More Mysteries
The Case of the Missing Baseball
Read the story Home Run (pages 12-16). Ask the children to think about what could have happened to the missing ball. Invite the children to share their ideas. Explain to the children that they will write their own mystery story about the missing baseball. Provide the children with drawing and writing materials. Provide assistance if needed. Encourage the children to create a cover for their story. Invite the children to share their mysteries during reading time. Place the children's mysteries in your class library area.
Cam's Memory Game
Play A Cam Jansen Memory Game that appears in the beginning and end of the book with the children. Explain to the children that they will create their own memory game. Provide the children with a sheet of construction paper, drawing materials, glue, child safety scissors, and magazines and catalogs for cutting. Ask the children to fill their paper with pictures from magazines, drawings, or a combination of both. Explain to the children that they will share their pictures with their classmates. This can be done either at group time or in small groups of 3 to 4 children. Each child will show their picture to the group. The child will then hold their picture so only he or she can view it. The child will ask the group to name different things that were on the picture. Children can bind their pictures in a book format to make a memory game book. Invite each child to develop several questions about their picture. Write the questions on the back of their picture.
Have you ever solved a problem or mystery?
Ask the children to share their own experiences solving problems or mysteries. Encourage them to describe the setting, who or what it involved, the sequences to solving the mystery or problem, and the result.
