Rogue Rodent Mystery: Preparation Overview

Use the chart below as a reference for preparing for the following activities or download the PDF.

LessonPrint/CopyOrganize Kit SuppliesPrepareAcquire Additional Supplies
Lesson 1
Observing The Clues:
Investigating With Your
Senses
Student Book
pages iii-6
• DVD of crime
scene
• Air freshener
• Senses cards
• Person of interest
script
• Scissors
• Blindfolds
• Earplugs
• Small bandages
• Plastic spoon
• 250 mL beaker
• Red tempera paint
• Pencils
• Set up DVD
player
• Make red paint
• Arrange for an
adult (person of
interest) to come
into your room at
a designated time
• Cut out the required
number of
senses cards
• Print Vocabulary
Words
• Water
Lesson 2
Recording Your Findings: Sketching The Scene
Student Book
pages 7-10
• Crime scene tape
• Flip chart
• Scaled dog photos
• Scaled doghouse
photos
• Crime scene
sketch
• Mrs. Hawkins’s
1st letter
• Scissors
• Evidence Envelope
• Marker
• Cut out the dogs
and doghouses
• Address the
Evidence Envelope
to your school and
your class
• Cell phone, digital
camera, or note
paper
• Clock with second
hand
Lesson 3
Listening To A Witness:
Creating A Composite Sketch
Student Book
pages 11-14
• Examples of
composite
sketches
• “Artist” and
“sketch” stickers
• Centimeter cubes
• Plastic cups
• Pencils
• Crayons
• Count cubes into
plastic cups
Lesson 4
Analyzing Alibis:
Monitoring The Movement Of Suspects
Student Book
pages 15-26
• Copy of suspect
photos
• Evidence Envelope
• Copy of Mrs.
Hawkins’s 2nd
letter
• Flip chart
• Marker
• Copies of alibi
cards for each
suspect
• Scissors
• Pencils
• Choose and label
the appropriate
suspects for your
class
• Arrange suspect
photos near flip
chart
• Place Mrs.
Hawkins’s letter
in the Evidence
Envelope
Lesson 5
Applying Physics:
Studying Force And A Falling Skeleton
Student Book
pages 27-36
• Copy of Cavia
Elementary
School map
• Sketch of Mrs.
Hawkins’s crime
scene
• Set of directional
stickers
• Stress balls
• Figurines
• Rulers
• Crayons
• Pencils
• Designate large
flat areas for
groups to work
Lesson 6
Inspecting Pattern Evidence:
Comparing Shoe Prints
Student Book
pages 37-44
• Scissors
• Plastic cups
• Card stock paper
• Spray bottles
• Rulers
• Centimeter cubes
• Crayons
• Pencils
• Cut sheets of card
stock in half
• Count out centimeter
cubes into
plastic cups
• Fill spray bottles
with water
• Try the shoe print
experiment to get
a good idea of
how it works best
• Water
• Paper towels
Lesson 7
Researching Rodents:
Discovering A Guinea
Pig’s Survival Needs
Student Book
pages 45-51
• Copies of Alice’s
photo
• Copy of Mrs.
Hawkins’s 3rd
letter
• Evidence Envelope
• Markers
• Crayons
• Poster board
sheets
• Pencils
• Gather print
resources about
guinea pigs from
a local or school
library
• Optional: set up
classroom for
online access to
resources about
guinea pigs
• Place Mrs.
Hawkins’s letter
in the Evidence
Envelop
• Books about
guinea pigs
• Optional:
computers with
internet access
Lesson 8
Following Colorful Clues: Making Orange Paint
Student Book
pages 52-56
• Red, blue, and yellow
temper paint
powders
• 1,000 mL beaker
• 250 mL beakers
• Coffee scoop
• Mixing spoon
• Flip Chart
• Marker
• Copy of Mrs.
Hawkins’s 4th
letter
• Evidence Envelope
• Foam plates
• Suspect stickers
• Wooden stir sticks
• Pencils
• Mix paints and
pour into beakers
for each group
• Arrange beakers
of paint on foam
plates
• Place Mrs.
Hawkins’s letter
in the Evidence
Envelope
• Paper towels
Lesson 9
Weighing The Evidence: Testing The Scales Of Justice
Student Book
pages 57-58
• DVD of the crime
scene
• Copy of suspect
photos
• Copies of Lady
Justice
• Plastic cups
• Centimeter cubes
• Pan balances
• Index cards
• Markers
• Pencils
• Count out centimeter
cubes into
cups
• Display suspect
photos
• One monetary
bill of any
denomination
Lesson 10
Considering The Confession: Understanding Misunderstandings!
Student Book
pages 59-63
• Evidence Envelope
• Copy of Mrs.
Hawkins’s final
letter
• Guinea pig
stickers
• Poster board
sheets
• Crayons
• Markers
• Pencil
• Place Mrs.
Hawkins’s letter
in the Evidence
Envelope
• Optional:
celebration
supplies