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Grades level iconsGrades 6–8
Session time icon1 Session: 2 Hours Each
Genre information iconInformational, Narrative
Resource type iconLessons

LA Confidential

Robert Paterno, 826LA
A mock crime scene kick-starts this lesson, getting students to hone their inferencing skills and serving as inspiration for crime stories.
Download Includes
Lesson Template 2 Lesson Handouts
What Your Students Will Learn

Your students will learn how gather evidence, and use this information as puzzle pieces to put together an entire story.

Common Core Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3 Common Core Standards Icon
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3.A Common Core Standards Icon
Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.5 Common Core Standards Icon
With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.10 Common Core Standards Icon
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.3 Common Core Standards Icon
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.3.A Common Core Standards Icon
Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and point of view and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.5 Common Core Standards Icon
With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.10 Common Core Standards Icon
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.3 Common Core Standards Icon
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.3.A Common Core Standards Icon
Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and point of view and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.5 Common Core Standards Icon
With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.10 Common Core Standards Icon
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
What You Will Do
Session 1
Timer
2 Hours
Session 1
Students will first practice determining truth in a warm up activity which will put them in an investigative mindset. Once they build an understanding of the study of forensics, they will walk through a mock crime scene and try to imagine the cause, the people involved and the actions that occurred. This will help students learn to incorporate strong narrative descriptions and will help them later as they craft their own crime story.
Introduction :

Your student-sleuths will use a staged crime scene as inspiration for writing a story. By calling on their imagination and sense of judgment, they will learn how to  determine the cause of a crime by recalling important elements normally included in a story.

Session 1: Session 1

Students use their imagination to determine the cause of a crime by recalling important elements normally present in stories.

You Will Need
  • Easel
  • Large Post It Board (if needed)
  • Markers
  • Crime tape
  • Laptops
  • Copies of the “Crime Scene Sketch Template” handout
  • Copies of the “Detective Map” handout
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