Lesson Plan
Mystery of the Haunted Hallway
Students will apply critical thinking and deductive reasoning to solve a Halloween-themed logic puzzle within a 30-minute timeframe.
This lesson helps students develop essential problem-solving skills and logical thinking in a fun, engaging, and seasonally appropriate way.
Audience
7th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Solve a logic puzzle.
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, Markers/Pens, Mystery of the Haunted Hallway Slides, Haunted Hallway Warm-Up, Haunted Hallway Mystery Activity, Haunted Hallway Answer Key, and Haunted Hallway Cool-Down
Prep
Review Materials & Setup
10 minutes
- Review the Mystery of the Haunted Hallway Lesson Plan, Mystery of the Haunted Hallway Slides, Haunted Hallway Warm-Up, Haunted Hallway Mystery Activity, Haunted Hallway Answer Key, and Haunted Hallway Cool-Down to familiarize yourself with the content.
- Ensure projector/whiteboard is ready.
- Print or prepare to distribute the Haunted Hallway Mystery Activity worksheets (one per student or group).
Step 1
Warm-Up: Brain Teaser Time!
5 minutes
- Display the Haunted Hallway Warm-Up on the projector/whiteboard.
- Have students work individually or in pairs to solve the quick brain teaser.
- Discuss solutions briefly as a class.
Step 2
Introduce the Mystery
5 minutes
- Use the Mystery of the Haunted Hallway Slides to introduce the lesson and the concept of logical deduction.
- Explain the scenario of the 'Mystery of the Haunted Hallway' activity.
- Emphasize the importance of reading clues carefully and working systematically.
Step 3
Haunted Hallway Mystery Activity
15 minutes
- Distribute the Haunted Hallway Mystery Activity worksheets.
- Explain that students will work to solve who took the headmaster's magical pumpkin pie.
- Circulate to provide support and encourage students to use logic grid methods if they are stuck.
- Remind them they have 15 minutes to solve the mystery.
Step 4
Review and Cool-Down
5 minutes
- Once time is up (or when most groups are done), review the solution using the Haunted Hallway Answer Key.
- Facilitate a brief discussion on how students arrived at their answers and what strategies they used.
- Conclude with the Haunted Hallway Cool-Down activity, asking students to reflect on their problem-solving process.
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Slide Deck
Mystery of the Haunted Hallway
Can you solve the spooky puzzle?
Welcome students to a fun, spooky lesson! Get them excited about solving a mystery.
What is Deduction?
Using clues and information to reach a logical conclusion. Think like a detective!
Explain what deduction is: using clues to figure something out. Give a simple example if needed.
The Headmaster's Missing Pie!
It's Halloween night at Grimwood Academy, and the Headmaster's legendary magical pumpkin pie has vanished! Five spooky suspects were seen near the kitchen. Can you figure out who took the pie, and what they left behind?
Set the scene. Read this with a dramatic, spooky voice to engage students.
Your Mission, Detectives!
- Read the story and all the clues carefully.
- Use the process of elimination to cross out possibilities.
- Work together or individually to solve the mystery!
- Be ready to explain your reasoning.
Go over the instructions for the activity. Emphasize reading clues carefully and crossing out impossibilities.
Great Deductions!
You've successfully used logic to solve a mystery! What strategies helped you the most?
Encourage critical thinking and recap the fun.
Warm Up
Haunted Hallway Warm-Up: The Ghostly Guests
Three ghosts, Boo, Spook, and Casper, arrived at a Halloween party. Each ghost brought a different spooky treat: candy corn, a pumpkin muffin, or spider cookies. Figure out who brought what!
Clues:
- Boo did not bring the pumpkin muffin.
- Spook loves things that crunch, but hates anything with chocolate.
- The ghost who brought the pumpkin muffin is friends with Casper.
Who brought which treat?
Explanation:
Activity
Mystery of the Haunted Hallway: The Missing Pumpkin Pie!
It's Halloween night at Grimwood Academy, and the Headmaster's legendary magical pumpkin pie has vanished from the kitchen! Five spooky suspects were seen near the kitchen just before the disappearance. Can you figure out who took the pie, what costume they were wearing, and what object they accidentally dropped?
The Suspects:
- Vampire Vic
- Witch Wanda
- Zombie Zach
- Ghost Gabby
- Mummy Mike
The Costumes:
- Classic Vampire
- Wicked Witch
- Decaying Zombie
- Friendly Ghost
- Ancient Mummy
The Dropped Objects:
- Fake Spider Ring
- Miniature Cauldron
- Half-eaten Candy Bar
- Glow-in-the-Dark Eyeball
- Roll of Toilet Paper
The Clues:
- The person wearing the Decaying Zombie costume did not drop the Glow-in-the-Dark Eyeball, nor did they drop the Miniature Cauldron.
