MYSTERY MAD LIBS COMPREHENSION STORIES - Brain Teaser Whodunit Fun

With these Middle School fun mystery Mad Libs brain teaser comprehension stories get 3 for the price of 2! These write-and-solve whodunit mysteries stretch students' inference making skills while also reviewing grammar and vocabulary. A fun freebie makes the deal even sweeter.

What ARE mystery Mad Libs stories?

They are a unique fusion between a fun mystery reading comprehension story and Mad Libs! Students add 24 words to the mystery story, then become whodunit detectives, hunting for clues to break characters' alibis and reveal the solution to the Mystery of the Stolen 1._________________, or The Mystery of the Broken 1._________________ or The Mystery of the Missing 1.________________. Perfect for boosting inference making and drawing conclusions skills, grammar and vocabulary. Students soon learn that using unusual words will make their Mad Lib story funnier. The mysteries even give public speaking practice if you choose to have students read aloud their hilarious tales in small groups- and they will beg to!

Steps

1. After quickly reviewing the included grammar review sheet if necessary,

students write the Mad Libs mystery, inserting grammatically appropriate words into two pages of grids. They transfer the words to the blanks in the story. Urge them to avoid looking at the story first. If they do, they will write words that always fit the blanks; that spoils the fun!

2. Students read their stories to a partner or to a small group.

3. Students re-read the alibis of the three suspects in their pair or group to identify the culprit. Students also have to explain the clue they to break the alibi and solve the mystery. Even though the stolen item will differ with every writer, the culprit’s alibi remains the same.

4. Students learn the solution. The answers are on the riddles answer page.

5. Students color in the coloring borders and solve the fast finishers riddles.

Plot of Mystery #1- Mystery of the Stolen 1.______________?

Teacher Ms Teri's much loved 1._____________ is stolen! Each of your students will probably select a completely different noun. The only guideline writers are given is that the object has to be small enough to be hidden in a school locker. There are 3 suspects. Only careful reading of their alibis will allow your students to work out who the culprit is and how Ms Teri can retrieve her precious object.

Plot of Mystery #2- Mystery of the Broken 1.________________?

A dad, Mr James Pond, is upset at a household breakage; his much loved 1._____________ lies in pieces on the floor! Each of your students will probably select a different noun. The only guideline writers are given is that the object they pick has to be breakable. There are 4 suspects: his three children and one of their friends, Ella Funt. Only careful reading of their alibis will allow your students to work out who the culprit is!

Plot of Mystery #3- Mystery of the Missing 1._______________?
Teacher Iona Brayne's lesson is wrecked when a 1._____________ goes missing! The only guideline writers are given is that the missing object is a type of school assignment or assessment. There are 3 suspects. Only careful scrutiny of their alibis will allow your students to work out who the culprit was!

How to use these stories

-- Students will need 3 photocopied pages each; the two word grid tables and the fill-in-the blank mystery story. You could choose to have students answer in pairs.
-- The student guidelines, the quick grammar review page, and the answer page can be projected on a screen.

-- You could have a few copies of the optional fast finishers page ready!

I hope that your classes experience as much hilarity from these mysteries as mine have done!

How about a Readers' Theater brain teaser mystery?
READERS THEATER MIDDLE SCHOOL SCARY MYSTERY SCRIPT OR

READERS' THEATER- MYSTERY OF THE DRAMA CAMP THIEF
If you want a mystery resource that demands more writing from your students, try Reading Comprehension Mysteries & Questions

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions about this product - or any other product in my store - please write to me at brilliantlylit@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you!

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