Description
This activity combines the skill of solving multi-step equations using distribution with a mystery in both a PRINT and DIGITAL option. Students will use the clues they gather from correctly solving equations to solve the mystery.
The print item is customizable using Adobe Acrobat Reader! Using Adobe Acrobat, you can customize:
The title of your mystery — If you don’t want to use the game model where the students investigate a murder, you can change the setting to be anything you would like! Ideas that other teachers have used include a burglary, a case of mixed-up identity, what the teacher did last weekend… whatever you can imagine!
The suspects, the weapons and the locations! Students enjoy seeing their teachers, administrators, rival schools, and local and national sports heroes included in their assignments.
Please note that the user is NOT able to edit the individual questions or answers.
This feature of the file may not function correctly in all PDF Readers, so please use Acrobat Reader to ensure best functionality.
This kit offers two ways to use this activity.
Use as a Scavenger Hunt: The download includes 24 full-color cards for you to print and hang around your room for a class activity. As students solve the equations, they look around the room for their answer to see what clue they should eliminate.
Use as an Individual Activity: The download also includes a version that has all of the necessary clue information so students can complete this activity outside of the classroom.
Use as a Digital Activity: Students will solve the equations and drag the correct answer to the question in Google Slides.
In all versions, the activity contains 20 multi-step linear equations, and each answer is associated with either a suspect, a weapon or a location. When a student gets the answer, that option is eliminated from the mystery. When they are finished, students will only have one suspect, one weapon and location left, and they will have solved the mystery!
