Inferencing Scene Investigation
Ok...so I couldn't resist adding a little crime scene investigation activity to our unit on INFERENCING...and it was a hit!
We have been studying how to inference properly when reading. We began with some simple activities I found on line, along with the poem "Listen" from the Nelson program:
These activities teach the same methods and strategies that the Nelson program does, and follows curriculum, but were way more fun. They were also age appropriate for many grades.
No matter what you read, the focus is recognizing clues, and deciphering their meanings...soooooo...this gave me the idea to create a crime scene in the classroom, and allow my Grade 5s to become detectives for the morning.
I set it up at recess with my friend Renee (our multi-talented ECE), and thank-you to Dorian for taking my duty!
Once the bell rang, I lined the students up in front of the door. I told them to close their eyes and explained to them they were no longer Grade 5 students, but actual detectives. I was to be referred to as "Captain" or "Sir." Once they opened their eyes they were investigators, and were to be silent, so that they could examine and think on their own. I Gave them a sheet to fill in while they were investigating:
Inferencing: A Crime Scene in 5R
Name: ______________________________
Fill in the chart below as it pertains to the crime scene:
Clue
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What Does it Mean?
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I then unlocked the door, and they entered the room. Next time I would make them police badges at the Board Office, and hats, to make it more authentic.
The kids were silent. They were awesome. They stayed in character. They created more columns, and filled up both sides of the sheet.
Once we were finished analyzing, I allowed them a few minutes to discuss with other detectives the WHO, WHAT, WHY, WHERE, WHEN, and HOW of the crime.
We then gathered in a circle to discuss our findings...and identified our culprit! Way to go 5R!
(I may have framed one of the students. He loved it! His pencil, eraser, and footprint, along with first initial on the score sheet, were found in the crime scene)
The kids wrote a reflection afterwards, explaining what they originally thought occurred as a result of the clues they found.
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| The door to our classroom |
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| The crime scene |
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| The weapon? |
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| Analyzing the crime scene |
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| Filling in our sheet |
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| Now they are on to me...I sense some posing... |
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