Here is one of the tasks the detectives must accomplish:
When they have accomplished all 9 tasks, the children will be safe and the detectives can move on to identifying the kidnapper. Here is one clue for one of the three suspects. Detectives must determine if the statement is true:
The Tasks and Clues can be solved using websites, reference books, or a combination of sources. The mystery can be run as a single library program, or broken into pieces to be used when teaching the use of library research and resources. The difficulty level can also be managed, by matching each Task and Clue with a specific resource, or by presenting players with a single list of all resources (books and websites) to be used. The program could be staged in a library as part of an an after-hours event, be run in a computer lab, or even be done in a room without computer access, using books and (if desired) printed pages from the web resources.
Tasks and Clues are totaled in a point system which can be used to determine the winners and/or to grade students' performance.
Also included with the kit is a mystery planner with complete instructions:
"News Announcements" add to the realism of the mystery and help to move the program along.
While there are no evidence-gathering scenes as in other Anyone's Guess mysteries, three graphic "Props" help to provide atmosphere (one is the poem shown above.) Also included are graphics to help publicize the mystery.
I hope that Highsmith and I have provided a mystery that will be both fun and informative for your players, as well as enjoyable and useful for you.
Questions? Feel free to e-mail me: jdickey47@gmail.com
