Department Wide Mystery!

1 Week

Intended for all the guests of the Children's Department 

Supplies

Paper

Assorted clues to leave behind at the scene of the crime

Program

One of the books that I use to get ideas from, The Storytime Sourcebook II, has a section titles "Topical Events Calendar for Tie-in Storytime Themes."  Looking through this, I learned that the first week in October is Mystery Series Week.  So I decided to create a mystery for the whole department to solve during this week.  

On the first day, I released the back story: 

WHO STOLE THE COOKIES FROM THE COOKIE JAR:

A CLASSIC WHODUNIT

THE FACTS:

Mrs. Fusco is a wonderful baker.  Often, she bakes cookies for the librarians, the clerks and the pages in the Children’s Department.  The Children’s Department decided to have a little party to celebrate the library and all the good work we do!  Mrs. Fusco brought her tasty peanut-butter cookies in a fancy cookie jar and put them on the top shelf.  But when everyone went to enjoy the cookies, the jar was empty!!!

And the suspects:

(I took clip art images of different people from Google and created a profile for each one.)

 

Each day following, I released a one new clue and a new development: 

(I had the physical clues in the library for our mystery solvers to check out!)

CLUE 1: 

There was a pair of sunglasses left at the scene of the crime…

         

  

NEW DEVELOPMENTS:

The sunglasses were women’s sunglasses.

CLUE 2:  

There was handwritten note left at the scene of the crime…

NEW DEVELOPMENTS:

A handwriting analysis proved that it was written by someone left handed. 

CLUE 3:  

There was what looks like tire marks left around the scene of the crime…

         

NEW DEVELOPMENTS:

The tire marks were tested at the lab and was determined they were created by a toy truck. 

CLUE 4:  There was some fur found at the scene of the crime…

NEW DEVELOPMENTS:

The fur was from a cat. 

CLUE 5: 

All of the fake flowers at the celebration were replaced with real ones…

         

NEW DEVELOPMENTS:

One of the librarians brought fresh flowers to the party.   

CLUE 6: 

There was a strong smell of aftershave at the scene of the crime…

All throughout the week, and especially at the end of the week, the guests were encouraged to make their guess as to which suspect stole the cookies from the cookie jar!  Can you guess who it was?  

Digital Detectives

1 hour

Intended for 20 guests, grades 4-7

Digital detectives is a scavenger hunt that takes place in the library and incorporates technology.  Sounds awesome, right?  Well, it is.  Guests are given clues, and from there, they need to find the location of their next clue.  Some times, guests are asked to take a picture at a location, or use a QR reader to read a QR code to find their next clue.  Be creative with this!  

Supplies

Paper to write clues on

Prizes for the winning team (if you so choose)

Program

The set up and prep for this program is the most intense part.  After that, it kind of just flows on it's own.  Put on your thinking cap, and get ready to think up some clues for your detectives.  You can see below, that I tried to go more general, and featured a lot of different sections in the library.  This way, while they are scavenging, they are also giving themselves a grand tour.  

I created one set of 14 clues.  I printed out four sets of these 14 clues, each set having its own brightly colored paper.  Each color will be a different team.  (I had 4 teams with 5 members each.)  I numbered each set of clues with a different order.  I went around the library and hid the clues in their respective hiding places.  The brightly colored paper make it some what easy to find once hidden.  

At the start of the program, explain that each team is a different color, and that you are only to take your color clue.  If you take the wrong color, you will miss out on clues and lose.  If needed, also explain how to use the QR reader (I use NeoReader -- very easy and fast!) and take photos with the device.  We use iPads for this program. You can give them one chance to "Ask A Librarian" for help finding a clue, or more if you would like, but the point is to get them to use their detective skills!  Hand each team an iPad and the first clue in their uniquely ordered set. (This way there is not a huge mob all running to one location.)  Once they have their first clue, it is on them to find the next, and so on after.    

The first team to bring back all 14 clues, and take the needed photos wins!  

Below are the clues that I created and used for my Digital Detectives hunt:

If you’re really hungry, you might find some food to make in this book.   [HINT: Remember to include the word “juvenile” in your search]

When you first started reading, you probably checked out some EASY READERS.  Head on over there and find your clue!

Find the GRAPHIC NOVEL section and snap a photo of your favorite hero.  Find your next clue in this area!

If you want to look something up in the library catalogue, this computer might help you.  [HINT: CHECK BEHIND THE SCREEN]

If you don’t want to read a book, you can always listen to a book using one of these…

Tired of the same old books?  Why don’t you try a NEW BOOK!

Something to get the beat bumping?  NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL MUSIC!

Coming after the DVD, these “blue” discs boast HD movie viewing capabilities.

Snap a photo of your team playing with some fun toys.  [HINT: CHECK THE PLAYSPACE]  Find your next clue in this area!

Find a book about the state we are in right now!

Check out the video gaming section and snap a photo of a teammate pretending to play.  Find your next clue in this area!

The first QR code shows a picture of the Harry Potter series. 

The second shows a penguin.

The last shows a picture of Mickey Mouse.  

Happy hiding and hunting!