Mysteries Unit Package
Please Include…..
 Title Page "Mysteries" - Making Inferences
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Why - chart and paragraph
Evaluate a cartoon - fill in the blanks
Tips to make inferences - 3 do > infer
A Killer's Tall Tale - questions and post its
Guided Reading Activity - #9, 10, 11 or 12
Smart Board - Suffix activities
Buried Marbles Mystery - Questions + chart
Higher Animals - Questions
The Hermit's Secret - Questions (group reading MP3 file)
Movie Posters - Chart + your poster
Mystery Story - planning page, rough draft (with editing marks),
photo or drawing, typed good copy (post file on Wiki)
 Two Minute Mystery - your detective file (solution)
 Bonus: One Page letter about a mystery novel
My presentation # ____ I am presenting ____________________________
Success Criteria….
 All activities complete, organized and handed in on time
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Work is neat and easy to identify – titles, dates, activity and question numbers
Evidence of editing – spelling, punctuation, paragraph and sentence structure
Understanding of key skill – Making inferences based on evidence
Use of related language skills – connections, questioning, summarizing
Quality answers – depth of ideas, vocabulary, detail, opinion
Group skills – effort, cooperation, leadership
Participation – guided reading, group and class discussions
Culminating activity – apply skills successfully
Mysteries
Nelson 7b
The Buried Marbles Mystery
Before Reading…..discuss
Why do brothers and sisters keep secrets from each other?
What secrets do you keep from your brother or sister?
During Reading …..write
Make this chart in your book. Fill it in as your read:
Title
Author
Main characters
Setting (place)
Have you ever hear of her?
Setting (time)
Clues from the Story or your knowledge that help you infere…..
When this story took place
What Elaine thought of the marbles
What Elaine thought of “cat’s eye”
What the school kids think of the game
About Elaine’s brother
“It’s cheating to buy them; they have to be won”?
“He tells me he’s done these things but he doesn’t say
why, or where the jars are buried”
After Reading…..think and write
How did making connections or looking for clues help you make inferences?
How does making inferences affect your understanding of the characters?
Which character in the story are you most like? Why?
Make a Venn diagram to compare Elaine and her brother.
Mysteries
Nelson 7b
Higher Animals
Before Reading…..discuss
What would it be like to be hunted and in hiding?
What does “higher Animals” mean?
During Reading …..write
Note: you group may choose to listen to this story. Read along with your book and hit the pause button as
you reach the end of each page.
1. Read SB page 10 aloud, as a group.
What is happening in the story?
What inferences can you make about who or what is chasing them?
Who is chasing them?
2. Read SB page 11 as a group.
How would you feel if you were in Skye’s situation?
What can you infer about the characters?
BEFORE
3. Read SB page 12 and up to the break on page 13 independently.
Why do you think the author includes the detail about the mouse
What can you infer from the description of what happened to Tracy and Twig?
Why do you think these kids are being chased?
4. Read to the end of SB page 14 independently.
What can you infer about Kevin?
Did the last paragraph on SB page 14 surprise you, or did you see it coming?
5. Read to the end of the story independently
What do we find out at the end of the story?
Did you realize earlier in the story that it was a game? If so, how did you know?
What can you infer about the game?
What can you infer about Skye’s feelings for Kevin?
After Reading…..think and write
6. How did imagining how the characters feel engage you in the story?
Mysteries
Nelson 7b
The Hermit’s Secret
Before Reading…..discuss & predict
Does being wise mean you have all the answers?
Brainstorm some synonyms for; wise.
Each group member should take two slips of paper. Find a partner and read your slips to them. Listen to
your partner’s sentences. Then, write a prediction about the main idea of this story.
During Reading …..write
1. What stereotypes does this selection use? How could the selection be rewritten to avoid stereotypes?
Why are you more likely to find stereotypes in legends and fairytales?
2. What can you infer from the author’s descriptions of food in this story?
3. Both the hermit in this selection and the brother in “The Buried Marbles Mystery” are secretive by nature.
Compare the two characters and decide which character they might trust as a friend. Note: You CANNOT
answer this question until you have completed the Buried Marbles activity. You may need to come back to
this question on “catch up” day.
After Reading…..RADIO PLAY
Form groups of five students and have each student choose a role:
narrator, Alath, hermit, man, woman
Try to use vocal techniques, such as variety in tone, volume, and pacing, to make your readings interesting.
As you rehearse, note questions you come up with and inferences they make about the text, and how the
words would be spoken.
BLM 6
“The Hermit’s Secret”—We Predict
He dwelled on the Mountain of
Three Kings.
I will return when I know the
hermit’s secret.
Go see the wise man.
If you watch well, you will understand.
The wise man’s voice was soothing, like
a drink of cool water on a hot summer
day.
