Pamela Busch, La Cima Middle School

May 10, 2001

Sixth Grade Language Arts

A Mystery---Whodunnit????? Part 1

Academic Objectives:

Mysteries allow students to read and think. They will use deductive reasoning and research skills to solve a mystery. They become enthused about plot development, character analysis, clues, and gathering of evidence and possible solutions. In this particular lesson, the students will be able to:

· Expand reading by looking for particular elements in the story

· Analyze clues

· Make a prediction, based on the assessment of the clues

Technological Objectives:

· Students will use Standard 1

Pre-Requisite Technology Skills:

· Open Netscape

· Find Bookmark

· Use the scroll bar

· Know how to use the cursor and mouse

· Correctly type the URL

Materials:

· Computer with internet access

· Piece of paper and pencil

Procedures:

· Go to Peggy Steffen’s Home Page

· Go to Bookmark at the top of the screen (teacher will need to already have the site bookmarked for students). If there is no bookmark, type in the URL

· http://www.cyberbee.com/whodunnit/crime.html

· Click on the site

· Listen to the music, the kids love the music

· Scroll down to the picture

· Read information under the picture, it will give you a brief summary of the events to come

· The scroll down the page until you see the blue rectangle

· In the rectangle, click on Solve the Crime

· You’ll see the Crime Scene

· Read the information below the Crime Scene, it will tell you how to get the background information from the crime scene

· View each part of the scene

· Some of the items have clues and some do not

· Click on each item to look at the clue

· Move the cursor down and read the crime report

· Scroll down again, until you see the four suspects

· Click on each picture, to bring up the profile

· Have the kids make a prediction, as to who committed the crime

· Write the prediction on a sheet of paper next to the word Prediction #1, also include why you think this individual is the prime suspect

· At the top of the page, click home to return to the first page

· This concludes the lesson for the first day

Assessment:

Students will make a prediction based upon the crime scene information and the profile of the suspects. An accurate prediction will be based on the assessment of the facts given. This prediction will be used the next day, when they fine-tune the investigation. On the final day of the investigation, the correct answer will be given.