- Witch Wanda was not wearing the Ancient Mummy costume. The person who dropped the Half-eaten Candy Bar was not Vampire Vic.
- The person in the Classic Vampire costume is not Vampire Vic, and they did not drop the Fake Spider Ring.
- Mummy Mike was seen near a trail of toilet paper, but he wasn't the one wearing the Friendly Ghost costume.
- Ghost Gabby was wearing the Friendly Ghost costume.
- The person who dropped the Miniature Cauldron was Zombie Zach.
- The person in the Wicked Witch costume was not the one who dropped the Fake Spider Ring.
- The person who dropped the Fake Spider Ring was not Mummy Mike.
Your Deduction Grid:
Use the grid below to help you solve the mystery! Mark an X for a definite NO and a checkmark (ā) for a definite YES.
Suspects vs. Costumes
| Suspect \ Costume | Classic Vampire | Wicked Witch | Decaying Zombie | Friendly Ghost | Ancient Mummy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vampire Vic | |||||
| Witch Wanda | |||||
| Zombie Zach | |||||
| Ghost Gabby | ā | ||||
| Mummy Mike |
Suspects vs. Dropped Objects
| Suspect \ Object | Fake Spider Ring | Miniature Cauldron | Half-eaten Candy Bar | Glow-in-the-Dark Eyeball | Roll of Toilet Paper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vampire Vic | |||||
| Witch Wanda | |||||
| Zombie Zach | ā | ||||
| Ghost Gabby | |||||
| Mummy Mike |
Costumes vs. Dropped Objects
| Costume \ Object | Fake Spider Ring | Miniature Cauldron | Half-eaten Candy Bar | Glow-in-the-Dark Eyeball | Roll of Toilet Paper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Vampire | |||||
| Wicked Witch | |||||
| Decaying Zombie | |||||
| Friendly Ghost | |||||
| Ancient Mummy |
Solution:
Who stole the pie?
What costume were they wearing?
What did they drop?
Answer Key
Answer Key: Mystery of the Haunted Hallway
Warm-Up: The Ghostly Guests
- Solution:
- Boo: Candy Corn (From Clue 1, Boo didn't bring pumpkin muffin. From Clue 2, Spook brought spider cookies. By elimination, Boo brought candy corn).
- Spook: Spider Cookies (From Clue 2, Spook loves crunch and hates chocolate, so spider cookies fit).
- Casper: Pumpkin Muffin (From Clue 3, Casper is friends with the pumpkin muffin ghost. By elimination, Casper brought the pumpkin muffin).
Mystery of the Haunted Hallway: The Missing Pumpkin Pie!
Step-by-step Deduction:
-
From Clue 5: Ghost Gabby was wearing the Friendly Ghost costume. Mark (ā) for Ghost Gabby/Friendly Ghost. Mark (X) for all other Gabby costumes and all other Friendly Ghost suspects.
-
From Clue 6: The person who dropped the Miniature Cauldron was Zombie Zach. Mark (ā) for Zombie Zach/Miniature Cauldron. Mark (X) for all other Zach objects and all other Miniature Cauldron suspects.
-
From Clue 4: Mummy Mike was seen near a trail of toilet paper, but he wasn't the one wearing the Friendly Ghost costume. We know Gabby is the Friendly Ghost (from Clue 5). So, Mummy Mike dropped the Roll of Toilet Paper. Mark (ā) for Mummy Mike/Roll of Toilet Paper. Mark (X) for all other Mike objects and all other Roll of Toilet Paper suspects.
-
From Clue 2: Witch Wanda was not wearing the Ancient Mummy costume. Also, the person who dropped the Half-eaten Candy Bar was not Vampire Vic. (Keep this in mind).
-
From Clue 3: The person in the Classic Vampire costume is not Vampire Vic, and they did not drop the Fake Spider Ring.
-
From Clue 8: The person who dropped the Fake Spider Ring was not Mummy Mike. (We already know Mummy Mike dropped the Roll of Toilet Paper).
-
From Clue 1: The person wearing the Decaying Zombie costume did not drop the Glow-in-the-Dark Eyeball, nor did they drop the Miniature Cauldron. (We know Zombie Zach dropped the Miniature Cauldron, so he is NOT in the Decaying Zombie costume. We also know the Decaying Zombie costume person didn't drop the Glow-in-the-Dark Eyeball).
- Since Zombie Zach dropped the Miniature Cauldron, and the Decaying Zombie costume person did not drop the Miniature Cauldron (Clue 1), Zombie Zach is NOT the Decaying Zombie. Mark (X) for Zombie Zach/Decaying Zombie.
