Quiet Quest Anchor Chart The Quiet Quest
Official Library Code of Conduct
1
Whisper Like a Spy
Keep your volume at a "Level 1" whisper. Other investigators are busy solving mysteries and need total focus.
2
Stealthy Movement
Use walking feet at all times. Move quietly between the stacks so you don't disturb the peace of the library.
3
The One-Book Rule
Only take one book off the shelf at a time to inspect. This keeps our evidence files organized and prevents losing important data.
4
Treat Evidence with Care
Keep books clean and dry. No food or drinks are allowed near our precious research materials.
5
Return Files Properly
If you aren't sure where a book belongs, place it in the designated "Return Bin." Never hide evidence in the wrong spot!
Library Locate Scavenger Hunt Confidential
Mission: Library Locate
Field Agent Name
Date of Investigation
Mission Briefing
"Agent, your objective is to navigate the library grid and identify key coordinates. Locate each item on the list below. When you find it, check the box and note its 'call number' or location as proof of discovery. Move quietly—the stacks have ears."
The "Fiction" Section
Find where the stories are kept. What letter does the section start with?
An Animal Intelligence File
Go to the Non-Fiction (500s). Find a book about an animal. Write its call number.
Graphic Novel Dossier
Find the section with books that look like comic books. Title found:
A Famous Person's History
Locate the Biography (921 or B) section. Find a book about someone famous.
The Intelligence Terminal
Locate a library computer. What is the name of the search system on the screen?
The Evidence Return Bin
Where do books go when you're finished with them? (Do not put them back on the shelf!)
Medal Winner File
Find a book with a gold or silver medal on the cover (Newbery or Caldecott).
Sector 7-B // HQ Communication Terminal
Source Sorter Worksheet Case File: Source Sorter
Investigator
Date
Instructions: Examine the "Evidence Snippets" on the next page. Determine if the information is reliable or a false lead. Cut them out and paste them into the correct folder below.
Reliable Evidence
Verified Facts Only
False Leads
Deceptive Info / Rumors
Evidence Snippets
Cut along the dotted lines
NASA.gov Article
A detailed report on Mars written by professional scientists from 2024.
Anonymous Blog
A post by "AlienHunter99" claiming aliens live in their kitchen pantry.
National Newspaper
A recent news article with an author's name and photos of the event.
Popup Ad Website
A site full of flashing ads with spelling errors saying "You won 1 million!"
Library Encyclopedia
A fact-checked book found in the 030 section of the school library.
Outdated Website
An article about "New Technology" that hasn't been updated since 1998.
University .edu Page
A biology research paper published by a professor at Harvard University.
Social Media Post
A random person posting "It's snowing in Hawaii!" with no photos or proof.
Expert Interview
A video of a professional veterinarian explaining how to care for cats.
Mystery Link
A text message from an unknown number with a link to "secret free games."
Government Database
Official weather statistics for your city from the last 10 years (.gov).
Tree Octopus Site
A website with photos of an octopus living in a tree (it's a joke site).
Info Investigators Slides Top Secret
Info Investigators
Decoding the Library & The Internet
Physical Search
Digital Evidence
The Library Grid
Understanding how evidence is stored
Fiction Files
Stories from the imagination. Organized by the Author's Last Name (ABC order).
Non-Fiction Dossiers
True facts and information. Organized by the Dewey Decimal System (Numbers).
The Call Number
Every book has a unique "address" on its spine. This is your GPS to finding the evidence you need!
599.78 SMY
The Quiet Code
Rules for Stealthy Investigation
Whisper Only
Keep your investigation confidential. Level 1 volume only.
Walk Stealthily
No running in the stacks! Move like a ghost between shelves.
One at a Time
Take only one book off the shelf at a time. It keeps your evidence files organized.
The Reliability Test
Evaluating Digital Witnesses
Red Flags
Tons of flashing ads or pop-ups
Lots of spelling/grammar mistakes
No author or "About" info
Information is many years old
Green Lights
Site ends in .gov or .edu
Author is an expert in that topic
Matches other reliable sources
The URL Suffix Code
Where does the information come from?
.gov
Government: Highly reliable. Official laws, facts, and statistics.
.edu
Education: Colleges and universities. Research-based and trustworthy.
.org
Organization: Often non-profits. Reliable, but check for bias (their opinion).
.com
Commercial: Businesses. Often trying to sell you something. Be careful!
Investigator Challenge
"You are researching Lions for a school report. You find a website called 'The King of the Jungle' . It is written by a 3rd grader and has lots of pictures of their pet cat."
False Lead
The author isn't an expert and the info is personal.
Solid Evidence
This is a great source for facts!
Digital Detective Task Cards Case #101
URL Investigation
The Suffix Mystery
You are researching "Healthy Snacks." Which website suffix is usually the MOST reliable for official health facts?
A) .com
B) .gov
C) .net
Case #102
Expert Witness
The Author Check
You find an article about Space written by "DogLover123." There is no other info about them. Is this a reliable expert?
A) Yes - They have a cool name.
B) No - We don't know their training.
Case #103
Time Stamp
The Old Lead
You are researching "The Newest Mars Rover." You find an article from the year 2010. Why might this be a "cold lead"?
Write your explanation on the recording sheet.
Case #104
Visual Evidence
The Ad Trap
A website has 5 flashing pop-up ads and a giant button that says "WIN A TOY NOW." This is likely a sign of...
A) A professional research site.
B) A site trying to distract or sell.
Case #105
Cross Reference
The Triple Check
A detective finds the same fact in a book, a .gov website, and a newspaper. What does this mean?
A) The information is very reliable.
B) The detective is wasting time.
Case #106
Source Origin
The "About Us" File
Where on a website can you find out who created the site and why they made it?
A) The "About Us" or "Contact" page.
B) In the comments section at the bottom.
Case #107
Wiki Warning
The Open Source
Wikipedia can be edited by anyone. Should a detective use it as their ONLY source for a project?
A) Yes - It has everything.
B) No - It's a good start, but verify.
Case #108
Quotation Check
The Fake Quote
You find a quote online: "Abraham Lincoln said: 'Don't believe everything you read on the internet.'" Why is this fake?
Think about when Lincoln lived! Write your answer on the sheet.
Evidence Recording Sheet
Investigator
Case #101:
Case #102:
Case #103 (Explanation):
Case #104:
Case #105:
Case #106:
Case #107:
Case #108 (Why is it fake?):
"A great investigator never settles for the first answer they find."
Investigator Answer Key Teacher Answer Key
Unit: Info Investigators
1. Source Sorter Worksheet
Reliable Evidence
NASA.gov Article
National Newspaper
Library Encyclopedia
University .edu Page
Expert Interview
Government Database
False Leads
Anonymous Blog
Popup Ad Website
Outdated Website (1998)
Social Media Post
Mystery Link
Tree Octopus Site
2. Digital Detective Task Cards
101: B (.gov)
102: B (No expert verification)
103: Space technology changes rapidly. 2010 info would miss missions like the Perseverance rover (2021).
104: B (Distract or sell)
105: A (Verification through cross-referencing)
106: A (About Us / Contact)
107: B (Good starting point, but must be verified)
108: Lincoln died in 1865; the internet was not invented until the late 20th century.
3. Scavenger Hunt Teaching Notes
• Remind students to return books to the "Return Bin" rather than reshelving them themselves to avoid misplacement.
• Ensure students know the location of the library's OPAC/Search Terminals before starting Item 5.
• Check that students understand the difference between Biography (alphabetical by subject) and Fiction (alphabetical by author).
