Dessert Caper Slides
Top Secret
WESTERN INTERMEDIATE DETECTIVE AGENCY
The Cafeteria
Dessert Caper
An interactive inferencing mystery. Put on your detective hats to help solve the case of the missing golden cupcakes!
Case File #302
Grade 3 Reading & Inferencing
Incident Report Location: School Cafeteria
The Star-Topped
Cupcakes are Gone!
At 11:30 AM, Mrs. Lushin opened the refrigerator to prepare the reward tray for the Honor Roll students.
The tray was completely empty. All 24 golden-sparkled cupcakes had vanished without a trace!
Missing Evidence
No wrapper, no note, and only a tiny trail of sparkling gold sprinkles left behind.
Time of Incident: Between 10:00 AM and 11:15 AM Slide 2 of 8
Detective Academy Reading Strategy: Make an Inference
How Do We Infer?
An inference is a smart guess based on clues and what you already know!
1. Text Clues
What the author writes or what we observe at the scene.
2. Schema
What you already know about how the world works.
"The author doesn't say it outright. You have to put the puzzle pieces together!"
Formula: Clues + Schema = Inference Slide 3 of 8
Clue Board Evidence Item #1
Found: Cafeteria Counter
The Purple Pen & Sparkling Trail
Right next to the empty refrigerator, investigators discovered two critical clues:
- A shiny purple gel pen rolling under the cart.
- A faint trail of gold sprinkles heading out the back exit.
Let's Infer:
What kind of person uses a purple gel pen? Why would they leave a trail of sprinkles?
"The suspect likely carried a notepad or checked a checklist, and they were in a rush!"
Keep this in your detective notebook! Slide 4 of 8
Clue Board Evidence Item #2
Found: Side Exit Door
The Muddy Sneaker Print
On the freshly mopped cafeteria floor near the exit, there is a clear, wet shoe print with a ribbed pattern.
It poured rain outside at Western Intermediate from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM.
Let's Infer:
If the print is wet and muddy, did the suspect go outside during or right after the rain?
"The print was made by a sneaker, not a dress shoe or a boot. The suspect must have been outside between 10:00 and 11:00 AM."
Look closely at the pattern! Slide 5 of 8
Suspect Profiles Three Persons of Interest
SUSPECT A
Coach Miller
Seen wearing ribbed running shoes. Was outside on the muddy recess field until 10:30 AM.
Alibi: "I was planning soccer drills."
SUSPECT B
Mrs. Graves
Spotted walking near the cafeteria hallway. She was wearing her usual shiny high heels.
Alibi: "I was delivering classroom files."
SUSPECT C
Mr. Harrison
Seen holding a clipboard and writing with a purple gel pen. He wears flat-soled work boots.
Alibi: "I was checking hallway lightbulbs."
Who matches the crime scene evidence? Slide 6 of 8
Case Discussion Class Evidence Grid
Compare the Clues!
| Suspect | Shoe Print Match? | Purple Pen Match? | Inference / Guess |
|---|
| Coach Miller | YES (Ribbed Sneakers) | NO (Uses pencils) | Had the mud, but what about the pen? |
| Mrs. Graves | NO (High Heels) | NO (Uses black pens) | Neither clue seems to fit her. |
| Mr. Harrison | NO (Flat Work Boots) | YES (Purple Gel Pen) | Had the pen, but what about the mud? |
Wait... Is it possible there is more than one person involved? Or are we missing a clue?
Let's dig deeper! Slide 7 of 8
Active Investigation Student Detective Work
Open Your Detective Case File
It is time to read the full story of The Cafeteria Dessert Caper! Analyze the timeline, look for extra clues, and write down your official inferences.
Track Clues
Answer Questions
Solve the Case
Western Intermediate Crime Scene Unit Slide 8 of 8
Dessert Caper Worksheet
Western Intermediate Case File
Dessert Caper Worksheet
Name: ______________________
Date: ______________________
Mission: Read the story below. Look for hidden details Mrs. Lushin and Mrs. Graves might have missed. Use your inferencing skills to track the clues and solve the case!
The Case of the Humming Fridge
By the Western Intermediate Crime Solvers
It was Thursday morning at Western Intermediate School, and the cafeteria smelled like warm sugar. Mrs. Lushin had just finished baking twenty-four golden, star-topped cupcakes. They were a special reward for the Honor Roll students. As she placed the heavy metal tray into the big silver refrigerator at 10:00 AM, she noticed a loud, strange humming sound. She gave the fridge door a gentle tap, shrugged, and walked down the hall to deliver the lunch menus to the main office.
At 10:15 AM, Coach Miller jogged through the back kitchen door. It was pouring rain outside, and his ribbed running sneakers made loud, squeaking noises on the freshly mopped floor. He was soaking wet and looked rushed. "I need a giant pitcher of water for the outdoor recess cart," he muttered to himself. He filled a blue plastic pitcher at the sink, leaving a muddy, wet sneaker footprint near the door, and hurried back out to the muddy play fields.
A few minutes later, Mrs. Graves, the school principal, walked into the cafeteria carrying a stack of yellow folders. She was wearing her classic high-heel shoes, which made sharp clicking sounds on the tile. She scanned the kitchen, looking for Mrs. Lushin to sign a delivery permission slip. Seeing no one, she placed a yellow folder on the counter and returned to her office to prepare for a parent meeting.
Meanwhile, Mr. Harrison, the school custodian, was sweeping the hallway nearby. He carried a clipboard with his daily chore list, checking off tasks with a shiny purple gel pen. He walked into the kitchen at 10:45 AM, holding his broom. He shook his head at the loud, buzzing refrigerator. "This motor is way too hot," he whispered, looking at his checklist. "If I don't move these reward desserts to the main walk-in freezer down the hall, they are going to turn into warm mush!"
When Mrs. Lushin returned at 11:30 AM, she opened the refrigerator door. The metal tray was empty! She let out a gasp. She immediately called Mrs. Graves. Within minutes, the two stood looking at the empty fridge, noticing a wet, muddy ribbed footprint on the floor and a purple gel pen left on the counter. "Who stole our students' cupcakes?" Mrs. Lushin cried.
Turn the page to begin the investigation. Page 1 of 2
Detective Clue Organizer
Fill out your case notes by connecting the text clues with your own schema.
Part 1: Alibi and Clue Analysis
Dessert Caper Exit Ticket
Case Closed Assessment
Dessert Caper Exit Ticket
Name: ______________________
Date: ______________________
Final Test: Read the quick mystery below. Use your inferencing formula to solve the case of the missing whistle!
The Case of the Missing Whistle
A Western Intermediate Mini-Mystery
After recess, Coach Miller noticed his shiny silver whistle was missing from his gym desk. On his desk, investigators found a tiny drop of strawberry-scented soap and a single silver paperclip. Earlier today, Mrs. Graves (the school principal) visited his desk to deliver his afternoon schedule papers. Mrs. Graves is famous for using silver paperclips and always keeps a bottle of strawberry hand sanitizer on her keychain.
My Inferencing Formula:
1. What Clues Are in the Story?
Write down 2 clues found on Coach Miller's desk:
2. What is my Schema? (What I Know)
What do these clues tell you about who was there?
3. My Final Inference: Who took the whistle and how did they get it?
Explain your reasoning using: "I infer that..."
Western Intermediate Detective Agency • Exit Ticket Page 1 of 1