-
Let's look at the Costumes remaining for Zombie Zach. We know he's not Friendly Ghost (Gabby is), not Decaying Zombie (from Clue 1/7), not Ancient Mummy (from elimination based on Wanda, see below). This leaves Classic Vampire or Wicked Witch.
-
Back to Clue 2: Witch Wanda was not wearing the Ancient Mummy costume. This means Mummy Mike must be wearing the Ancient Mummy costume (as Gabby is Friendly Ghost, Zach is not Decaying Zombie, Wanda is not Ancient Mummy, and Vampire Vic is not Classic Vampire per Clue 3). Mark (ā) for Mummy Mike/Ancient Mummy.
-
Now, from Clue 3, the Classic Vampire costume is not Vampire Vic. By elimination, since Gabby is Friendly Ghost, Zombie Zach is not Decaying Zombie, Mummy Mike is Ancient Mummy, and Witch Wanda is not Ancient Mummy... if Vampire Vic isn't Classic Vampire, then Witch Wanda must be the Classic Vampire? No, this is tricky. Let's restart this part of the costume deduction.
- Costume Deduction Refined:
- Gabby: Friendly Ghost (Clue 5)
- Mummy Mike: Ancient Mummy (from Clue 4 and elimination: Wanda is not Ancient Mummy, Gabby is Friendly Ghost, Zombie Zach is not Decaying Zombie from Clue 1, so the only one left for Ancient Mummy is Mike).
- Zombie Zach is NOT Decaying Zombie (from Clue 1, he dropped Miniature Cauldron, and the Decaying Zombie didn't). So, Zombie Zach must be the Wicked Witch costume (as he's not Classic Vampire per Clue 3, he's not Friendly Ghost, he's not Ancient Mummy, he's not Decaying Zombie). Mark (ā) for Zombie Zach/Wicked Witch.
- This means Vampire Vic is in the Decaying Zombie costume (by elimination). Mark (ā) for Vampire Vic/Decaying Zombie.
- And Witch Wanda is in the Classic Vampire costume (by elimination). Mark (ā) for Witch Wanda/Classic Vampire.
- Costume Deduction Refined:
-
Now let's connect costumes and objects:
- Decaying Zombie (Vampire Vic) did not drop the Glow-in-the-Dark Eyeball (Clue 1).
- Miniature Cauldron was dropped by Zombie Zach (Clue 6), who is the Wicked Witch (from step 10).
- Roll of Toilet Paper was dropped by Mummy Mike (Clue 4), who is the Ancient Mummy (from step 9).
- Friendly Ghost (Ghost Gabby) - We need her object.
- Classic Vampire (Witch Wanda) did not drop the Fake Spider Ring (Clue 3).
- Wicked Witch (Zombie Zach) did not drop the Fake Spider Ring (Clue 7).
- Fake Spider Ring was not dropped by Mummy Mike (Clue 8).
-
Object Deduction Refined:
- Zombie Zach dropped the Miniature Cauldron.
- Mummy Mike dropped the Roll of Toilet Paper.
- Fake Spider Ring was NOT dropped by Mummy Mike (Clue 8) AND NOT dropped by the Wicked Witch (Zombie Zach) (Clue 7) AND NOT dropped by the Classic Vampire (Witch Wanda) (Clue 3). This leaves Ghost Gabby or Vampire Vic. However, Vampire Vic is the Decaying Zombie, and the Decaying Zombie did NOT drop the Miniature Cauldron (Zach did) or the Glow-in-the-Dark Eyeball (Clue 1). So Vampire Vic (Decaying Zombie) must have dropped the Half-eaten Candy Bar. Mark (ā) for Vampire Vic/Half-eaten Candy Bar.
- This means the Fake Spider Ring must have been dropped by Ghost Gabby. Mark (ā) for Ghost Gabby/Fake Spider Ring.
- By elimination, the Glow-in-the-Dark Eyeball was dropped by Witch Wanda. Mark (ā) for Witch Wanda/Glow-in-the-Dark Eyeball.
Final Solution:
- Who stole the pie? Vampire Vic
- What costume were they wearing? Decaying Zombie
- What did they drop? Half-eaten Candy Bar
Answer Key: Haunted Hallway Warm-Up
Who brought which treat?
- Boo: Candy Corn
- Spook: Spider Cookies
- Casper: Pumpkin Muffin
Explanation:
- Clue 2: Spook loves things that crunch but hates anything with chocolate. Of the treats, only
Cool Down
Haunted Hallway Cool-Down: Detective Debrief
Take a few moments to reflect on the mystery you just solved.
- What was the most challenging part of solving the
Activity
Mystery of the Haunted Hallway: The Missing Pumpkin Pie!
