Starting with the premise that even a child can be a detective, as shown in the Encyclopedia Brown, Nancy Drew, or Hardy Boys stories, a child can then write about such familiar events as a lost notebook, a stolen article, or a missing child. Linking reading and writing is an important aspect of this unit. With the writing of a story will come an awareness of the need to use the thinking process skills used in reading and solving the mystery along with the author. Their writing then becomes one method by which these reading skills improve. Stern, p. 137. 4.
Students read a mystery story independently or Teacher reads a story to class.
A Time Line of important events in story could be set up. Students could create own Book Jacket for story. Class could listen to a tape of old radio mystery program. Write 3 clues given that you recognized. Pupils could be encouraged to read own criticisms and discuss them with each other.