All the while, the old hermit said
nothing.
I do thank you very much.
Alath’s puzzlement only deepened
with each new visitor.
There were no secret potions or
magic powders.
Perhaps I should return home.
What answer could you give me?
How difficult that must be for you.
But I must say that he has an
able assistant.
No wise words…No great advice.
Mysteries
Nelson 7b
Write a Mystery Story
Requirements:
>1 to 2 (max) typed or neatly written pages
>used appropriate vocabulary
>a problem and solution, with lots of clues
>a main character, minor character, villain? (don’t have too many characters)
>A suspenseful photo or diagram
Writing Order
> planning page. Then rough draft, edit, final copy
Hand in:
This page, mystery planning page, rough copy with edit marks, final edited story, (photo?)
Marking Scheme
Mystery StoryPlanner - Characters
A mystery is something that is difficult to explain or understand. Mysteries are stories where a detective or sleuth
must seek out clues to solve a problem. These people must be good at deductive reasoning.
Name:
Main Character
Describe physically
Personality
How did they get involved
with this mystery / case?
Friends / Pets / Enemies
Only ones needed for plot
Minor Characters / Villain
Name:
Name:
Name:
Name:
Brief Description:
Brief Description:
Brief Description:
Brief Description:
Role in Story:
Role in Story:
Role in Story:
Role in Story:
Suspectwitness other
Suspectwitness other
Suspectwitness other
Suspectwitness other
Time
Mood
Visuals
Background
Action?
Objects
Setting
Place
Photo Planning
Subject / costume
Plot—see next page
(important objects)
Mystery StoryPlanner - Plot
Planning the Plot / Story
You do not need to use all of the clues or, you may need to add more!
Problem
Is it a crime? Scary?
Something unnatural?
Unexplained?
Solution
Answer the question.
Explain everything
Clues
What will you tell the reader?
What inference do you want
them to make?
Clues
What will you tell the reader?
What inference do you want
them to make?
Clues
What will you tell the reader?
What inference do you want
them to make?
Clues
What will you tell the reader?
What inference do you want
them to make?
Red Herring Clue
How will you trick the reader?
What does it mean? (nothing)
Mysteries – Performance Task
Glogster Activity
The question at the beginning of this unit asked, “Can every mystery
be solved?” and “Why do we want to solve Mysteries?” You will now have your opportunity
to share your answer to this question. You will decide if you think that every
mystery can (or cannot) be solved. You will share your opinion in two different
forms: a written opinion piece, and a Glogster poster. You will record your written
opinion piece, and post both the recording and written essay on your Glogster
poster.
1. Decide how you will respond to the question “Can every
mystery be solved?” and “Why do we try to solve Mysteries?” Think
about your main message and brainstorm details that
support your opinion.
2. Write a draft of your opinion piece. Make sure you are using
a strong voice.
3. Prepare a collection of photos and links that illustrates your
opinion about whether every mystery can be solved. You will need
to select your photos and fonts, sizes, and colours carefully. Also,
you will need to write thoughtful captions for your Glogster poster.
4. Your Glogster poster will be viewed and evaluated by your
classmates. As you listen to the recordings, you will need to
use listening strategies to record the inferences you made
while listening.
5. Use the Success Criteria on the “Bump It Up” board and the
sample Glogster poster as to help you hand in top quality work.
Mysteries – Performance Task
WHAT TO DO
Brainstorm
Written Opinion Piece / Recording
Photo Essay / Links
• Brainstorm the details that will
support your opinion.
• Think about the kind of
photographic evidence that will
support your opinion.
• Think about the appropriate
voice for your purpose and
audience.
Plan
Draft
• Think about where you will find
these visual images.
• Think about how you will
organize your writing.
• Gather as many images as you can
that support your opinion.
• You may want to use a graphic
organizer for a generalization
text pattern to clarify your
thinking.
• Select those images that best
support your opinion.
• Write a rough draft. Be sure to
use a strong voice.
• Create a rough plan of your photo
essay, on a computer or
on blank paper. Think about the
layout, fonts, and colour.
• Write the text and captions.
Revise
Ask yourself:
Ask yourself:
• Do my details support my
opinion?
• Do my images and captions
support one another?
• Is my voice strong?
• Do they communicate my
opinion?
• Have I used an organizational
pattern that matches my
purpose?
• Should I add, delete, move, or
change any of my text?
Edit
Publish
• Should I add, delete, move, or
change any of my text, captions, or
images?
• Check for correct grammar,
spelling, and punctuation.
• Check text and captions for correct
grammar, spelling, and
punctuation.
• Print out your opinion piece, or
copy it in your neatest
handwriting.
• Print out your photo essay, or
make a final layout, withneat
versions of your text and
captions.