Forensic Science Murder Mystery Activity Vol. 2

In this activity students are given a murder mystery scenario and they ask questions to solve the murder mystery. One student, the “know-it-all” has the crime information and solution. The “know-it-all” can only answer their questions with the following answers: Yes. No. I don’t know. Please rephrase your question. That’s irrelevant. This encourages imagination and reasoning skills. There are 25 pages (one page per scenario) - just print it, cut it in half, and play. The presentation pdf is 25 pages - these pages are designed to be shown using a projector (but of course they can be printed). Showing the scenarios on the "big screen" is great for using as a bell ringer, exit ticket or writing prompt, plus it saves paper.

Looking for more scenarios? Check out Murder Mystery Activity Vol. 1

There aren't specific game play instructions but here are a few ways that I incorporate this assignment into my grade book.

#1 The students are split into teams. Points are awarded to every student that asks a question and receives a "yes" answer. Ten points goes to the students who actually solve the crime. The students called this the "Harry Potter" method because it's similar to quidditch points.

#2 The silent method. I use this if the students are too rowdy and need some quiet time. I read the initial scenario and they each write three questions (five minutes). I gather the questions and read them aloud (quickly and somewhat anonymously) while I make notes on the board. The notes on the board helps the students keep up with the line of questioning. Each question receiving a "yes" answer receives 1 point. I mark and hand back the papers. We do a couple rounds of that. Before they can totally solve it, I stop any discussion and assign a written solution as homework. They get a homework grade (completion points for pure imagination) and then any correct solutions get a point of extra credit added to their next quiz. This method works best with a shy class.

#3 Wheel of Fortune/Lone Ranger. In this one, winner takes all. They don't work in teams. Each student has an opportunity to ask a question. Thoughtless questions are ignored. Whoever solves the crime gets a point or two of extra credit on the next quiz but they can only solve it when it's their turn to ask a question.

#4 No scoring. In smaller classes, students are usually satisfied with simply working through the crime for no points at all, just the enjoyment of the puzzle.

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With the exception of the obviously historical scenarios (e.g. MLK), all other scenarios are fictional. The stories, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this activity are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.