Murder in the Classroom
The website One Stop English (http://www.onestopenglish.com/) contains a
Lesson Share Archive that is very useful for busy teachers. Sara Mykietyn found this
lesson and re-formatted and adapted it slightly for her EFL class. It could be used in any
foreign language class. If you translate it into your target language, why not share it
with your fellow Culture Club colleagues?
Preparation: Depending on the class size, decide how many groups you will have. The
first seven characters (see teacher’s answer sheet) are the main characters that you need
to play the game. The others are extras that do not contain any substantial information.
Groups as close to seven as possible work best within a 50 minute time period. The
game may be played with six, eliminating Patricia Woods. Make the necessary copies of
the character sheets. Cut each sheet, separating the background information from the
character’s identity. Make one copy of the worksheet for each student.
Game Day: Before the students enter the classroom, write the word “Murder” on the
board. Ask them to define the word for you. Tell them that there has been a murder in
the high school and you need their help to solve it. Plus, one of them is the murderer!
First, give each student the top half of the sheet, with the background information. Read
it aloud and ensure comprehension. Then, divide the class into their groups. Give them
individually their character and explain this is who you are. If you have time, nametags
are a nice idea but definitely did not seem to be essential. Finally, while they read their
character descriptions, give them the worksheet to record all the information from their
interviews. Answer any vocabulary questions.
To explain the game, read the five questions on the bottom of the character sheet
together. They must ask these five questions to every other member of their group. As
well, they will be answering the same questions. Based upon the answers, they must
then determine what that character’s motive and alibi is. This information is recorded
on the worksheet. By talking to the other characters, their goal is to find out who the
killer is and why.
Murder in the Classroom
Details about the murder:
During a school reunion, a scream is heard from one of the classrooms. It is 8:30pm. A
few minutes later, the dead body of Ms Emily Johnson, an old English teacher is found.
She has been hit on the head. Also found were a number of items that may lead us to
the killer: a book written by one of her ex-students, Simon Donnelly; a photograph of
another teacher, a young man called Saul Sheen; and, a tissue with the initials I.W. At
the moment, these are the three main suspects. Everyone who was at the reunion and
saw or spoke to Ms Emily Johnson needs to be questioned.
Your character:
Your name is Simon Donnelly. You are a former student.
Memories of Ms Emily Johnson: She was a very difficult teacher. She made you do extra
writing assignments. She said that you had talent but you hated all the extra work. But,
now you are grateful. You’re a writer and have just written a new book which you
dedicated to Ms Johnson.
Last time you saw Ms Johnson: You saw her at about 7pm. You gave her a copy of your
new book and she was happy.
When you heard the scream: You were talking to Louise King, another former student.
Use the sheet to record and collect information about the other characters. Some
questions you should ask include:
What is your name?
Why were you at the reunion?
What was your relationship with Ms Johnson?
When was the last time that you saw Ms Johnson?
What were you doing when you heard the scream?
Remember, you can not tell a lie!
Murder in the Classroom
Details about the murder:
During a school reunion, a scream is heard from one of the classrooms. It is 8:30pm. A
few minutes later, the dead body of Ms Emily Johnson, an old English teacher is found.
She has been hit on the head. Also found were a number of items that may lead us to
the killer: a book written by one of her ex-students, Simon Donnelly; a photograph of
another teacher, a young man called Saul Sheen; and, a tissue with the initials I.W. At
the moment, these are the three main suspects. Everyone who was at the reunion and
saw or spoke to Ms Emily Johnson needs to be questioned.
Your character:
Your name is Louise King. You are a former student.
Memories of Ms Johnson: You hated her class. She gave too much homework. She made
you hate school and thus, you stopped going. You didn’t do your exams and now you
work at the supermarket. You think it is all Ms Johnson’s fault. You are happy that she
is dead!
Last time that you saw Ms Johnson: You went outside for a cigarette at about 8pm. You
saw her with Mr. Green. It looked like they were arguing and it seemed serious. They
were talking about Saul.
When you heard the scream: You were happy for the distraction. You were trying to
escape from boring Simon Donnelly.
Use the sheet to record and collect information about the other characters. Some
questions you should ask include:
What is your name?
Why were you at the reunion?
What was your relationship with Ms Johnson?
When was the last time that you saw Ms Johnson?
What were you doing when you heard the scream?
Remember, you can not tell a lie!
Murder in the Classroom
Details about the murder:
During a school reunion, a scream is heard from one of the classrooms. It is 8:30pm. A
few minutes later, the dead body of Ms Emily Johnson, an old English teacher is found.
