Analysis of Potential Suspects
Objective:
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To eliminate potential suspects through the use of an analytical grid.
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To identify the cookie thief
Materials:
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Grid, magic marker, and list of classroom teachers
Procedure:
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1. Choose several children to be the "detectives" for the day.
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2. Provide them with the first clue, "a staff member".
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3. Allow the children to go throughout the building and gather the names of all staff members (this will include the nurse, custodian, etc.) List the staff member's name on the left-hand side of the paper. (This would be a fine time to introduce alphabetizing by listing all staff members names in alphabetical order.
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4. Make grid lines with five columns going across.
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5. List clue #1 on the top of the first row of grid boxes: staff member.
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6. Have the children place a check next to each name that fits the first clue. On day number one, all names will be checked.
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7. In the second heading, place the second day's clue: Classroom teacher. Again, send out your detectives to gather all the names of the classroom teachers.
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8. Upon arriving back at the classroom with the names, have the children place a check next to the names that fit the second clue. (Those names that don't fit the clue are automatically eliminated from the list of potential suspects.)
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9. Continue this process until all clues have been investigated, suspects eliminated, and the real cookie thief identified.
Each day the children receive a new clue, investigate and match potential suspects to the given clue, have them devise some method of recording the possible suspects. They may want to place a sticker or a check in the box next to the name of the person(s) who fits the day's clue. Anyone who does not fit all the clues is eliminated as a possible suspect. Be sure to use this as an opportunity for the children to develop analytical skills by discussing with the children why this suspect fits or does not fit the day's clue. For example: Day #2's clue states that the person is a classroom teacher. This would eliminate the principal, staff developer, social worker, etc. Only classroom teachers would receive the identifying "sticker" or "check" under clue #2 next to their name. Therefore some of the staff who were fit the description given in clue #1 as staff members would be eliminated under clue #2, such as the custodial staff, staff developer, social worker, nurse, etc. As the clues become more specific, the suspects become fewer until finally there is only one person who fits the last clue and the children will be able to clearly identify the person responsible for the removal of the cookie.
Closing the Unit
Before the final day of the mystery, purchase or bake enough cookies for the children in your classroom and those in the class of the cookie monster. Inform the coordinator that you would like them to be glad that the mystery is solved and to tell the children that he/she has plenty of cookies to share with the entire class. Celebrate the solving of the mystery by having a cookie bash ( and if you try hard enough perhaps the entire school staff will join in on this end of the mystery celebration by either baking or purchasing enough cookies for their class. And 1,2,3, of no!! Watch that pile of cookies grow!
Unit Follow-up
At the close of this unit, the children should be more familiar with the personnel who are responsible for their care while in the school environment. The question remains, do they really understand the role played by these auxiliary personnel. The following lesson gives the opportunity for the children to participate in an informal learning environment which will enhance their understanding of the roles of all school personnel.