Reading Detectives
What does a detective look for to solve a mystery?
Clues
What is missing in the story?
The garden seeds
What is a detective?
A person who looks for clues to solve a mystery
What should a reader look for when trying to solve a mystery
Details or clues in the text
What does it mean to make an inference?
Use clues and what you know to figure something out
True or False: Good detectives pay attention to small details.
True
Where were the missing seeds supposed to be used?
In the garden
gardenWhat does missing mean?
Something cannot be found
If you find a clue, should you ignore it or think about what it might mean?
Think about what it might mean
What two things do you combine to make an inference?
Text clues + what you already know
Why is a reader like a detective?
Readers use clues from the text to figure things out.
What problem needs to be solved in the story?
Finding out what happened to the missing garden seeds
What does evidence mean?
Information or clues that help prove something
Why is it important to go back to the story when answering a question?
To find evidence/details that support your answer
If you see muddy footprints near the garden, what might you infer?
Someone or something may have been near/in the garden.
What should a reading detective do before deciding who or what caused the problem?
Gather and examine all the clues/evidence
Why is the order of events important when solving the mystery?
It helps us understand what happened first, next, and last.
What does investigate mean?
To carefully look for information or clues
Which is stronger evidence: a guess or a detail directly from the story?
A detail from the story
Can two readers make different inferences?
Yes, if each can support the inference with evidence from the text.
What makes someone a good reading detective?
Looking closely at details, finding clues, making inferences, and using evidence
Explain the mystery in your own words
Answers will vary but should explain that the garden seeds are missing and the characters must determine what happened to them.
Use the word clue in a complete sentence.
Answers will vary.
Name one clue from the story that helps solve the mystery.
Accept any accurate clue supported by the lesson/story.
Who or what do you think is responsible for the missing seeds? Give evidence for your answer
Answers will vary; students must support their answer with evidence.