Give the evidence somewhere to lead.
Bring reading and reasoning together through clues, questions, and a mystery to solve. Ask students to defend their conclusion with evidence.
Read the clues
Work through the text and relevant details before choosing a conclusion.
Connect the evidence
Compare information and explain which details matter to the case.
Make the case
Share a solution and the reasoning that supports it.
Watch a mystery, start to finish.
Real pages from every Reading Mystery, Grades 3–8: the case file, the scene illustration and its clues, the questions, and the page where students solve the case. Under a minute each, silent with captions. Press play on any one.
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 8
A different reason to read closely.
The Five Skills Detective artwork gives this family its own identity. Choose a grade and topic from the current reading collection; MyPaths Math Investigation Activities are available separately in the store.
- Reading mysteries across Grades 3–8
- Science and social studies topics
- Opportunities to discuss and justify a solution
A few useful details.
Are Reading Mysteries and MyPaths Math Investigation Activities the same product?
No. They are separate resource collections. Check the subject and grade on the listing before purchasing.
Should students guess the answer first?
Use a first idea as a starting point, then ask students to test it against the available evidence and revise if needed.
One topic. Three ways in.
Try A Cooler Schoolyard, a Grade 5 Read Together lesson with three reading versions and one shared decision.
Plus occasional teaching ideas and MyPaths updates.