This murder mystery game is a novel way to quiz students on an Agatha Christie book

Subject(s): Language Arts Grades(s): Junior High/High School

Title – Murder Mystery Game

By – Dawn Pawlowski

Primary Subject – Language Arts

Grade Level – 9-12

Objectives:

Background:

The Murder Mystery Game is the culminating activity after reading Agatha Christie’s

And Then There Were None

. Throughout the book, students are trying to figure out, “Who done it?” Teacher works on building the students’ skills in (1) process of elimination and (2) prediction.

Materials Needed: (1) Classroom set of

And Then There Were None

, (2) Clue Board Game, (3) 4×6 unlined white index cards — location, weapon, and suspect cards, (4) digital camera, (5) detective sheet, (6) writing utensils, (7) 3×5 index cards – question cards and (8) duct tape

Anticipatory Set:

Play Clue board game to have students learn/practice the process of elimination

Set-Up:

And Then There Were None

Step-By-Step Tasks:

(1)  Hand out the detective sheets to the students. Explain how the murder mystery game will work.

(2)  During the school day students will go to other teachers and ask for a question. When they get the answer correct, then they can see the murder mystery card. As students see murder mystery cards, they will chart them on their detective sheet. Using the process of elimination, they will figure out who done it, with what, and where because the answer will be the only one NOT checked off in each section. (Just like Clue the board game).

(3)  The first student who returns his/her detective sheet will be the winner. A prize could be given out; in the past I have given students their very own Clue board game.

SUSPECTS: Teachers be sure to substitute your own teachers and locations for the following:

Name: _______________________ Period: ______

Miss P. Murder Mystery

DIRECTIONS: Go up to various staff members and ask for a clue. The staff member will give you a question about

And Then There Were None

. If you answer the question correctly, you will be shown a clue card. If you answer the question incorrectly, they will give you a hint. When you see a clue card, cross that suspect, weapon, or location off your list. Like the board game

Clue

, you will find out the suspect, weapon, and location by process of elimination (the last one left in each section). When you are done, write down the answers and turn this sheet in to Miss P. The first student from the A-4 and B-2 class will win a prize. Good Luck!!!

Suspects:		Detective Notes for Hints
Mr. Bill
Mr. Bodner
Chef Paul
Ms. Donna
Mr. Gaston
Mr. Glover
Mr. Pierce
Mr. Russ
Mr. Sprengel
Ms. Z.

Weapons
Chair
Computer
Fire Extinguisher
Knife
Red Pen
School Lunch
Scissors

Locations
Academic Hall
Bathroom
CIBS
Clinical Office
Computer Lab
Kitchen
Principal’s Office
Room 4
Self Contained
Wood Shop

Question Cards

Miss P. Murder Mystery

DIRECTIONS: When a student asks you for a clue for the game, ask them the question on this card. If they get the answer right – show them the clue card. If they get the answer wrong, or does not know the answer, give them the hint and DO NOT give them the clue card until they come back with the correct response.

QUESTION: How many people were on the island?

ANSWER: 10

HINT: Page 40

QUESTION: What is the name of the poem?

ANSWER: "Ten Little Indians"

HINT: Page 31

QUESTION: What is the name of the island?

ANSWER: Indian Island

HINT: Page 1

QUESTION: Who wrote

And Then There Were None

?

ANSWER: Agatha Christie

HINT: Cover of book

QUESTION: What is the name of a movie that is based on a board game?

ANSWER: Clue

HINT: We watched the movie last week and played the game in class.

QUESTION: Which guest was behind all of the murders and used the AKA Mr. Owen?

ANSWER: Justice Lawrence Wargrave

HINT: Page 275

QUESTION: What did Justice Wargrave put his written confession in, which told the police that he was behind all of the murders?

ANSWER: Message in a bottle

HINT: Page 261

QUESTION: How do the murders relate to the poem, "Ten Little Indians?"

ANSWER: People in the book died the same way the Indians died in the poem

HINT: Poem hanging in Miss P.’s room and hallway

QUESTION: Who invited all of the guests to Indian Island?

ANSWER: Mr. U.N. Owen

HINT: Page 23

QUESTION: How does Mr. Owen announce everyone’s secret at the first dinner?

ANSWER: Gramophone

HINT: Page 45

QUESTION: Name 3 characters stuck on the island.

ANSWER: Vera Claythorne, Emily Brent, Mr. Rogers, Mrs. Rogers, Justice Wargrave, Philip Lombard, Dr. Armstrong, Mr. Blore, Anthony Martson, and General Macarthur. (Any 3)

QUESTION: What is the name of Vera Claythorne’s ex-boyfriend?

ANSWER: Hugo

HINT: Page 245

QUESTION: Which guest was a cop (detective)?

ANSWER: Mr. Blore

HINT: Page 55

QUESTION: What are the names of the 2 housekeepers?

ANSWER: Mr. and Mrs. Rogers

HINT: Page 29

QUESTION: What is the name of the judge?

ANSWER: Justice Wargrave

HINT: Page 2

QUESTION: Who is the adventurer that killed 21 natives?

ANSWER: Philip Lombard

HINT: Page 68

QUESTION: Who is the first guest to die on the island?

ANSWER: Anthony Martson

HINT: Page 68

QUESTION: Who is the last guest to die on the island?

ANSWER: Vera Claythorne

HINT: Page 245

QUESTION: Who dies by being stung by a bee?

ANSWER: Emily Brent

HINT: Pages 178-180

QUESTION: What is the name of the military person who killed his wife’s lover?

ANSWER: General Macarthur

HINT: Page 43

QUESTION: What is the only form of transportation used to get to and from the island?

ANSWER: Boat

HINT: page 24

QUESTION: Who shot Philip Lombard?

ANSWER: Vera Claythorne

HINT: Page 240

QUESTION: Which guest died by drowning?

ANSWER: Dr. Armstrong

HINT: Page 236

QUESTION: Which guest helped Justice Wargrave fake his death?

ANSWER: Dr. Armstrong

HINT: Page 270

QUESTION: Who was the person that died by being "chopped in half?"

ANSWER: Mr. Rogers

HINT: Page 167

Examples of Weapon, Suspect, and Location Cards (Make 2 sets):

You need to make cards with pictures of

your

“weapons,” “suspects,” and “locations” on them. The easiest way would probably be to take pictures with a digital camera and print them on 3×5 index cards or you could just scan a yearbook picture or even draw a picture if necessary.

Weapon # 3: Fire Extinguisher