Mystery Genre Study
Mysteries get reluctant readers and writers enthusiastic about reading, thinking, and writing. They contain intriguing characters and hold a student's interest with their suspenseful and dynamic plots. Mysteries are a wonderful vehicle for teaching critical thinking and deductive reasoning skills in an exciting and enjoyable way. Use the lessons and resources here to help students explore the Mystery Genre.
Articles
Parent Guide to Book Genres: Mystery, Detective, and Spy Fiction
Scholastic Parents |
August 26,2008
Discusses mystery, detective, and spy fiction for children ages 7 and up, including why kids like these books, how to talk about them, reading extension activities, and recommended titles.
Internet Field Trip: Mystery!
Describes various Web sites with activities and information on mysteries and mystery authors, such as Edgar Allan Poe and Nancy Drew.
Reading for Gumshoes
by Audrey Kennan
Instructor Magazine |
Teacher Audrey Kennan shares how she uses mysteries to teach crucial reading skills. Tis the season for a spooky story!
Suspense & Mystery Books
Kids mystery and suspense books for independent readers, grades PreK-8. Titles listed by appropriate age group. Includes summaries and links to product listings.
Activities
U-Solve-It Mysteries Club
Read and solve online mini-mysteries.
Chasing Vermeer | Flashlight Readers
Flashlight Readers' exclusive author information, games and activities get students excited about the book.
Resources
Chasing Vermeer Lesson Plan
In this activity based on Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett, students will use a pentomino code to decipher a message and then make up a secret code of their own.
What happens when there are too many coincidences, too many puzzle pieces that fit together?
Chasing Vermeer Discussion Guide
Discussion questions for the book Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett.
The Wright 3 Booktalk
The Robie House has secrets, and so do Petra, Calder and Tommy. Will this uneasy trio be able to get along well enough to discover the house's secrets and save the architect's favorite building?
The Wright 3 Extension Activities
Super sleuths Petra and Calder, along with Calder's old friend Tommy, have been cryptically drawn into another mystery, this time involving a Frank Lloyd Wright architectural masterpiece, the Robie House.
Discussion Guide for Calder Game
Discussion Guide for Calder Game by Blue Balliett
The Calder Game Extension Activities
Interdisciplinary activities extend a unit on Blue Balliett's book The Calder Game.
Craft your own spine-tingling story with this step-by-step guide and publish it online.
The Westing Game Discussion Guide
When sixteen people are called together for the reading of wealthy Sam Westing's will, they are surprised to learn that the will is actually a contest in which they are all to participate.
Lesson Plans
Exploring the Mystery Genre
by Beth Newingham
Study the mystery genre and act as reading detectives. They discover the elements of a mystery including the common characters, the plot structure, and vocabulary.
Chasing Vermeer
This unit plan helps students develop problem solving skills while exploring fine art and learning about creative expression in relation to the book Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliet.
