Overview
This lesson, designed for the language arts class, stresses critical thinking skills, particularly making inferences. Mystery Bag provides an opportunity for individual writing activities, justifying responses, and making spread sheets.
Student Pages
Introduction
The driving question, "If you were going on a mystery trip of an unknown time frame and could pack only one small bag, what would you take?" requires students justify their choices and design a simple spreadsheet.
Student Outcomes
After completing this lesson, students will be able to:
- Write a one-page paper using a word processing program.
- Design a simple spreadsheet.
- Make inferences and corresponding decisions.
Content Area and Grade Levels
Grade level: 6th 8th. Content Area: Language Arts This unit was designed and successfully used with students in grades 6-8 who have specific disabilities in reading and written language. In addition, some students carried an additional diagnosis of communication disordered and/or ESL. Adaptations for these needs are written into the lesson. However, this lesson works equally well with a regular education class.
Technology Usage
- Microsoft Word™
- Access to a photocopy machine
- One diskette
Resources
Online
- Mysteries and Unexplained Happening
- Geo Mysteries with Rex the Dino solve mysteries involving geology/geography
- Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries information on the series of books and television shows
- The Puzzle Club Counterfeit Caper a mystery to read about
- Mysteries Around the World
Materials
Make sure all items do not look new. Ideally, there should be at least 12 items in the bag.
Worn duffel bag with at least the following items:
- over-the-counter-medication such as aspirin or cough syrup
- ticket or lottery stub
- guide book for any country other than the United States
- pen
- one adult sized boot or shoe
- children's book
- bottle of vitamins
- small mirror and comb
Preparation
Prepare the mystery bag and reward poster prior to activity.
Tasks
Activity 1:
- Place the mystery bag in a prominent place in classroom so that students notice it as they enter the classroom.
- Explain it was found near a bus station.
- Open the bag and examine contents. As each item is taken out, place it on a flat surface where students can see it.
- Elicit conversation about the bag from class. Who do they think this bag belongs to? What evidence supports their thinking? Does the owner of the bag speak a language other than English?
- Direct students to write a one-page description of the owner of the duffel bag, based on inferences made from the contents of the bag.
Activity 2:
- Review events from the previous activity.
- Pose the driving question, "If you were going on a mystery trip of an unknown time frame and could pack only one small bag, what would you take?"
- Direct the students to make a list of 10 things they would take. Remind them that all 10 items must fit into a duffel-size bag, and that they may be traveling to a place that does not have electricity. They will need to justify their choices.
- Group students. Each group needs one scribe and one reporter.
- Instruct each group to compare similarities and differences with each list, recording on paper and then on the spreadsheet.
- Photocopy each group's spreadsheet making one copy for each group.
- Instruct groups to add the data from all other groups to make a master list.
- Each group writes a story about the mystery trip incorporating ten items found in a personal duffle bag.
Presentation
Each group will share its story with the class.
Assessment
Students can be assessed on their participation in the group activities as well as on their performance in the critical thinking and writing activities.
Downloading and Printing Files
These pages can be downloaded to your computer as files. Files can then be opened and printed. You can choose from two file formats:
Microsoft document format opens the files in Microsoft Word. You can make changes in the pages before printing them.
Acrobat Reader or Portable Document Format (pdf) opens the files in Adobe Acrobat Reader. Pages cannot be edited in this format. However, .pdf files are less likely to be distorted. Pages that contain graphics or large images look better in .pdf and print very nicely. For your convenience, Acrobat Reader can be accessed from this page.
Microsoft Word (.doc)
Mystery Bag -includes all materials and student pages.
Acrobat Reader (.pdf)
Mystery Bag -includes all materials and student pages.
About Acrobat Reader
Files in the .pdf format can be read using Acrobat Reader. Acrobat Reader is a free software. You can download and install it by clicking on the link below.
GO TO: Acrobat Reader Download Page
Standards
- New Mexico Content Standards
- Language Arts
- 2) Students will understand and use Language Arts as a learning tool Benchmark: 5-8
- 3) Students will listen and read for a variety of purposes. Benchmark: 5-8
- 4) Students will use a variety of listening and reading strategies appropriately. Benchmark: 5-8