This lesson is based on "The Case of the Missing Ring." This story is taken from Donald Sobel's Encyclopedia Brown Keeps The Peace.
Objective - to identify elements of a mystery story
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- to analyze information in a mystery
Materials- copies of "The Case of the Missing Ring."
- Highlighters
Procedure- Read the story aloud to students. This gives them the chance to listen to the mystery without distraction. Then, with highlighters in hand, have students reread the story independently. Students should highlight the following information directly on their copy of the story.
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What is the problem that had to be solved?
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Who were the suspects?
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What were the clues that led you to suspect the character(s)?
Have students write out their solution to the mystery. Make sure students use their highlighted clues to explain their solution. Read the solution to the story that is found in the back of the book. Discuss the clues and their relation to one another. Students will need to recheck their highlighted information with the solution.