Mystery story game

Teaching notes

Possible starter or introductory activities

1. Brainstorm different genres and ask students to identify typical plot features or
characters of each.

2. Display half a dozen book titles from different genres (including mystery) and ask
students to identify the genres.

3. In groups, ask students to match the blurbs with the book titles (from range of genres or
within the mystery genre).

The game itself

1. Cut up the cards and put them in four piles, according to their column. You need enough
sets so that each group can have a complete set.

2. Put class into small groups and give out sets. Each group member selects a card from
each of the four piles. It helps to number the columns 1–4 on the back of the sheets
before photocopying and cutting up.

3. Everyone in the group invents a story featuring each of their four ingredients. (Allocate
five minutes of thinking or note-making time.)

4. In turn, everyone in the group recounts their narrative. This should take about 15–20
minutes. This is important as the main aim of the activity is to generate new ideas.

Ideas for follow up or development

1. Groups choose one of their stories to tell or role-play to the class.

2. Group members suggest interesting titles for each story.

3. Individuals write blurbs for their story.

4. Individuals write three different opening paragraphs (description, dialogue, action) for
their story and peer evaluate in pairs. This could lead to the plenary in which the
teacher chooses a good example of each of the three types of opening paragraph to be
read out to the class (if done anonymously, class members could vote for their favourite).

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 Mystery story game

surprise
a diary jealous sister Christmas Eve
visitor

a wedding a half-empty
lawyer a wedding
dress glass of wine

hidden/missing wealthy noises in the

a thunderstorm
letter widower attic

a locked
a recluse a drowning ghost
cupboard

painting of a
a scream in
beautiful old gardener a birthday party
the night
woman

mysterious
a ruby ring 5 year old girl a baby is born
lights

empty a glamorous
a honeymoon a howling dog
boathouse woman

curtains
a birthmark orphan an accident blowing at the
open window

room where sound of hoof

a long-lost son an argument
someone died beats

© www.teachit.co.uk 2016 5783 Page 2 of 2