Story detectives
Mia has lost her red hat. Can you solve the mystery?
A missing hat mystery
Read a little story. Explore the park. Use each clue to find out what happened.
No timer. You can read the story again whenever you like.
Your detective mission
Read, look and explore!
Hat found!Mystery solved!
- Mia left her hat on the bench.
- The wind blew the hat towards the bush.
- You found the hat and returned it to Mia.
Find Mia’s missing hat. Follow the story and collect three clues.
For parents and teachers
About this game
Story detectives is an untimed reading game about Mia’s missing red hat. Learners read a short part of the story, find a matching place in the picture and use what happened to decide where to look next.
Common Core connection: RL.K.1. This is focused practice for part of the standard.
Suggested for ages 5–6. Kindergarten is a starting point, not a rule for every class.
How to play
Read the story, choose a place in the picture, and use the clue before moving on. There is no timer.
Step by step
- Read. Read the card, sentence or story clue all the way through.
- Choose. Use the meaning, not a guess from the first word.
- Talk. After the round, explain one choice out loud.
Worked examples
Use the first item as a model. Read it aloud, name the clue that decides the answer, then choose. The same steps work for the next item.
Common mistakes
Choosing too quickly. Slow down and use the whole sentence or clue. A familiar word can still be the wrong choice.
At home
Play one round together, then let the learner try the next round. Ask which words decided the answer.
In class
Use one round as a warm-up. Invite a learner to explain a choice before the next card.
Printable
This on-screen game does not include a worksheet. Practice the same idea with paper and a pencil, using an example from the guide.
Questions
Does this cover a whole standard?
No. It practices one part of the connected standard.