Clue Hunter Worksheet TEXT DETECTIVE ACADEMY
Name:
Date:
Badge #:
Clue Hunter Reading Mission
Read the case file. Look back in the story to find clues and answer each question!
CASE FILE #1
Story: Pip's Golden Acorn
3rd Grade Reading Pass
¶1 Pip is a lively red squirrel with a fluffy tail. He makes his cozy home high up inside an old hollow oak tree in Whispering Woods.
¶2 One crisp morning, Pip hid his favorite shiny golden acorn under a mossy gray rock. A strong autumn wind suddenly blew red and brown leaves everywhere! Pip could not see his acorn.
¶3 Pip stopped and looked for clues. He spotted tiny scratch marks on the mossy rock. Pip used his sharp little paws to brush away the fallen leaves until he found his treasure!
Clue Guide:
Who = Character Where = Place What = Problem How = Solution
WHO 1. Who is the main character in this story?
Character Clue
A) Pip the Squirrel
B) Oliver the Owl
C) Benny the Bear
Sentence Starter: The main character is
Found in: ¶ 1 ¶ 2 ¶ 3
WHERE 2. Where did Pip hide his shiny golden acorn?
Setting Clue
A) Inside a deep river
B) Under a mossy rock
C) In a bird's nest
Sentence Starter: Pip hid his acorn under
Found in: ¶ 1 ¶ 2 ¶ 3
WHAT 3. What was Pip's problem in the story?
Problem Clue
A) His home was broken
B) Leaves covered his acorn
C) He was too sleepy to play
Sentence Starter: The problem was that the wind
Found in: ¶ 1 ¶ 2 ¶ 3
HOW 4. How did Pip find his hidden acorn again?
Solution Clue
A) He asked an owl for help
B) He waited until spring
C) He brushed away the leaves
Sentence Starter: Pip solved the problem by
Found in: ¶ 1 ¶ 2 ¶ 3
Detective Self-Check:
I read the story carefully I checked back for clues I used sentence starters
CASE SOLVED! 🔍
Harbor Mystery Worksheet TEXT DETECTIVE ACADEMY
Name:
Date:
Badge #:
Clue Hunter Reading Mission
Read the case file. Look back in the story to find clues and answer each question!
CASE FILE #2
Story: Barnaby's Silver Key
Progress Probe 2
¶1 Barnaby is a playful sea otter with thick brown fur. He swims and floats on his back near the sunny wooden docks at Sandy Cove Harbor.
¶2 One afternoon, Barnaby slipped his shiny silver boathouse key into a safe dock crack. A large ocean wave rolled in and knocked the key into deep green seaweed! Barnaby could not spot his key.
¶3 Barnaby took a deep breath and looked for clues underwater. He noticed bubbles rising near the thick green kelp ribbons. Barnaby gently pushed the slippery ribbons aside and rescued his shiny key!
Clue Guide:
Who = Character Where = Place What = Problem How = Solution
WHO 1. Who is the main character in this story?
Character Clue
A) Barnaby the Sea Otter
B) Captain Salty the Seagull
C) Finn the Little Dolphin
Sentence Starter: The main character is
Found in: ¶ 1 ¶ 2 ¶ 3
WHERE 2. Where does Barnaby swim and play?
Setting Clue
A) In a deep forest pond
B) At Sandy Cove Harbor
C) On top of a tall mountain
Sentence Starter: Barnaby swims near the
Found in: ¶ 1 ¶ 2 ¶ 3
WHAT 3. What was Barnaby's problem in the story?
Problem Clue
A) His boat sailed away
B) A wave hid his key in kelp
C) The water was too cold
Sentence Starter: The problem was that a wave
Found in: ¶ 1 ¶ 2 ¶ 3
HOW 4. How did Barnaby find his shiny key again?
Solution Clue
A) He bought a brand new key
B) He followed bubble clues
C) He waited for low tide
Sentence Starter: Barnaby solved the problem by
Found in: ¶ 1 ¶ 2 ¶ 3
Detective Self-Check:
I read the story carefully I checked back for clues I used sentence starters
CASE SOLVED! 🔍
Garden Clues Worksheet TEXT DETECTIVE ACADEMY
Name:
Date:
Badge #:
Clue Hunter Reading Mission
Read the case file. Look back in the story to find clues and answer each question!
