Detective Deduction:
Solving & Writing Mysteries
in Grades 2-6
By: Erica Hamer
Objectives
Students will analyze evidence to solve
mysteries
 Students will create an original mystery
story
 Students will construct logical reasoning
grids
 Students will use skills of deduction to
solve their classmates’ mysteries
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Thinking Skills
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Combining & summarizing
information
Solving logic puzzles
Making inferences
Sorting & organizing clues
Analyzing evidence
Using deductive reasoning to
eliminate possibilities
Questioning
Distinguishing between fact &
opinion
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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?
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Developing Detectives Activities
Thinking Outside the Box
 Becoming a Keen Observer
 Illustrating Detective Vocabulary
 Asking Good Questions
 Making Inferences
 Making Deductions: Logic Puzzles
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Logical Reasoning
After students master each, they can create their own!
 Relationships: group characteristics
 Sequential reasoning
 All statements
 No statements, reversals, & other negatives
 Analogies
 Logic Diagrams
 Syllogisms:
◦ Premises
◦ Valid & invalid conclusions
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If-then statements
Deduction: grids or matrices
◦ Try “Pizza Party”, “Spring Bulbs”, & “The Zoo Trip”
Solving Mysteries
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Listening: Mini-mysteries on CD
Reading: whole group, partners, individual
Underlining or highlighting:
◦ Clue phrases, important details, evidence, & suspicious
behavior
◦ Numbers: times, money, sequences
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Taking notes: collecting clues & evidence
Students can use plastic magnifying glasses
to get into the character of detective!
Create a Logic Puzzle
List 4-8 suspects (clearly male/female names)
Choose a culprit
List 5 facial characteristics: beard, mustache, scar,
mole, etc.
 Write clues deducing which characteristic
matches each suspect:
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◦ Mary does NOT have a mole.
◦ Betty has NEVER had stitches.
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Proofread: Can a colleague solve your mystery?
Revise: Add clues or correct clues to match
solution
Writing a Mystery Story
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What happened? To whom? Where? Why?
Setting: crime scene(s)
◦ Written description
◦ Crime scene sketch
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Characters:
◦ Culprit
◦ Other suspects
◦ Victim
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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)
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Proofreading: Can the teacher & your classmates solve the mystery?
Revising to add clues or correct clues to match solution
More Mystery Ideas
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Create a “real” crime scene in your
classroom using props as evidence
Take a field trip to attend LASM Crime
Scene Investigation (CSI) class
Invite a guest speaker police detective or
private investigator
Have 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 Resources
For 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/classroomresources/student-interactives/mystery-cube-30059.html
 Mystery Elements Lesson Plan http://www.readwritethink.org/classroomresources/lesson-plans/what-mystery-exploring-identifying-865.html
 Host a Classroom Mystery http://www.ehow.com/how_2108914_hostmystery-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/