WE SOLVED A MYSTERY!
To really sell this lesson, you will have to put on your best acting!
Prep Work/Materials
- caution tape around the 'crime scene' (for me, it was the top of a shelf in a window to the hallway that was easily viewable by students)
- 3 stuffed animals- I used a dragon, a teddy bear and a lion (you may neet to adapt your story if you don't have these animals, especially the dragon)
- a baby blanket
- (optional) magnifying glasses
- (optional) detective outfit
- a 'burned' piece of paper (a pictured I downloaded from online)
- iridescent paper cut into small pieces
I had students enter the library and sit in our story area as usual. I got in front of them and said "I have a little problem. I had picked out the funniest book to read to you. I put it in the window so I didn't lose it, but it's missing! Do you think you can help me solve The Mystery of the Missing Library Book?"
When I did this, students were so excited, they screamed and cheered! You have to really SELL your story with your best acting!
Next I said "Ok, I knew that if we were going to solve this mystery, I needed to gather some clues. Let me tell you what I found. First, I found these 3 suspects (dragon, bear, lion) and isolated them from everyone else so you could question them. I also found a piece of burned paper and some weird things that look like scales." Then we lined up and walked by the crime scene so students could get a look.
(I took ZERO pictures, but if I redo the lesson this year I will take some!)
Then we sat down and talked about the questions we should 'ask the suspects'. I had to do a some guiding and leading, especially with the Kindergarten and First Grade students. We eventually worked out that we would ask the following questions:
- Where were you last night?
- Did you see anyone near the book?
- Did you take the book?
We started by questioning the teddy bear. I ask the questions and pretend he whispers in my ear. I report to the class that Teddy Bear said "I was curled up in the corner with that baby blanket! You know, I'm supposed to be hibernating right now but it's hard to sleep during the school day! I didn't take the book and I didn't see anyone near it. I fall asleep as soon as the kids leave."
Then we questioned the lion, who said "I had a bad case of the zoomies last night. I ran circles around the shelves for most of the night. I didn't go anywhere NEAR the book because you remind us every night to leave the books alone while you aren't here!" (Here, I nod my head and say "It's true! Remember how we talk at the beginning of the year about taking care of your library books by keeping them away from animals?")
Then we question the dragon. He talks in my ear for a much longer time. I occasionally stop and look at him with various looks- shock, anger, sadness, understanding. Then I give him a big hug and say "Let me talk to everyone else and see what they say."
I turn to the class and say "OK friends, here is what happened. Library Dragon said he was bored last night. He tried to take a nap but he wasn't tired. He tried flying laps around the library but there wasn't a lot of room to spread his wings. He knew he wasn't supposed to touch the books... but he couldn't help it. Unfortuneately, the book was SO funny, he accidentally snorted fire and burned the book up. He is very, very sorry and promises never to do it again. Should we forgive him?"
By this point, students are so enthralled, most of them call out "YES!" Although a few of them say "No!"
I wrap up the lesson by pointing out that mystery books will often have a detective or other problem solver, a crime or problem to solve, suspects and the clues that are collected may not have anything to do with the crime. Then I show students the mystery book display and book talk a couple of my favorite mysteries. If there is time, I read one. I really like Seven Ate Nine!
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