Lesson Plan
Reading Detectives: Finding Clues!
Students will be able to identify key details and make simple inferences from a short text with visual support.
Reading comprehension is a fundamental skill that helps students understand information, follow instructions, and learn about the world around them. Developing these skills early on builds a strong foundation for future academic success and everyday life.
Audience
Elementary School Students (K-5), ESE, ELL, D/HH, Dyslexia, and diverse learners
Time
20 minutes
Approach
Interactive reading, visual aids, and a game-based activity.
Materials
Smartboard or projector, Markers or whiteboard, The Mystery of the Missing Toy Reading, Reading Clues Activity Sheet, and Match the Clues Game Cards
Prep
Preparation Steps
10 minutes
- Review Materials: Familiarize yourself with the The Mystery of the Missing Toy Reading, Reading Clues Activity Sheet, and Match the Clues Game Cards.
- Print/Prepare Visuals: Ensure all visual aids and handouts are ready. Consider laminating the game cards for repeated use.
- Set Up Tech: Prepare the Smartboard or projector for displaying the reading and slides.
- Clear Space: Arrange the classroom for easy group work and game play.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Detective Brains (2 minutes)
2 minutes
- Introduce the 'Detective' Theme: "Good morning, reading detectives! Today, we're going to put on our detective hats and sharpen our 'reading spyglasses' to find clues in a story!"
2. Ask a Question: "What does a detective do? (Look for clues, solve mysteries!)" Show an image of a detective with a magnifying glass.
3. Explain the Goal: "Just like detectives, good readers look for clues in stories to understand what's happening and figure out things that aren't directly said."
Step 2
Introducing the Story (3 minutes)
3 minutes
- Introduce the Reading: "Our first case today is called The Mystery of the Missing Toy Reading." Display the title slide from the Reading Detectives Slide Deck.
2. Preview Visuals: Briefly point out key images in the story before reading. "Look at these pictures! What do you think this story might be about?" (e.g., a child, a dog, a toy). Use the The Mystery of the Missing Toy Reading as a guide.
Step 3
Guided Reading: Finding Clues (8 minutes)
8 minutes
- Read Aloud: Read The Mystery of the Missing Toy Reading aloud, pointing to words as you read. Use expressive intonation.
2. Pause and Point (Key Details): After each paragraph or key sentence, pause and ask: "What just happened? Who is in this part? What did they do?" Refer to the images as you discuss. "Look at the picture! What is the boy doing here?"
3. Think-Aloud (Inference): Model making a simple inference. For example, if the boy looks sad because his toy is gone, say: "The story says the boy's toy is gone, and I see his mouth is turned down in the picture. That makes me think he feels sad, even though the story doesn't say 'he felt sad.'"
4. Complete Activity Together: Distribute the Reading Clues Activity Sheet. Guide students to fill in the 'Who,' 'What,' and 'Where' sections based on the story. Provide sentence starters or choices for ESE/ELL students.
Step 4
Game: Match the Clues! (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Introduce the Game: "Now that we're expert clue-finders, let's play 'Match the Clues!'"
2. Distribute Cards: Give each student (or pair of students) a set of Match the Clues Game Cards (or display them on the board).
3. Explain Rules: "You have picture cards and word cards from our story. Your job is to match the picture that shows a 'clue' or important detail with the words that describe it." (e.g., picture of a sad boy with text
Step 5
Wrap-Up: My Favorite Clue (2 minutes)
2 minutes
- Share Out: "Detectives, what was your favorite clue you found in our story today? Why was it important?" Encourage students to share using simple sentences or by pointing to images.
2. Reiterate Learning: "Great job today, reading detectives! You used your amazing brains to find clues and understand our story better. Keep practicing your clue-finding skills whenever you read!"
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Slide Deck
Reading Detectives: Finding Clues!
🔍 Let's find clues in our stories!
(Image: Cartoon detective with a magnifying glass looking at a book)
Introduce the lesson with excitement. Show the title slide and explain that today, students will be 'reading detectives' to find clues in a story.
What Do Detectives Do?
🕵️♀️ Detectives look for clues!
🧩 They solve mysteries!
(Image: Cartoon detective, question mark, magnifying glass, simple puzzle pieces)
Ask students what a detective does. Guide them to understand that detectives look for clues to solve mysteries, just like readers look for clues to understand stories. Emphasize the visual aspect.
