MYSTERY
Historians are observant. In this introduction to inquiry lesson, students will learn some of the skills and strategies historians use to learn about the past. Students will use their historian skills to uncover a mystery object as they notice, wonder, infer, and compare.
Before starting a Private i History Detectives unit, use this lesson or the “What Can We Learn from a Hat?” mystery as an introduction to inquiry lesson to introduce your students to the Private i History Detectives Team and the skills historians use.
iCivics en español! Student and class materials for this mystery are available in Spanish.
“As a second and third grade teacher for the entirety of my career I had long taught students history through inquiry. Seeing students explore history in this way has been SUCH a joy! Lightbulb moments galore! A teacher’s dream!...unlike lessons I had taught in the past, I didn’t have to find the primary sources. I didn’t have to research them. I didn’t have to write the lesson plan from scratch. I didn’t have to do anything but read the lesson plan… and teach the lesson!”
“I just used the first lesson in the Mapping Unit. It was so great to get students talking about what they noticed and also expand their thinking on how maps have a special purpose to the user.”
"I love that students got to look at REAL court cases! And it was so easy to use!"
"I liked the simplicity of the handouts. Not too much there to be overwhelming--just enough. Simple, clear directions. The photographs of the clues were great for the students to have."
This Mystery is included in the following Private i History Detectives Unit:
Introduction to Inquiry Mysteries, Grades K-1
Other Mysteries in this Unit: