Mitten Mystery Worksheet Evidence Detectives
Case #01: The Missing Mitten
Agent:
Date:
The Briefing
The Missing Mitten
Leo looked down at his hands. He had his blue mitten on his left hand, but his right hand was bare. "Oh no!" Leo cried. "I must have dropped it in the snow."
He walked back toward the big oak tree. He saw a small patch of blue near the roots. When he got closer, he saw it wasn't his mitten. It was a blue jay's feather. Then, he looked near the wooden bench. There it was! His fuzzy blue mitten was hanging from a low branch. The wind must have blown it there while he was playing tag.
The Inquiry
How did Leo's mitten get onto the tree branch? Use evidence from the text to explain your answer.
Evidence Notes
I answered the question.
I used text evidence.
I wrote in full sentences.
Busy Bee Worksheet Evidence Detectives
Case #02: The Busy Bee
Agent:
Date:
The Briefing
The Busy Bee
Maya watched a tiny honeybee land on a bright yellow sunflower. The bee was covered in fuzzy hair. It crawled deep into the flower to find sweet nectar. "Bees are so busy!" Maya whispered to her mom.
Mom nodded and said, "They are doing a big job, Maya. While they drink nectar, yellow pollen sticks to their fuzzy legs. When they fly to the next flower, they drop some of that pollen. This helps the flowers make seeds so new plants can grow."
The Inquiry
How do bees help new plants grow? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.
Evidence Notes
I answered the question.
I used text evidence.
I wrote in full sentences.
Park Surprise Worksheet Evidence Detectives
Case #03: A Surprise at the Park
Agent:
Date:
The Briefing
A Surprise at the Park
The Sunnyside Park looked different today. There were colorful banners hanging from the trees. Sam saw a large stage being built near the pond. A man was carrying a giant box of shiny whistles.
"Look at that poster, Sam!" his sister Mia cried. The poster had a picture of a marching band and a big clock. It said, "Parade Starts at Noon!" Sam smiled. He knew the town was celebrating its 100th birthday today, but he didn't know there would be a whole parade!
The Inquiry
What clues at the park told Sam that a special event was happening? Use text evidence.
Evidence Notes
I answered the question.
I used text evidence.
I wrote in full sentences.
Lost Found Worksheet Evidence Detectives
Case #04: Lost and Found
Agent:
Date:
The Briefing
Lost and Found
Max heard a soft "Meow" coming from the bushes in his backyard. He peeked inside and saw a small orange kitten. The kitten looked scared and hungry. Max noticed a shiny silver collar around its neck.
He gently picked up the kitten and looked at the tag on its collar. The tag said, "My name is Butterscotch. Please call 555-0123 if I am lost." Max ran inside to tell his dad. He was happy because he knew exactly how to help the kitten get back home.
The Inquiry
How did Max know who the kitten belonged to? Use evidence from the text to explain your answer.
Evidence Notes
I answered the question.
I used text evidence.
I wrote in full sentences.
Cookie Mystery Worksheet Evidence Detectives
Case #05: The Great Cookie Mystery
Agent:
Date:
The Briefing
The Great Cookie Mystery
Ms. Brown left a plate of chocolate chip cookies on her desk while she went to the library. When she came back, the plate was empty! Only a few crumbs were left behind.
Ms. Brown looked around the room. She saw Jake sitting at his desk. He was wiping something off his chin with a napkin. There were little brown spots on his white shirt. Jake was smiling, but he didn't say anything when Ms. Brown asked what happened to the cookies.
The Inquiry
What clues suggest that Jake might have eaten the cookies? Use evidence from the text.
Evidence Notes
I answered the question.
I used text evidence.
I wrote in full sentences.
Rainy Day Worksheet Evidence Detectives
Case #06: Rainy Day Fun
Agent:
Date:
The Briefing
Rainy Day Fun
"Pitter-patter, pitter-patter," went the rain on the roof. Lily sighed. She wanted to ride her bike outside. "Don't be sad, Lily," her dad said. "We can build an indoor fort!"
They grabbed four large pillows from the couch. Dad brought out two fuzzy blankets. They used the chairs in the dining room to hold up the blankets. Soon, they had a dark and cozy cave. Lily took her flashlight and a book inside. She didn't mind the rain anymore.
The Inquiry
What items did Lily and her dad use to build the fort? Use evidence from the text.
Evidence Notes
I answered the question.
I used text evidence.
I wrote in full sentences.
Helpful Neighbor Worksheet Evidence Detectives
Case #07: The Helpful Neighbor
Agent:
Date:
The Briefing
The Helpful Neighbor
Mr. Miller was having a hard time. His yard was full of tall grass and dry leaves. He sat on his porch and looked tired. Ben saw Mr. Miller from across the street. Ben decided he wanted to help his neighbor.
Ben went to his garage and got a rake and a big trash bag. He worked all afternoon. He raked the leaves into a big pile and put them in the bag. He even pulled the weeds from the garden. When he was finished, Mr. Miller gave Ben a big glass of lemonade and said, "Thank you, Ben. My yard looks wonderful now!"
The Inquiry
How do you know that Mr. Miller appreciated Ben's help? Use evidence from the text.
Evidence Notes
I answered the question.
I used text evidence.
I wrote in full sentences.
Library Adventures Worksheet Evidence Detectives
Case #08: Library Adventures
Agent:
Date:
The Briefing
Library Adventures
The library was very quiet. Rows and rows of books stood on the shelves like soldiers. Tom walked to the section labeled "Animals." He was looking for a book about sharks.
Tom found a big book with a picture of a Great White shark on the cover. He sat down at a small table. He learned that sharks do not have bones. Their bodies are made of something called cartilage. Tom thought this was very cool. He took the book to the front desk so the librarian could help him check it out.
The Inquiry
What is one fact Tom learned about sharks? Use evidence from the text.
Evidence Notes
I answered the question.
I used text evidence.
I wrote in full sentences.
Garden Guest Worksheet Evidence Detectives
Case #09: The Garden Guest
Agent:
Date:
The Briefing
The Garden Guest
Emma noticed a tiny green caterpillar crawling on a leaf in her garden. It was very hungry! The caterpillar chewed a small hole in the leaf. Then, it chewed a bigger hole.
Emma's grandpa told her that caterpillars eat a lot because they need energy to grow. "Soon," Grandpa said, "this caterpillar will make a hard shell called a chrysalis. Inside the shell, its body will change. One day, it will come out as a beautiful butterfly with orange and black wings."
The Inquiry
Why does the caterpillar eat so much? Use evidence from the text to explain.
Evidence Notes
I answered the question.
I used text evidence.
I wrote in full sentences.
Star Gazing Worksheet Evidence Detectives
Case #10: Star Gazing
Agent:
Date:
The Briefing
Star Gazing
The night sky was dark and clear. Liam and his big brother Noah went into the backyard. Noah brought a long, silver tube called a telescope. He pointed it toward the moon.
"Wow!" Liam said as he looked through the telescope. The moon didn't look smooth anymore. It was covered in big and small holes called craters. Noah explained that craters are made when rocks from space hit the moon. Liam thought the moon looked like a giant piece of Swiss cheese.
The Inquiry
According to the text, what causes the craters on the moon? Use evidence from the story.
Evidence Notes
I answered the question.
I used text evidence.
I wrote in full sentences.
Evidence Detectives Answer Key Detective Answer Key
Evidence Detectives Cases #01-10
Case #01: The Missing Mitten
Answer: The wind blew it there.Evidence: The text says, "The wind must have blown it there while he was playing tag."
Case #02: The Busy Bee
Answer: Bees carry pollen from one flower to another.Evidence: The text states, "When they fly to the next flower, they drop some of that pollen. This helps the flowers make seeds so new plants can grow."
Case #03: A Surprise at the Park
Answer: Banners, a stage, and a poster.Evidence: The text mentions "colorful banners hanging from the trees," a "large stage being built," and a "poster... that said, 'Parade Starts at Noon!'"
Case #04: Lost and Found
Answer: He read the tag on the collar.Evidence: The text says, "The tag said, 'My name is Butterscotch. Please call 555-0123 if I am lost.'"
Case #05: The Great Cookie Mystery
Answer: Jake had crumbs and brown spots on him.Evidence: The story notes that Jake was "wiping something off his chin with a napkin" and there were "little brown spots on his white shirt."
Case #06: Rainy Day Fun
Answer: Pillows, blankets, and chairs.Evidence: The text mentions "four large pillows," "two fuzzy blankets," and "the chairs in the dining room."
Case #07: The Helpful Neighbor
Answer: He gave Ben lemonade and thanked him.Evidence: The text says, "Mr. Miller gave Ben a big glass of lemonade and said, 'Thank you, Ben.'"
Case #08: Library Adventures
Answer: Sharks do not have bones.Evidence: Tom learned that "sharks do not have bones. Their bodies are made of something called cartilage."
Case #09: The Garden Guest
Answer: They need energy to grow and change.Evidence: Grandpa said, "caterpillars eat a lot because they need energy to grow."
Case #10: Star Gazing
Answer: Rocks from space hit the moon.Evidence: Noah explained that "craters are made when rocks from space hit the moon."