Our First Case: The Mystery of the Missing Toy
📖 What clues will we find here?
(Image: Simple drawing of a child looking sad, a dog, and a question mark over where a toy might be)
Introduce the story. Show the cover or first page of the reading material. Encourage predictions based on the visuals.
Two Types of Clues:
-
Key Details: What actually happened? (Who? What? Where? When?)
(Image: A checklist or bullet points) -
Inferences: What can we figure out?
(Image: A thought bubble or a lightbulb)
Explain the two types of clues: Key Details (what happened, who, where, when) and Inferences (what we can guess or figure out). Use clear, simple language and gestures.
Let's Read and Find Clues!
🔍 Read the story together.
👀 Look for important parts.
🤔 What can we figure out?
(Image: An open book with eyes peering over it, a magnifying glass)
Guide students through the reading, pausing to ask about key details and model making inferences. Refer to the visuals in the reading material and the activity sheet. Use this slide as a reminder.
Our Reading Clues Activity Sheet
📝 Let's write down our clues!
(Image: A worksheet with lines, a pencil, and a magnifying glass icon)
Introduce the activity sheet. Explain that they will write down the clues they found. Provide support for students as they work.
Game Time: Match the Clues!
🤝 Match the picture to the clue!
(Image: Two puzzle pieces fitting together, one with a simple picture, one with text)
Explain the 'Match the Clues' game. Show an example of a picture card and a word card being matched.
Great Job, Reading Detectives!
🌟 You found so many clues!
Keep practicing your reading detective skills!
(Image: A star badge with 'Reading Detective' written on it)
Conclude the lesson by reinforcing the idea of being 'reading detectives.' Encourage students to practice these skills.
Reading
The Mystery of the Missing Toy
Leo and His Red Car
Leo loved his bright red toy car. It was his favorite! He played with it every day. Zoom, zoom, zoom! He drove it across the rug, under the table, and even up the couch. His red car made him happy.
(Image: A smiling boy, Leo, happily playing with a red toy car on the floor.)
Oh No! Where is it?
One sunny afternoon, Leo looked for his red car. He looked on the rug. No car. He looked under the table. No car. He looked behind the couch. Still no car! Leo’s happy smile turned into a frown. His red car was gone! He felt a little sad and confused.
(Image: Leo with a sad, confused expression, looking under a table and behind a couch, hands raised in questioning gesture. The red car is visibly missing.)
A Wagging Tail Clue!
Suddenly, Leo heard a little "Woof! Woof!" It was Buster, his playful dog! Buster wagged his tail and nudged a big, fluffy blanket with his nose. Leo peeked under the blanket. And guess what he saw? His bright red toy car! Buster had snuggled it right under the blanket with him! Leo giggled. "Buster, you’re a silly detective too!" he said, giving his dog a hug.
(Image: Buster, a friendly dog, playfully nudging a blanket. Under the blanket, the red toy car is visible. Leo is smiling and reaching for the car, with Buster looking happy.)
Worksheet
My Reading Clues!
Reading Detective Name: _____________________________
Look back at The Mystery of the Missing Toy Reading. Use your detective skills to find the clues!
🕵️ Who is in the story?
(Draw a picture and/or write their names.)
🚗 What happened in the story?
(Draw a picture and/or write 1-2 important things that happened.)
- First, Leo
- Then, his car
- Finally, Buster
🏠 Where did the story happen?
(Draw a picture and/or write where the story took place.)
🤔 What did Leo feel when his car was gone?
(Circle the face and/or write the feeling.)
😔 Sad 😡 Angry 😊 Happy
Game
Match the Clues! Game Cards
Instructions for Teacher: Print and cut out the cards. Laminate for durability if possible. Students will work individually or in pairs to match the picture cards with the word/phrase cards that describe the clue from The Mystery of the Missing Toy Reading.
Picture Cards (Cut these out!)
| Image 1 | Image 2 | Image 3 |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
| Card 1 | Card 2 | Card 3 |
| Image 4 | Image 5 |
|---|---|
 |  |
| Card 4 | Card 5 |
Word/Phrase Cards (Cut these out!)
| Clue 1 | Clue 2 | Clue 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Leo's favorite car | Leo felt sad | Buster hid the car |
| Clue 1 Text | Clue 2 Text | Clue 3 Text |
| Clue 4 | Clue 5 |
|---|---|
| Leo found his car | The car was lost |
| Clue 4 Text | Clue 5 Text |