She has been hit on the head. Also found were a number of items that may lead us to
the killer: a book written by one of her ex-students, Simon Donnelly; a photograph of
another teacher, a young man called Saul Sheen; and, a tissue with the initials I.W. At
the moment, these are the three main suspects. Everyone who was at the reunion and
saw or spoke to Ms Emily Johnson needs to be questioned.
Your character:
Your name is Saul Sheen. You are a young teacher at the school.
Opinion of Ms Johnson: She was a very serious woman. She was not easy to like.
Last time you saw Ms Johnson: Nobody at school knows this, but Ms Johnson is your
mother. She gave you up for adoption when you were a baby. You were having an
argument today because she would not tell you who your father is. It was about
7:30pm.
When you heard the scream: You were looking for Mr. Green, the headmaster. You
knocked on his office door but there was no answer.
Use the sheet to record and collect information about the other characters. Some
questions you should ask include:
What is your name?
Why were you at the reunion?
What was your relationship with Ms Johnson?
When was the last time that you saw Ms Johnson?
What were you doing when you heard the scream?
Remember, you can not tell a lie! You must tell the other characters that you are Ms.
Johnson’s son.
Murder in the Classroom
Details about the murder:
During a school reunion, a scream is heard from one of the classrooms. It is 8:30pm. A
few minutes later, the dead body of Ms Emily Johnson, an old English teacher is found.
She has been hit on the head. Also found were a number of items that may lead us to
the killer: a book written by one of her ex-students, Simon Donnelly; a photograph of
another teacher, a young man called Saul Sheen; and, a tissue with the initials I.W. At
the moment, these are the three main suspects. Everyone who was at the reunion and
saw or spoke to Ms Emily Johnson needs to be questioned.
Your character:
Your name is Ivan Williams. You are the housekeeper at the school.
Opinion of Ms Johnson: You thought that she was a very sophisticated woman. It
surprised you that she wasn’t married. You wanted to invite her to dinner but you were
afraid that she would say no.
Last time you saw Ms Johnson: You saw her arguing with Mr. Sheen. You never liked
him; He was always made Ms Johnson upset. You went to see if she was okay, you
loaned her your tissue, which you always carry with you because you have allergies.
When you heard the scream: You were cleaning the floor in the men’s bathroom.
Use the sheet to record and collect information about the other characters. Some
questions you should ask include:
What is your name?
Why were you at the reunion?
What was your relationship with Ms Johnson?
When was the last time that you saw Ms Johnson?
What were you doing when you heard the scream?
Remember, you can not tell a lie!
Murder in the Classroom
Details about the murder:
During a school reunion, a scream is heard from one of the classrooms. It is 8:30pm. A
few minutes later, the dead body of Ms Emily Johnson, an old English teacher is found.
She has been hit on the head. Also found were a number of items that may lead us to
the killer: a book written by one of her ex-students, Simon Donnelly; a photograph of
another teacher, a young man called Saul Sheen; and, a tissue with the initials I.W. At
the moment, these are the three main suspects. Everyone who was at the reunion and
saw or spoke to Ms Emily Johnson needs to be questioned.
Your character:
Your name is Lily Simmons.
Memories of Ms Emily Johnson: She was a very scary teacher. Most of her students
worked hard because they were afraid of her. You did very well in her English class.
Thanks to Ms Johnson, you are going to become a teacher.
Last time you saw Ms Johnson: You spoke to her briefly at about 7:45pm. You were
telling her about your studies. She didn’t seem interested. When she saw Mr. Green, she
said that she had to go. You thought she was impolite.
When you heard the scream: You were dancing in the Sports Hall with some of the
other former students.
Use the sheet to record and collect information about the other characters. Some
questions you should ask include:
What is your name?
Why were you at the reunion?
What was your relationship with Ms Johnson?
When was the last time that you saw Ms Johnson?
What were you doing when you heard the scream?
Remember, you can not tell a lie!
Murder in the Classroom
Details about the murder:
During a school reunion, a scream is heard from one of the classrooms. It is 8:30pm. A
few minutes later, the dead body of Ms Emily Johnson, an old English teacher is found.
She has been hit on the head. Also found were a number of items that may lead us to
the killer: a book written by one of her ex-students, Simon Donnelly; a photograph of
another teacher, a young man called Saul Sheen; and, a tissue with the initials I.W. At
the moment, these are the three main suspects. Everyone who was at the reunion and
saw or spoke to Ms Emily Johnson needs to be questioned.
