The new version of the Cookie Jar Mystery targeted for smaller centers and in-school science programs will have a couple new features. The biggest of which is engaging kids with a story throughout each module. This is designed to peak students' curiosity and build suspense as each activity moves them on step closer to solving the mystery.
Below is the part one of the story that kicks off The Crime Scenario:
It was just after 9 a.m. when Mrs. Johnson, a popular science teacher at Crooked Creek Middle School, made her way to her 9:15 science class. She’d spent her first period of the day in the teachers’ lounge, correcting papers and drinking coffee.
Outside the classroom door, she looked briefly at her watch, and shifted her clumsy armload of student folders and papers. “The students will be here in ten minutes,” she muttered as she nudged at the partially open door. Strange, she thought to herself, the classroom door is usually closed. She located the light switch and flipped it on.
“Oh-oh!” began the teacher. “This does not look good!”
The broken glass scattered in front of her desk surprised Mrs. Johnson. Not only was the glass dangerous, she wondered immediately if anyone had been hurt. She set her pile of books down on a nearby student desk and approached the mess on the floor, careful not to touch anything.
Sadly, Mrs. Johnson recognized the broken glass as fragments from her famous cookie jar that was normally kept locked up in the storage cabinet. Scattered among the broken glass, Mrs. Johnson could see remnants of the two dozen chocolate chip cookies she’d brought in the day before. There were only a few cookies left; clearly someone (or something!) had been interrupted in the act of stealing the cookies, and had broken the cookie jar in the process.
Who could have done such a thing?
The school bell signaled that her next class was about to start. Within a minute, several students entered the science classroom. Immediately, they began to talk about the disarray. As they moved towards Mrs. Johnson’s desk, she cautioned them sternly: “Let’s not disturb anything here. Please, be careful!”
“Mrs. Johnson, what happened? Did you knock your cookie jar off the desk?” asked Jack, one her brightest students.
“No, I didn’t. But I can see why you might think so!” answered the teacher.
Ashley, another student, let her backpack slip to the floor. “Are you going to call the police?”
“She doesn’t just need the police,” interrupted Mark, a tall 8th-grader with a keen sense of humor. “Mrs. Johnson needs a detective!”
An idea suddenly popped into Ms. Johnson’s head. “You’re right, Mark! I do need a detective! Luckily, I’ve got a whole classroom full! I don’t know what happened here, but I bet we can figure that out! Quickly, everyone, get your notebooks and pens—be careful not to disturb our little ‘crime scene’ here—and let’s get to work!”
“What are we going to do, Mrs. Johnson?” asked Ashley.
Mrs. Johnson smiled. “We…” she began slowly, with a twinkle in her eye, “are going to solve The Cookie Jar Mystery!”
You can solve The Cookie Jar Mystery too! Join your classmates in the activities in Module 1. As you begin to understand the processes of forensic science, you’ll find new clues and evidence to point you in the direction of the guilty party. Proceed to Activity 1 to start your investigation!
Continue the story in the next module, Always Leave a Note, here!
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