On-Campus Summer Programs

Mysteries have captivated our imagination for centuries, in life and in fiction. This sampler gives students a chance to build math, science, and literary skills while thinking through the elements of mysteries and how to solve them. 

The sampler will be designed with three cohorts of 5th and 6th grade students using the following courses as a basis: 

Math: Inductive and Deductive Reasoning 

Reasoning, logic, and critical thinking are the building blocks of intellectual inquiry. Solving mysteries requires us to draw conclusions from both observations and facts.

In this course, students will learn how to: 

• Define and distinguish between inductive and deductive reasoning, providing examples of each 
• Apply elements of inductive and deductive reasoning to real-life situations 
• Explore and explain the relationship between number patterns and geometry using explicit and recursive formulas 
• Identify and validate patterns 
• Share and articulate ideas and solutions to problems written and orally, independently, and in groups   

Science: Examining the Evidence   

Solving mysteries involves collecting clues and analyzing evidence. In this course, we’ll explore the basics of forensic science and do some initial crime scene investigations. We’ll learn how forensic scientists process evidence using items like hair fibers and fingerprints, and ultimately, we’ll learn to ask “What else?” to give a sense of the breadth not covered.    

In this course, students will learn how to:  

• Explain the purpose and function of the forensic science field  
• Analyze observations and evidence to construct an explanation of a crime  
• Execute basic crime-scene-processing techniques  
• Model how to collect and process microscopic and macroscopic evidence   

Writing: Crafting a Mystery   

For generations, mysteries have captivated readers with compelling characters, suspenseful storytelling, and quirky sleuths. In this course, we’ll read short mysteries and begin to explore the elements of a great mystery story. Students will have the chance to develop at least one of those elements while building an outline of their own short story.  

In this course, students will learn how to:  

• Explain the basic elements of a mystery    
• Identify the elements of a mystery in a short story   
• Explain the use of clues and puzzles in a mystery story   
• Develop at least one believable “red herring”    
• Use backwards planning to craft an outline for a fast-paced, compelling mystery   
• Provide constructive feedback to peers in a writer’s workshop setting