It's Halloween night at Grimwood Academy, and the Headmaster's legendary magical pumpkin pie has vanished from the kitchen! Five spooky suspects were seen near the kitchen just before the disappearance. Can you figure out who took the pie, what costume they were wearing, and what object they accidentally dropped?
The Suspects:
- Vampire Vic
- Witch Wanda
- Zombie Zach
- Ghost Gabby
- Mummy Mike
The Costumes:
- Classic Vampire
- Wicked Witch
- Decaying Zombie
- Friendly Ghost
- Ancient Mummy
The Dropped Objects:
- Fake Spider Ring
- Miniature Cauldron
- Half-eaten Candy Bar
- Glow-in-the-Dark Eyeball
- Roll of Toilet Paper
The Clues:
- The person wearing the Decaying Zombie costume did not drop the Glow-in-the-Dark Eyeball, nor did they drop the Miniature Cauldron.
- Witch Wanda was not wearing the Ancient Mummy costume. The person who dropped the Half-eaten Candy Bar was not Vampire Vic.
- The person in the Classic Vampire costume is not Vampire Vic, and they did not drop the Fake Spider Ring.
- Mummy Mike was seen near a trail of toilet paper, but he wasn't the one wearing the Friendly Ghost costume.
- Ghost Gabby was wearing the Friendly Ghost costume.
- The person who dropped the Miniature Cauldron was Zombie Zach.
- The person in the Wicked Witch costume was not the one who dropped the Fake Spider Ring.
- The person who dropped the Fake Spider Ring was not Mummy Mike.
Your Deduction Grid:
Use the grid below to help you solve the mystery! Mark an X for a definite NO and a checkmark (ā) for a definite YES.
Suspects vs. Costumes
| Suspect \ Costume | Classic Vampire | Wicked Witch | Decaying Zombie | Friendly Ghost | Ancient Mummy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vampire Vic | |||||
| Witch Wanda | |||||
| Zombie Zach | |||||
| Ghost Gabby | ā | ||||
| Mummy Mike |
Suspects vs. Dropped Objects
| Suspect \ Object | Fake Spider Ring | Miniature Cauldron | Half-eaten Candy Bar | Glow-in-the-Dark Eyeball | Roll of Toilet Paper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vampire Vic | |||||
| Witch Wanda | |||||
| Zombie Zach | ā | ||||
| Ghost Gabby | |||||
| Mummy Mike |
Costumes vs. Dropped Objects
| Costume \ Object | Fake Spider Ring | Miniature Cauldron | Half-eaten Candy Bar | Glow-in-the-Dark Eyeball | Roll of Toilet Paper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Vampire | |||||
| Wicked Witch | |||||
| Decaying Zombie | |||||
| Friendly Ghost | |||||
| Ancient Mummy |
Solution:
Who stole the pie?
What costume were they wearing?
What did they drop?
Lesson Plan
Monster Mash-Up Mix-Up
Students will creatively combine elements to design a unique monster, focusing on descriptive language and character traits.
This lesson makes learning fun by tapping into Halloween excitement! It helps students develop strong descriptive writing skills and understand character development, which are essential for engaging storytelling.
Audience
7th Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Create, Describe, Share
Materials
Smartboard or Projector, Slide Deck: Monster Mash-Up Mix-Up, Warm-Up: Monster Traits Brainstorm, Activity: Monster Mash-Up Creator, and Cool-Down: One-Word Monster
Prep
Review Materials
10 minutes
- Review the Slide Deck: Monster Mash-Up Mix-Up to familiarize yourself with the content.
- Print or prepare to display the Warm-Up: Monster Traits Brainstorm and Activity: Monster Mash-Up Creator.
- Ensure projector/Smartboard is working.
- Briefly review the Cool-Down: One-Word Monster.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Monster Traits Brainstorm
5 minutes
- Display the Warm-Up: Monster Traits Brainstorm on the board or distribute copies.
- Ask students to brainstorm adjectives and verbs associated with monsters.
- Facilitate a quick class share-out to get ideas flowing.
Step 2
Introduction to Monster Mash-Up
5 minutes
- Use the first few slides of the Slide Deck: Monster Mash-Up Mix-Up to introduce the concept of combining different monster features and traits.
- Emphasize the importance of descriptive language in bringing their creations to life.
- Explain the 'Mix-Up' challenge: students will draw different cards (or use categories) to combine specific monster elements.
Step 3
Monster Mash-Up Creation Activity
15 minutes
- Distribute the Activity: Monster Mash-Up Creator.
- Guide students through the process of selecting/drawing elements (e.g., a head from one monster, body from another, special power from a third).
- Instruct them to write a descriptive paragraph or two about their unique monster, focusing on its appearance, abilities, and a hint of its personality.
- