Words from Our Young Authors at Oakton Elementary, Grades 3-6

This session in our What A Mystery! curriculum we solved mysteries through writing! Our class was all about suspense, problem-solving, and finding clues. No small detail gets past this class!

From: Grab Your Reader by the Hook

Computer Trouble

I thought it was just a glitch in my computer. But that was yesterday before I discovered that my computer was alive! … My computer is amazing now that it is alive! For instance, I don’t bother looking at my homework because I have a walking, talking super computer with arms, literally! So it just does the homework for me while I study or watch a movie…The next day I got an F on my homework! “What?” I exclaimed… Then I remembered my brother knew my password….

- Ian

When it Happened

I didn’t know how it happened, I didn’t know why it happened, I just knew when it happened. It was a cool breezy day when the incident occurred. I felt a chilling feeling up my spine when I saw the shadowy figure walking down the alley at exactly 1:45 AM. I knew the witness, but the victim was still a mystery.

“I wonder,” I thought to myself as a cool breeze brushed against my face. “I wonder why?”

- Ava

From: Beginning, Middle, and End Activity: Beginning - Characters are introduced and the reader learns about the problem, Middle - Detectives work to solve the mystery by interviewing suspects and gathering clues, End - The mystery is solved...

The Legend Of Edward I

There was once a boy named Edward Prestly. He had a mom, a dad, a younger brother named Elvis Prestly, and an older sister named Gracie Prestly. They all lived in a mansion. Edward had a secret: Whenever he reads his sister’s diary, monsters and other creatures come out. If he tells anyone, all of the things come out and attack the person he told!

- Bayan

From: Who, What, When, Where, Why

Mystery Story

I got an eerie feeling when I heard the booms and crashes of about 5 cars that mysteriously stopped suddenly. I stepped outside, it was misty, a police officer was already there. He had bright red eyes when he asked me my name.

- Nataly

Locked

We were in the teacher’s lounge when the lights went out. We waited for the generator to turn the lights back on, but they never did. We all rushed to the door (all of us except Miss M&M, because she didn’t know). The door was locked! Then the clock raced backward as fast as light! Then the door opened simultaneously. We rushed through to the front door of the school, but it was locked too. A realization dawned on us, we were all alone here.

- Brenna

The Robbery

I couldn’t believe what I had just seen and it was coming back! One night at 2:00 AM on June 3^rd a person walked by London Bank #243. He looked gloomy. I tried to keep my eyes from drifting to see his face, but I just couldn’t keep them straight. He looked at me. An alarming shiver flew down my spine. He walked into the bank, but took out a card that wasn’t from the bank. I thought about the bank robbery that happened last week.

- Devon

Detective Pudgy and the Case of the Missing Jackpot of One Million Wombats

Suddenly, Detective Pudgy woke up in the middle of the night! He had had a terrifying dream. But then he heard a horrified squeak followed by an evil laugh. A chill ran down his back. He jumped out of bed and ran toward where he though the noise was coming from. It was dark, but D. Pudgy could just make out a small car driving away from Dr. Chubby’s house. He went up and knocked. He waited five minutes, but no one answered.

- Sophie

The Tunnel

Once upon a time, there was a boy named John Pine who found a hole in his back yard. He had no clue what it was. He threw a rock into the hole but didn’t hear it hit the ground.

“That’s weird,” he said out loud.

Then his mom called him in for dinner. As he was washing his hands he heard about a crime on the news. Someone called The Tunnerler had been robbing banks all over the country!

- Charlie

Words from Our Young Authors at Thornhill Elementary, Grades 4-5

This session at Thornhill we’re exploring the elements of a good mystery. The kids have been crafting mystery stories and learning all about creative writing techniques, from character and plot development to using concrete details and the five senses to tell a story. We’ve been having a great time. Here are some teasers...

From: Write a letter to or from one of your characters.

Dear Police Officer,

You wanted to know my story so...here it is! This is my story! I am Violet V. 12 years old with short brown hair and blue eyes. I used to have parents and they disappeared during a  hurricane. I was left alone with only my strict grandfather to look after me. He lived in a big, shining new house with a backyard and swimming pool in Cuba. He was a rich, greedy and mean old man. He made me be his servant! If I refused he would threaten or punish me.

-Michela

From: How to organize a mystery around Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? using the prompt “It was missing.”

Have You Lost Your Mind?

“So, who am I again?” I asked and then he vanished. Was gone. Disappeared. Left. Was Away. And I was all alone. No idea what had just happened.

“You shall go on a quest to find your memory,” said a strange man.

-Sophie

From: Describe a setting and mood with the five senses.

Small Town in the Future

The survivors wouldn’t say, so no one knew what had happened. Everyone who survived knew, but vowed to never give up. The treacherous story had brought them here, accidentally, without food, water, or any recognition of what was happening and what already had. After spending what they used to call a week, they knew what people have spent a millenia wondering, still arguing on an answer. What happens after the sun has died? The survivors are the strongest out of the strong. They are the last humans.

-Sidney

From: How to organize a mystery around Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? using the prompt “It was missing.”

I said, “Good morning, Kikii!” No answer. “Kikii, I got your favorite breakfast kitty chow!” Still no answer. I went to check her room. “Kikii, I called you a million times where were yo--” I stopped in the middle of my sentence, She wasn’t there! I looked everywhere for her. The bathroom, the kitchen, even her favorite litter box! P.U. “Reemi. Focus!”

-Reemi

From: Rewrite a twist ending for a common fairytale.

The beginning of The Boy Who Cried Wolf

In a town, lived a boy shepherd by the name of Claude. He was very tall and was very demanding with his voice. He wasn’t watchful as sheep were disappearing. One day he was bored and he cried “Wolf!” The men came running but there was no wolf. He did that every day for a week and the town was getting annoyed. They decided that they wouldn’t come anymore. The next morning Claude was missing and so were his sheep. There was blood everywhere. They looked for him for days.

-Elise (collaborated with Mitch)

From: Rewrite a twist ending for a common fairytale.

The ending of The Boy Who Cried Wolf

Finally one night they saw something moving. It was a wolf! It was talking to someone and they noticed it was a full moon. The voice was Claudes! The next morning they found bloody paw prints leading to dead sheep’s wool. I hope that creature doesn’t come to our town again, said one of the men. We spotted Claude! his feet look like claws. Funny coincidence. Claude came back. He said he was sick and he was back. But that night it was a full moon. Suddenly Claude turned into a wolf! Everyone screamed! Claude ran off and as far as I know he never came back. I’m sure everyone’s glad about that.

-Mitch (collaborated with Elise)

From: How to organize a mystery around Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? using the prompt “It was missing.”

Kila scored the winning goal!! The Shooting Stars had won the game. At the end of the game the Coach gave Kila a ball signed by everyone on her soccer team, but Jessica just gave her an evil glare. Bella was so happy she just started hugging Kila so tight. Since it was a soccer game at Disney World, Kila decided to put her ball down and go play with her friends.

-Jamie

From: Write a letter to or from one of your characters. 

2/11/1943

Dear runaway parent,

There were buckets of rain leaking through my abandoned truck. Spent the morning underneath the Grove in the park. Listening to the chirping birds as if they were crying my name, “Dustpin, Dustpin.” The winter is near, 11th Tale of my Life, leaking one tear of Hope, that you’ll be coming. Spent the afternoon seemed to leave a shadow of hunger. Found “the bike” + rode off to Charity Red Fund for supper. Now watching my life go by.

-Dustpin

(P.S. Please come for me.)

-Maxwell

From: How to organize a mystery around Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? using the prompt “It was missing.”

One day Jordan was reading his book at home when all of a sudden there was a knock on the door. Jordan went to the door to open it. At the door his friend Mike was there. “Hi, Jordan!” said Mike. “Do you want to go to the park to play basketball?” Sure!’ said Jordan. “First let me ask my mom.” Jordan’s mom said yes then he went to put on his basketball shorts. When Jordan and Mike got to the park, Jordan said, “Sooo, where is the basketball?” “Basketball? I thought you were bringing it.” So they both went back to Jordan’s house where Jordan asked his dad where his basketball was. Jordan’s dad said, “I don’t know, but maybe it’s in the garage. Let’s go check.” They searched for half an hour but couldn’t find his ball. When they got back into the house Jordan whispered to Mike, “My dad is acting suspicious, don’t you think?”

-Parsa