M erritt Mystery Hour
 = Full lesson plan
Unit Outline
= Whole group instruction
= Individual work
= Partner/Group work
Lesson
1.  What is a Mystery?
Description
Objectives:
1. SWBAT describe at least 7 of the 9 terms using actions or verbal clues
(synonyms, antonyms, or phrases) under a one minute timeframe in the “Heads
Up” game/app.
2. SWBAT demonstrate their understanding of the meaning of the terms.
3. SWBAT interpret the meanings and understanding of how to participate in the
“Heads Up” game.
Methods/Learning Strategies:
Group Discussion, Collaborative learning, Role Playing, Technology/Delivery
Technology:
Smart Board/Smart Notebook, Laptops/Computers, Microsoft Word, KidBlog,
iPads, YouTube, Scholastic Website, Kidspiration Lite App
Procedure:

Brainstorm “What is a mystery?” using Kidspiration Lite App

Discuss vocabulary & definitions with “Detective’s Dictionary”
handout

Type up assigned vocabulary words and definition in Microsoft Word
(post in Class dictionary in Kidblog); decorate and add to Mystery
themed bulletin board

Read “The Unfortunate Fortune” & identify elements/vocabulary;
discuss findings
Assessment: Play “Heads Up”
2. Ingredients of a Mystery
Objectives:
1. SWBAT correctly identify at least 4 out of the 5 ingredients of a mystery.
Methods/Learning Strategies:
Group Discussion, Collaborative learning, Role Playing, Technology/Delivery,
Writing Processes, Discovery/Inquiry, Reflection/Response, Guided Reading
Technology:
Smart Board/Smart Notebook, iPads, Kidspiration Lite App, KidBlog, iPads,
Scholastic Website, Laptops/Computers, Microsoft Word/PowerPoint
Procedure:

Narrative Diamond Review Game

Read “Mugged by a Martian” and take notes comparing narrative to
mystery using Microsoft Word

Create Venn Diagram using Kidspiration Lite App

Whole class share using Venn Diagram on Smart Board

Discussion of “Ingredients of a Mystery” handout

Read “The Parrot Whodunit” & check off & underline/highlight parts
of mystery

Reflect & Respond in Kidblog
Assessment: Fill in ingredients for a mystery on “Recipe Card”
3. Suspects
Objectives:
1.
2.
3.
SWBAT correctly identify all of the suspects in a short mystery and
explain why they are suspicious.
SWBAT correctly identify the guilty suspect in a short mystery and
support his/her answer with clues/explanations from the story.
SWBAT create 3 main suspects for their mystery writing piece with 2
reasons for each on why they are suspicious.
Methods/Learning Strategies:
Group Discussion, Collaborative learning, Role Playing, Writing Processes,
Discovery/Inquiry, Reflection/Response, Guided Reading, Project-Based Learning
Technology:
Smart Board/Smart Notebook, , iPads, Kids.MysteryNet.com, Scholastic Website,
Laptops/Computers, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Padlet, Wiki
Procedure:

Review vocabulary word, “suspect” with Microsoft PowerPoint role
playing game

Read & solve “The Case of the Ruined Roses” on
Kids.MysteryNet.com with “Suspect List” handout

Brainstorm 3 main suspects & explanations for why they are
suspicious using Kidspiration Lite App

Fill in “Suspect List” handout for final radio mystery
*Watch Wikispaces how-to in Microsoft PowerPoint; attach “Suspect List” in
Wikispaces
Assessment: Read “Tower of Trouble” & fill in “Suspect List” handout from
Padlet
4. Plan a Mystery
Objectives:
1.
SWBAT brainstorm and create a mystery story map with the
appropriate elements using the Kidspiration Lite App
Methods/Learning Strategies:
Group Discussion, Collaborative learning, Writing Processes,
Reflection/Response, Project-Based Learning, Technology/Delivery
Technology:
Smart Board/Smart Notebook, iPads, Scholastic Website, Laptops/Computers,
Prezi, Kidspiration Lite App, Wiki, Kidblog, Padlet, CamScanner App, YouTube
Procedure:

Prezi presentation on “Planning a Mystery” on Smart Board with
“Planning Your Mystery” handout (document in Padlet); scan &
upload to Wiki

Brainstorm all elements of mystery (& narrative) using filled in
“Planning a Mystery” handout & Kidspiration Lite App story map

Reflect & respond to questions in Kidblog: Choose one part of the
mystery that you would like to be responsible for writing and explain
why. What did and didn’t go well as you worked together today?
Assessment: Create mystery story map
5. Radio Mystery Listen
Objectives:
1.
SWBAT identify at least 2 elements that will need to be added to
write their radio mystery
Methods/Learning Strategies:
Group Discussion, Collaborative learning, Writing Processes,
Reflection/Response, Discovery/Inquiry, Project-Based Learning
Technology:
Smart Board/Smart Notebook, iPads, Laptops/Computers, Prezi, Kidspiration Lite
App, Wiki, Kidblog, YouTube, TubeChop
Procedure:
6. Radio Mystery Writing

