Detective Deduction: Solving & Writing Mysteries

in Grades 2-6

By: Erica Hamer

ObjectivesStudents will analyze evidence to

solve mysteriesStudents will create an original

mystery story Students will construct logical

reasoning grids Students will use skills of

deduction to solve their classmates’ mysteries

Thinking Skills

Combining & summarizing information

Solving logic puzzles Making inferences Sorting & organizing clues Analyzing evidence Using deductive reasoning to

eliminate possibilities Questioning Distinguishing between fact &

opinion

Contrasting viewpoints Making predictions Supporting conclusions Differentiating between

relevant & irrelevant information

Evaluating sources Observing Validating syllogisms Sequencing events Recognizing relationships

How Have You Used Mysteries? What mystery activities have you

tried in your classroom?What worked well?What obstacles did you

encounter?

Developing Detectives ActivitiesThinking Outside the BoxBecoming a Keen ObserverIllustrating Detective VocabularyAsking Good QuestionsMaking InferencesMaking Deductions: Logic Puzzles

Logical ReasoningAfter students master each, they can create their own!Relationships: group characteristicsSequential reasoningAll statementsNo statements, reversals, & other negativesAnalogiesLogic DiagramsSyllogisms:

◦ Premises◦ Valid & invalid conclusions

If-then statementsDeduction: grids or matrices

◦ Try “Pizza Party”, “Spring Bulbs”, & “The Zoo Trip”

Solving MysteriesListening: Mini-mysteries on CDReading: whole group, partners, individualUnderlining or highlighting:

◦Clue phrases, important details, evidence, & suspicious behavior

◦Numbers: times, money, sequencesTaking notes: collecting clues & evidence

Students can use plastic magnifying glasses to get into the character of detective!

Create a Logic PuzzleList 4-8 suspects (clearly male/female names)Choose a culpritList 5 facial characteristics: beard, mustache,

scar, mole, etc.Write clues deducing which characteristic

matches each suspect:◦Mary does NOT have a mole.◦Betty has NEVER had stitches.

Proofread: Can a colleague solve your mystery?Revise: Add clues or correct clues to match

solution

Writing a Mystery StoryWhat happened? To whom? Where? Why?

Setting: crime scene(s)◦ Written description ◦ Crime scene sketch

Characters: ◦ Culprit◦ Other suspects◦ Victim

Plot: ◦ Clues

Detailed action (from which to infer clues) Dialogue (including questions & lies) Evidence (witness observations, thread, candy wrapper, receipt, etc.)

◦ Crime/Mystery- NONVIOLENT, missing/secret/mixed-up Motivation (how each suspect benefits from the crime) Opportunity (timing & location)

Proofreading: Can the teacher & your classmates solve the mystery?

Revising to add clues or correct clues to match solution

More Mystery IdeasCreate a “real” crime scene in your

classroom using props as evidenceTake a field trip to attend LASM Crime

Scene Investigation (CSI) classInvite a guest speaker police detective or

private investigatorHave students write a script & film a

mystery movie or perform a mystery puppet show

How would you adapt these mystery activities for your class?

Sources

Online ResourcesFor Teachers Mystery Writing

http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/mystery/index.htm How to Write a Mini-Mystery

http://www.fictionteachers.com/fictionclass/mystery.html Mystery Cube Lesson Plans

http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/mystery-cube-30059.html

Mystery Elements Lesson Plan http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/what-mystery-exploring-identifying-865.html

Host a Classroom Mystery http://www.ehow.com/how_2108914_host-mystery-classroom.html

Forensics Activities: Who Dunnit? http://www.cyberbee.com/whodunnit/crime.html

For Students Interactive: Peetnik Mysteries

http://www.superpages.com/enlightenme/superthinkers/pages/welcome.html

Interactive: Mysteries of Catalhoyuk! http://www.smm.org/catal/top.php

Interactive: Fin, Fur, & Feather Bureau of Investigation http://www.fffbi.com/