your students’ favorite lessons.

@ohhappydayteaching I loveeee game board type games because students see them & instantly get excited because they know they are going to love the learning! The only thing you have to watch out for is how to get EVERYONE involved!!!! 💗✨💕🍒🪩 #inference #readinggame #statetesting #teachers #elementaryteacher #readinglessons #testingprep #fourthgradeteacher #greenscreen ♬ original sound - Mrs. Miller ✨✏️💗

Review or Teach the Concept

What Is Inferencing?

Before we jump into the game, let’s make sure we’re on the same page about what making inferences actually means.

In simple terms, making an inference is when students use what the text says and what they already know to figure something out that isn’t explicitly stated. It’s like being a text detective—piecing together clues to uncover meaning.

In fiction, students often infer:

• A character’s feelings or motivation

• The theme or message of the story

• What might happen next

• The meaning of figurative language or dialogue

Making inferences is a critical skill in both literary analysis and standardized test performance. In fact, it’s often the foundation of those Part A/Part B questions we see so frequently.

But here’s the kicker: inferencing can be tricky for kids—especially when texts are dry or the vocabulary is unfamiliar.

So what’s the solution?

Use something they already love: music.

How to Turn It Into a Game or Activity

Step 1: Prep Your Song Lyric Snippets

Start by choosing 5–10 song lyrics that are school-appropriate, engaging, and rich in meaning. Think clean pop songs, throwbacks, or any track your students are likely to know.

You’ll want lyrics that:

• Include figurative language (similes, metaphors, personification)

• Hint at emotions or themes

• Leave room for interpretation

Here’s an example:

🎵 “I'm dancing on my own / I make the moves up as I go”
— Taylor Swift, “Shake It Off”

Now underline or highlight the key phrase and prepare a multiple-choice question like this:

What can the listener infer from the line “I make the moves up as I go”?
A. The speaker is shy and hesitant
B. The speaker is carefree and confident
C. The speaker is following a plan
D. The speaker feels left out

Correct answer: B

Step 2: Set Up the Teams

Split your class into small groups or teams. 3–4 students per team works great. Give each team a whiteboard, piece of paper, or device to record their answers.

Let students pick fun team names to get buy-in and build community.

Step 3: Play the Game

You’ll present each song lyric one at a time—either reading it out loud or playing a short audio clip if you’re allowed to use music in class.

Then:

1. Highlight the lyric line you want them to analyze.

2. Read the multiple-choice question.

3. Have all teams discuss and record their answer.

4. Choose one “lead team” per round who has the chance to earn full points (e.g., 3 points for a correct answer).

5. The other teams earn 1 point if they also chose the correct answer.

This keeps everyone engaged every single round—not just waiting for their turn.

You can display the scoreboard on the board, use sticky notes, or even go digital with a simple Google Sheet. The game continues until all lyrics have been analyzed.

Optional: Add a Bonus Round

Add a twist at the end: give teams one open-ended lyric with no choices and ask them to write their own inference and support it with evidence. This models deeper, free-response questions they’ll see on tests.

Example Questions for Lyrics-Based Inference

• What can we infer about the character’s emotional state from this line?

• How does the lyric’s figurative language help us understand the theme?

• Which word in the lyric suggests the speaker’s tone or mood?

This type of activity seamlessly blends test prep vocabulary review with real-world engagement.

Why This Strategy Works for Upper Elementary

Music Captures Attention

Upper elementary students are beginning to develop their own musical tastes—and tapping into that is a classroom superpower. Music naturally engages memory and emotion, which makes it easier for students to understand and retain abstract concepts like inference and theme.

It's Collaborative and Competitive

Working in teams gives students the chance to talk through their thinking, hear different perspectives, and learn from one another. It also builds classroom community—especially if you let teams create their own names, mascots, or theme songs.

The point system adds just the right amount of friendly competition to keep everyone focused.

It Reinforces Key ELA Standards

This game helps students practice skills like:

• Analyzing figurative language

• Drawing inferences with textual support

• Determining theme in fictional texts

• Understanding tone and mood

• Using context clues to understand unfamiliar words

And because students are doing it in a fun, low-pressure environment, they build confidence before they have to do the same thing on a test.

This activity is also a great bridge into other reading comprehension activities, like passage analysis, paired texts, and constructed responses.

Make It Easy on Yourself

Let’s be honest—finding the right lyrics, writing quality questions, and building the game format takes time. That’s why I’ve already done it for you.

Check out the ready-to-use resource here: Make That Inference Game - Interactive Game Using Song Lyrics

This resource includes:

• Curated, school-appropriate song lyrics

• Multiple-choice questions for each lyric

• Team-based scoring system

• Answer key with explanations

• Optional digital version for Google Slides or self-paced play

• Bonus open-ended inference challenge

Whether you're introducing inferences, spiraling for test prep, or just looking for a fun Friday lesson that still hits the standards, this game has you covered.

Wrap Up: Try It in Your Classroom!

If your students are tired of boring test prep and you’re tired of spending hours planning, this is the perfect way to bring joy back into your reading block.

In just one class period, your students will:

• Practice essential ELA test prep vocabulary

• Learn how to draw inferences using context clues

• Collaborate in teams while having fun

• Engage with reading comprehension activities in a whole new way

So go ahead—turn up the music, split into teams, and let your students become inference detectives. You’ll be amazed at how much they grow when they’re actually excited to participate.

And remember, if you want all the planning done for you? Get it on my TPT store here

You got this, teacher friend.