CASE FILE #3
Story: Maya's Wooden Seed Box
Progress Probe 3
¶1 Maya is a cheerful young rabbit with long floppy ears. She loves to plant crunchy carrots inside the sunny greenhouse at Blossom Farm.
¶2 One rainy afternoon, Maya placed her special carved seed box beside a row of sweet peas. A sudden rainstorm knocked over a flowerpot and buried the box in dark potting soil! Maya could not find her seeds.
¶3 Maya stopped to search for clues. She noticed a bright purple ribbon poking out from the fresh mound of dirt. Maya carefully dug with her small metal trowel until she lifted out her wooden box!
Clue Guide:
Who = Character Where = Place What = Problem How = Solution
WHO 1. Who is the main character in this story?
Character Clue
A) Maya the Rabbit
B) Farmer Fred
C) Penny the Robin
Sentence Starter: The main character is
Found in: ¶ 1 ¶ 2 ¶ 3
WHERE 2. Where does Maya plant her vegetables?
Setting Clue
A) Inside a classroom
B) Under a city bridge
C) In a greenhouse at Blossom Farm
Sentence Starter: Maya plants inside the
Found in: ¶ 1 ¶ 2 ¶ 3
WHAT 3. What was Maya's problem in the story?
Problem Clue
A) Soil covered her seed box
B) Birds ate all her plants
C) Her greenhouse was locked
Sentence Starter: The problem was that the box was
Found in: ¶ 1 ¶ 2 ¶ 3
HOW 4. How did Maya find her seed box again?
Solution Clue
A) She bought new seeds
B) She looked for a purple ribbon
C) She asked her teacher
Sentence Starter: Maya solved the problem by
Found in: ¶ 1 ¶ 2 ¶ 3
Detective Self-Check:
I read the story carefully I checked back for clues I used sentence starters
CASE SOLVED! 🔍
Clue Tracker Record Sheet Reading Progress Monitoring Tracker
Text Detective Series • Grade 3 ELA Intervention & Progress Log
Target Standard: CCSS.ELA-RI/RL.3.1
Student Name
Grade / Group
Teacher / Specialist
Mastery Target 80%+ (4/4 with Evidence)
Probe Performance Log Administer weekly or bi-weekly under parallel conditions
Probe / Case File Date Multiple Choice Sentence Starter Evidence Cited Total / Status 1 Case #1: Pip's Golden Acorn (Baseline) ___/___/___ ___ / 4 ___ / 4 ___ / 4 ___ % 2 Case #2: Barnaby's Silver Key (Probe 2) ___/___/___ ___ / 4 ___ / 4 ___ / 4 ___ % 3 Case #3: Maya's Seed Box (Probe 3) ___/___/___ ___ / 4 ___ / 4 ___ / 4 ___ %
Question Category Diagnostic Matrix Check (✓) correct responses across probes to identify patterns
WHO Character
Identifies characters & traits
Probe 1 Correct Probe 2 Correct Probe 3 Correct
WHERE Setting
Locates setting & surroundings
Probe 1 Correct Probe 2 Correct Probe 3 Correct
WHAT Problem
Determines conflict / central event
Probe 1 Correct Probe 2 Correct Probe 3 Correct
HOW Solution
Explains problem resolution
Probe 1 Correct Probe 2 Correct Probe 3 Correct
Visual Progress Graph (Student / Teacher Chart) Goal: 4/4 with Evidence
Probe 1 (Baseline)
P1
Color score bar
Probe 2 (Midpoint)
P2
Color score bar
Probe 3 (Post-Check)
P3
Color score bar
Teacher Notes & Instructional Next Steps Record prompting level & differentiation notes
Level of Support: Independent 1-2 Verbal Prompts Heavy Guided Support
Observed Strengths & Areas for Growth:
Evaluator Signature:
Date Met Mastery Criterion:
Text Detective Progress System