Watch Go!Animate video on intro of old fashioned radio

Listen to old fashioned radio mystery on YouTube
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G59tE5YOX9E [4:29, 6:29,
8:20]); take notes on Smart Board using Smart Notebook; upload to
Wiki

Create Venn Diagram using Kidspiration Lite App comparing written
text mystery and radio mystery

Reflect & respond to question in Kidblog: What are 2 additional
elements that you will need to create a radio mystery? How do they
add to the story? (Assessment)
Objectives:
1.
SWBAT write a draft of their mystery narrative including all of the
elements of the narrative diamond (entertaining beginning,
2.
3.
elaborative detail, suspense, the main event, solution/conclusion,
extended ending) and mystery genre (problem/crime/mysterious
event, suspects, detective, witnesses, clues, red herrings)
SWBAT work collaboratively to create a mystery story using a Wiki
SWBAT peer edit and revise their mystery writing pieces
Methods/Learning Strategies:
Group Discussion, Collaborative learning, Writing Processes,
Reflection/Response, Project-Based Learning, Peer Editing
Technology:
Smart Board/Smart Notebook, iPads, Laptops/Computers, Kidspiration Lite App,
Wiki, Kidblog, Microsoft Word
Procedure:
7. Advertising

Write entertaining beginning/main event/conclusion/extended
ending draft (with mystery elements included) using previous
brainstorming and Microsoft Word; upload to Wiki

Peer edit entertaining beginning/main event/conclusion/extended
ending draft (with mystery elements included) through Wiki using
rubrics /

Revise entertaining beginning/main event/conclusion/extended
ending draft (with mystery elements included) through Wiki /

Reflect daily on collaborative writing process and project in Kidblog
Objectives:
1.
2.
3.
SWBAT create a short skit for an advertisement for a bottle of
bubbles with the necessary info. and elements required for a
successful ad (See rubric for details)
SWBAT outline the important information that should be included in
their Merritt Mystery Hour posters
SWBAT brainstorm/draw a draft of the various elements (images,
titles, colors) they want to include in their poster.
Methods/Learning Strategies:
Group Discussion, Collaborative learning, Discovery/Inquiry, Project-Based
Learning, Peer Editing, Technology/Delivery
Technology:
Smart Board/Smart Notebook, iPads, Laptops/Computers, Prezi, Kidspiration Lite
App, Wiki, Kidblog, Microsoft Word, PBSKids.org
Procedure:

Explore http://pbskids.org/dontbuyit/advertisingtricks/ and answer
worksheet questions

Create short skit for advertisement for bottle of bubbles

Write outline of important information that will be included in Merritt
Mystery Hour posters in Microsoft Word (Assessment) /

Brainstorm/draw draft of various elements (images, titles, colors)
that will be included in poster (Assessment); upload to Wiki
8. Glogster
Objectives:
1.
SWBAT create an appealing Glogster poster with at least 3 mystery
related images/graphics, the relevant, important information about
the Radio mystery (title, date, time, where available), and QR code
for where it can be found. (See rubric for details)
Methods/Learning Strategies:
Group Discussion, Collaborative learning, Project-Based Learning, Peer Editing,
Technology/Delivery
Technology:
Smart Board/Smart Notebook, iPads, Laptops/Computers, Rubistar, Padlet,
Microsoft PowerPoint, Glogster
Procedure:
9. Podcast Recording

Look and discuss examples of Glogster posters

Go through Glogster how-to in Microsoft PowerPoint to create
simple Glogster poster on bubble advertisement

Create Merritt Mystery Hour Glogster using draft & brainstorming

Peer review posters using rubric

Revise/publish/present/hang posters
Objectives:
1.
2.
SWBAT create a recording of their mystery using the Voice Record
App on the iPad with at least 5 appropriate sound effects from
Sounsnap.com and/or classroom/household objects
SWBAT read aloud their parts of the mystery with expression and
fluency
Methods/Learning Strategies:
Group Discussion, Collaborative learning, Project-Based Learning, Peer Editing,
Technology/Delivery
Technology:
Smart Board/Smart Notebook, iPads, Laptops/Computers, Padlet, Microsoft
Word, SoundSnap.com, Wiki, Prezi, Weebly
Procedure:

Explore Soundsnap.com; find appropriate sound effects for each
event on worksheet

Read through mystery to find and mark appropriate places for sound
effects

Search Soundsnap.com for sound effects and write down titles in
Microsoft Word

Watch Voice Record App how-to in Prezi & create 1 minute
recording with 1 sound effect

Practice, practice, practice reading mystery with sound effects,
fluency, and expression

Record/present reading of mystery

Teacher posts to teacher Website