Your Principal has gone missing!!
Step ONE: Set up a crime scene with items that students will be drawing conclusions from! They will make inferences about kidnapper based on these items! I like to do this in our principals office (it makes it seem more realistic! 🙂 I set up crime scene tape and tousle things around a bit…to make it look like someone has been rummaging around (turn a chair on its side, turn a cup over, etc.). Next, I place the evidence around the space with evidence markers beside each one so that students know where to look.
Step TWO: Post missing posters! These are sure to get your kiddos talking!
Step THREE: Give your students their Crime Scene Investigator badges. They can not view the crime scene unless they show you their badge first! VIP access.
Step FOUR: Introduce the suspects! Use your staff directory to download and then insert pictures into your suspects page!
“Alright investigators…someone has KIDNAPPED OUR PRINCIPAL!! Here are the suspects…who do you think committed the crime? Who is to blame?”
Step FIVE: Students view the crime scene and take note of each piece of evidence. I let students view the crime scene a few at a time. They show me their badges and I lift the crime scene tape for entry. They get to walk around, sure not not to touch anything (we don’t want to leave prints!) and make notes of what each piece of evidence is.
Step SIX: Organize students into groups.
Step SEVEN: Students work to make inferences about the kidnapper based on the items in the crime scene using a graphic organizer. Students discuss what each piece of evidence means! If there a mountain dew can was left as a piece of evidence: The kidnapper likes mountain dew! The kidnapper was thirsty! The kidnapper likes soda. They kidnapper must have gone to the drink machine!
Step EIGHT: Provide students with suspect interviews. Students highlight parts of the interview that connect to the crime scene and match inferences and conclusions. For example if a Mountain Dew can was left as evidence and a suspect description mentions Mountain Dew, soda, or going by the teachers lounge for a dink….I would highlight that!
Step NINE: Students decide who the kidnapper is! Students decide who the kidnapper is based on how much is highlighted on each suspect description.
Click here for my TPT product with EVERYTHING you need to complete your lesson! It includes:
- Step by Step Teaching Guide
- EDITABLE My principal is Missing Poster
- EDITABLE Suspects Page
- EDITABLE CSI Badges
- EDITABLE Confidential File Covers
- Suspect Interviews with EDITABLE pages to input your OWN descriptions and interviews
- Crime Scene Recording Page
- Drawing Conclusions/Making Inferences Graphic Organizer
- and more!!
Drawing Conclusions Crime Scene Investigation