Your character:
Your name is Edward Green. You are the headmaster at the school.
Memories of Ms Emily Johnson: You have known Ms Johnson since you were both
students at university. You thought she was a remarkable woman. You will miss her
very much.
Last time you saw Ms Johnson: You were very busy this evening. You never saw Ms
Johnson.
When you heard the scream: You were in your office working on the computer.
Use the sheet to record and collect information about the other characters. Some
questions you should ask include:
What is your name?
Why were you at the reunion?
What was your relationship with Ms Johnson?
When was the last time that you saw Ms Johnson?
What were you doing when you heard the scream?
Murder in the Classroom
Details about the murder:
During a school reunion, a scream is heard from one of the classrooms. It is 8:30pm. A
few minutes later, the dead body of Ms Emily Johnson, an old English teacher is found.
She has been hit on the head. Also found were a number of items that may lead us to
the killer: a book written by one of her ex-students, Simon Donnelly; a photograph of
another teacher, a young man called Saul Sheen; and, a tissue with the initials I.W. At
the moment, these are the three main suspects. Everyone who was at the reunion and
saw or spoke to Ms Emily Johnson needs to be questioned.
Your character:
Your name is Patricia Woods. You are a teacher at the school.
Memories of Ms Emily Johnson: She was a good teacher but she did not have many
friends.
Last time you saw Ms Johnson: She was walking to her classroom. It was about 8:15pm
and she looked upset. She was crying and wiping her eyes with a tissue.
When you heard the scream: You were serving drinks with some of the other teachers
in the Sports Hall.
Use the sheet to record and collect information about the other characters. Some
questions you should ask include:
What is your name?
Why were you at the reunion?
What was your relationship with Ms Johnson?
When was the last time that you saw Ms Johnson?
What were you doing when you heard the scream?
Remember, you can not tell a lie!
Murder in the Classroom
Details about the murder:
During a school reunion, a scream is heard from one of the classrooms. It is 8:30pm. A
few minutes later, the dead body of Ms Emily Johnson, an old English teacher is found.
She has been hit on the head. Also found were a number of items that may lead us to
the killer: a book written by one of her ex-students, Simon Donnelly; a photograph of
another teacher, a young man called Saul Sheen; and, a tissue with the initials I.W. At
the moment, these are the three main suspects. Everyone who was at the reunion and
saw or spoke to Ms Emily Johnson needs to be questioned.
Your character:
Your name is Janice Carroll. You are a teacher at the school.
Memories of Ms Emily Johnson: You only just started working at the school. You did
not know her well.
Last time you saw Ms Johnson: You did not see her this evening.
When you heard the scream: You were talking to some of the other new teachers in the
Sports Hall.
Use the sheet to record and collect information about the other characters. Some
questions you should ask include:
What is your name?
Why were you at the reunion?
What was your relationship with Ms Johnson?
When was the last time that you saw Ms Johnson?
What were you doing when you heard the scream?
Remember, you can not tell a lie!
Murder in the Classroom
Details about the murder:
During a school reunion, a scream is heard from one of the classrooms. It is 8:30pm. A
few minutes later, the dead body of Ms Emily Johnson, an old English teacher is found.
She has been hit on the head. Also found were a number of items that may lead us to
the killer: a book written by one of her ex-students, Simon Donnelly; a photograph of
another teacher, a young man called Saul Sheen; and, a tissue with the initials I.W. At
the moment, these are the three main suspects. Everyone who was at the reunion and
saw or spoke to Ms Emily Johnson needs to be questioned.
Your character:
Your name is Mike Newell. You are a former student.
Memories of Ms Emily Johnson: She was not one of your teachers when you were at
school but you always heard from your friends that she was a difficult teacher.
Last time you saw Ms Johnson: Early in the evening when the reunion had just started.
When you heard the scream: You were getting a drink in the Sports Hall.
Use the sheet to record and collect information about the other characters. Some
questions you should ask include:
What is your name?
Why were you at the reunion?
What was your relationship with Ms Johnson?
When was the last time that you saw Ms Johnson?
What were you doing when you heard the scream?
Remember, you can not tell a lie!
Murder in the Classroom
Details about the murder:
During a school reunion, a scream is heard from one of the classrooms. It is 8:30pm. A
few minutes later, the dead body of Ms Emily Johnson, an old English teacher is found.
