Young sleuths don their trench coats, tip their fedoras, and grab their notepads to investigate one of four famous unsolved mysteries. After examining multiple primary and secondary sources related to their cold case, they propose a theory about what really happened.

Concepts

american history, critical thinking, conducting investigations, deductive reasoning, historical research

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• For groups that want an extra challenge, have them select an unsolved mystery, find and analyze primary and secondary source materials, and offer their theory of who did it or what happened

Classroom Considerations

• Requires copies of multiple primary and secondary source materials

Pros

• Offers a detailed play and links to the primary and secondary source materials
• Models how historians investigate events and to support and develop critical thinking skills

Cons

• None

Common Core

RH.9-10.1 RH.9-10.2 RH.9-10.3 RH.9-10.6 RH.11-12.1 RH.11-12.2 RH.11-12.3 RH.11-12.6