Penny for Your Thoughts - Inference Mystery

by MyPATHS

Price: 200 points or $2 USD

Subjects: ela

Grades: 5,6,7,8

Description: Students engage in developing skills and strategies to put information together from two sources through a mystery where they must use a case file and a crime scene photo to make inferences based on the evidence provided. Inferential questions challenge students to find valid evidence to defend their inferences. Once they have analyzed the texts, students synthesize the information by solving the crime. Was it simply a story of being in the wrong place at the wrong time? Was Mr. Meow guilty of more than simply trying to rob Coy N. Colechter of his rare coin? Your students take the role of detective to figure out what happened between Mr. Meow and Coy N. Colechter. Your students will be stronger at inferring with this activity because: ✐Students are engaged in the work by taking the role of detective and engaging in fun mysteries. ✐Students can work in pairs and argue their viewpoints based upon the evidence they have gathered for the inferences they make. ✐These arguments lead to stronger reasoning skills, and provide a self-assessment opportunity for sorting which inferences are strong from those that are weaker. ✐Students hone their writing skills as the final question asks them to synthesize all information to create a final reflection of the mystery. How each lesson works: ⛏Students read through inferential questions and use the text and picture to create evidence. ⛏They must determine valid evidence from evidence not connected to their inference.