She has been hit on the head. Also found were a number of items that may lead us to
the killer: a book written by one of her ex-students, Simon Donnelly; a photograph of
another teacher, a young man called Saul Sheen; and, a tissue with the initials I.W. At
the moment, these are the three main suspects. Everyone who was at the reunion and
saw or spoke to Ms Emily Johnson needs to be questioned.
Your character:
Your name is Jason Smith. You are a former student.
Memories of Ms Emily Johnson: She was very difficult, not friendly, and most of the
students were afraid of her.
Last time you saw Ms Johnson: When you arrived at the party, before 7pm.
When you heard the scream: You were in the Sports Hall dancing with an old friend,
Lily Simmons.
Use the sheet to record and collect information about the other characters. Some
questions you should ask include:
What is your name?
Why were you at the reunion?
What was your relationship with Ms Johnson?
When was the last time that you saw Ms Johnson?
What were you doing when you heard the scream?
Remember, you can not tell a lie!
Murder in the Classroom
Details about the murder:
During a school reunion, a scream is heard from one of the classrooms. It is 8:30pm. A
few minutes later, the dead body of Ms Emily Johnson, an old English teacher is found.
She has been hit on the head. Also found were a number of items that may lead us to
the killer: a book written by one of her ex-students, Simon Donnelly; a photograph of
another teacher, a young man called Saul Sheen; and, a tissue with the initials I.W. At
the moment, these are the three main suspects. Everyone who was at the reunion and
saw or spoke to Ms Emily Johnson needs to be questioned.
Your character:
Your name is David Kennedy. You are the secretary at the school.
Memories of Ms Emily Johnson: She was a polite woman but not friendly. You didn’t
have any problems with her.
Last time you saw Ms Johnson: This afternoon while you were getting ready for the
party. You arrived late at the reunion and didn’t see her all evening.
When you heard the scream: You were washing your hands in the men’s room.
Use the sheet to record and collect information about the other characters. Some
questions you should ask include:
What is your name?
Why were you at the reunion?
What was your relationship with Ms Johnson?
When was the last time that you saw Ms Johnson?
What were you doing when you heard the scream?
Remember, you can not tell a lie!
Name and Role
Simon Donnelly
(former student)
Motive
Alibi
Clues / Other
Information
A copy of his book was
found in the classroom
where Ms Johnson was
killed
Saul Sheen
(young teacher)
A photograph of him
was found in Ms
Johnson’s pocket
Ivan Williams
(housekeeper)
Ms Johnson had a tissue
with the initials I.W in
her hand when she was
killed.
Name and Role
Motive
Alibi
Simon Donnelly
(former student)
None – He liked Ms.
Johnson. Thanks to her,
he became a writer.
He was talking to
Louise King, another
former student.
Saul Sheen
(young teacher)
He was seen arguing
with Ms. Johnson by
Ivan Williams. He is
also her son, and
wanted to know who
his real father is.
None – She wanted to
be friends with Ms.
Johnson.
He knocked on Mr.
Green’s door but there
was no response.
A photograph of him
was found in Ms
Johnson’s pocket
She was cleaning the
floor in the men’s
bathroom.
Ms Johnson had a tissue
with the initials I.W in
her hand when she was
killed.
She hated Ms. Johnson’s
class and blames her for
working in a
supermarket.
She was talking to
Simon Donnelly, a
former student.
She heard Mr. Green
and Ms. Johnson
arguing about Saul.
None – She liked Ms.
Johnson. Thanks to her,
Lily wants to become a
teacher.
She was in the Sports
Hall with some other
students.
He was seen arguing
with Ms Johnson by
Louise about someone
named Saul.
None – He was not in
his office when Saul
knocked on the door.
None – she seemed to
like Ms Johnson.
She was with other
teachers in the Sports
Hall.
Ivan Williams
(housekeeper)
Louise King
(former student)
Lily Simmons
(former student)
Edward Green
(headmaster)
Patricia Woods
(teacher)
Clues / Other
Information
A copy of his book was
found in the classroom
where Ms Johnson was
killed
Solution:
Mr. Green is Saul Sheen’s father. He and Ms Johnson had a relationship at university. Ms Johnson had
always kept their relationship a secret until now. After her last argument with Saul about his father, Ms
Johnson plans to tell Saul the truth. She tells Mr. Green about her plans to tell Saul and they argue. Louise
hears them arguing. Mr. Green is furious. He follows Ms Johnson to the classroom and hits her over the
head. He was not in his office when everyone heard the scream. That is why when Saul knocked on his
door, there was no answer.