I am teaching in a fifth grade class and we are doing a mystery unit. I would like to create a mystery in the classroom for the students to solve, but am having difficulty in thinking of what to do. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

Hi! I am a middle school special education teacher and my students are interested in mysteries. Does anyone have any hand on activities that would be fun and relatively easy to do? I have thought of homemade fingerprint kits, detective notebooks and binoculars, but need some more.

Dear Teacher/Student/Parent-Guardian: I am a human resource professional, writer and trainer with 35 years of experience. I am also an avid mystery reader currently writing a professional-level human resource/management training series entitled: "Just About Everything I Needed To Know About Hiring, Firing, and What Can Happen In-between I learned From The Great Detectives" (Copyright, 2001, HR24/7) Reading, discussing, and critiquing the great mystery writers (not to mention writing mystery stories and plays) are all excellent ways to build practical job-related skills such as: vocabulary, organization, logical thinking, clarity, sales/persuasion/critical argument, human behavior accessment, fact-finding, observation and detail orientation, independance of thought and action, personal responsibility, and stick-to-itiveness--among many others. Thanks to the many sites devoted to mysteries and the variety of books available (especially those that offer something extra like historical research, foreign language editions, or insight into modern science and forensics)there are all kinds of learning opportunities built in. I am part of a group of Agatha Christie fans currently creating a web-based dictionary/annotation of her works. In the process we are learning about subjects as varied as British class structure, the changing roles of women, and post-WWI economics. I would be happy to discuss this subject further or tell you about collaborating on the "AC Project".

Hi everyone- I am a 7th grade English teacher who is collaborating with a 7th grade Life Science teacher. Together, we have written a unit call THE BONE DETECTIVES: An integrated unit of Forensic Science and Mystery Fiction. I am really getting a lot of info. from this site. Our culminating experience is going to be NEAT! We are setting up a crime scene. Our students will investigate it and then later do a "court room drama." Can't wait to see how this works!

Hello - I teach low level reading to 9th and 10th graders and was wondering if someone could tell me specifically how they use the mysteries from this site? I've seen thecase.com mentioned several times, but that leads to the main page of this website...are teachers using solve-its, twists, flash - or all of these? And are your students going to a computer lab to read them or are you printing them? How do you generate grades from using these mysteries? Thanks for any input!

I am basically wanting the same answers that Amy Ternus asked about the website on Jan 14, 2003. I teach an "at-risk" group of 9-12th grade students..we are the writer component of the class - the other component is the "forensics" class. The science teacher and I combine our classes once or twice a week to solve the mystery of the week. The rest of the time we are a stand alone class and act as reporters, police and dectectives writing reports, and just discussing clues, motives etc. I would like to know what lesson plans, video's etc. would be approciate and motivational to this class. Thnaks for any suggestions.

I am in the process of writing a unit on mysteries for my 6, 7, and , 8th grade class of students with behavior disorders. I think that they will really be interested. Any ideas? I am going to set up a crime scene in the class and have them write a "report" of what they think happened and a list of suspects. I am also thinking about having the local FBI to come in and talk about unsolved cases. Any suggestions would be great!

I am looking for ways to have students (gifted and talented 4th and 5th graders)write their own mystery stories. Please send me your ideas.

Can anyone recommend a mystery related group activity for the 1st-3rd grade crowd. Please respond to me directly and I will summarize for the group.

Thanks. D. Garbera

Diana, have you visited our MysteryNet's Kids Mysteries?