Detail Detectives Teacher Guide
ESL Pullout Lesson Guide
Detail Detectives
Listening for Who, What, and Where (Grades 2–3)
Teacher Copy
Duration
40–45 Mins
Group Size
Small (2-6)
Language Level
WIDA 1–3
Language Scaffolds
- • Visual Anchors: Point to standard icons during read-alouds: Who (Character), What (Action), Where (Location).
- • TPR Gestures: Tap head for "Who", circle hands for "What", and make a triangle roof over your head for "Where".
- • Choral Echoing: Have students say target vocabulary words together before reading each Case File.
Step 1: Introducing the Clues (10 Minutes)
Teacher Talk (Model with TPR):
"Put on your invisible detective glasses! (Circle eyes). Today, we are Detail Detectives. We are listening to short stories to search for three gold clues."
WHO Person or animal in the story.
WHAT The main action or thing they did.
WHERE The place or setting.
Step 2: Guided Modeling (I Do / We Do) (15 Minutes)
Teacher Script:
"Let's practice together with Case File #1. I will read a short mystery story. Listen for WHO, WHAT, and WHERE. Do not write yet! Just cup your ears to listen."
Read **Case File #1** (on Page 2) slowly twice. Emphasize keywords. Tap your head during the 'Who', make chewing actions for the 'What', and wave at the floor for the 'Where'.
Prompting Strategy (We Do):
Ask: "Who is this story about? Was it a puppy or a cat?" Let them answer. Draw or write the word in the first block of their casebook. Repeat the scaffolding for "What" and "Where".
Unit: Listening Fundamentals Page 1 of 2
ESL Pullout Lesson Guide
Detail Detectives Cases
Read-Aloud Stories & Expected Evidence Keys
Evidence Key
READING GUIDELINES: Read each case slowly. Pause for 2 seconds at the end of each sentence. Point to your visual anchors (Who/What/Where cards or gestures) when reading keywords that reveal the clue.
CASE FILE #1: The Missing Treat (Guided Practice) Level: Supported
"Sparky the happy brown puppy wagged his tail. He saw a delicious dog biscuit on the kitchen floor. Chomp! He happily chewed and ate the yummy treat."
WHO: Sparky (the puppy)
WHAT: Ate a dog biscuit
WHERE: On the kitchen floor
CASE FILE #2: The Hidden Map (Partner Practice) Level: Intermediate
"Grandpa Joe climbed up the creaky stairs. Inside the dark attic, he opened a dusty wooden box. He smiled when he found a colorful old treasure map!"
WHO: Grandpa Joe
WHAT: Found a treasure map
WHERE: In the dark attic
CASE FILE #3: The Rainy Rescue (Independent) Level: Challenge
"Mia the orange cat was scared of the loud rain. She climbed high up into the big oak tree in the front yard. Mia meowed loudly until a firefighter arrived to help."
WHO: Mia (the orange cat)
WHAT: Stuck in a tree
WHERE: Tree in front yard
Exit Ticket Script (Last 5 Minutes)
Hand out the Exit Ticket. Read the script twice:
"Officer Ben rode his black bicycle down Main Street. He blew his loud whistle to help stop the fast traffic." Key: Who = Officer Ben | What = Rode a bicycle (or stopped traffic) | Where = Main Street.
Unit: Listening Fundamentals Page 2 of 2
Detail Detectives Casebook Worksheet
Clue Hunter Listening Activity
My Detective Casebook
Detective Name
Date
Directions: Listen to your teacher read the story. Find the three golden clues! Draw or write the answers in the correct boxes below.
CASE FILE #1: The Missing Treat Status: Guided Practice
WHO?
Draw the animal or person:
Write details:
WHAT?
Draw what they did/found:
Write details:
WHERE?
Draw the place/location:
Write details:
CASE FILE #2: The Hidden Map Status: Partner Practice
WHO?
Draw the person/animal:
Write details:
WHAT?
Draw what they did/found:
Write details:
WHERE?
Draw the place/location:
Write details:
Unit: Listening Fundamentals Page 1 of 2
Clue Hunter Listening Activity
My Detective Casebook
Detective Name
Date
CASE FILE #3: The Rainy Rescue Status: Independent Practice
Listen carefully on your own. Fill in the boxes and construct your Case Summary Sentence at the bottom!
WHO?
Draw the main character:
Write down who it is:
WHAT?
Draw the action or event:
Write what they did:
WHERE?
Draw the story setting:
Write the location:
Detective Case Summary Sentence
Use your clues above to complete the case report!
The main character was
. They did this:
. Finally, this happened in or at the
.
Unit: Listening Fundamentals Page 2 of 2
Detail Detectives Exit Ticket
Case Closed Final Assessment
Exit Ticket: The Last Clue
Detective Name
Date
Mission Instructions
Listen carefully as your teacher reads the final mystery. Draw or write your clues in the columns below. If writing is hard, check the correct answer box!
WHO? Clue #1
Draw who you heard:
Select the WHO: Grandpa Joe Officer Ben Sparky the puppy
WHAT? Clue #2
Draw what they did:
Select the WHAT: Rode a bicycle Ate a dog biscuit Found a hidden map
WHERE? Clue #3
Draw where they were:
Select the WHERE: In the dusty attic On the kitchen floor On Main Street
Detective Self-Check
How did you feel about today's listening mystery?
😃 Great 😐 Okay 😢 Hard
Unit: Listening Fundamentals Page 1 of 1
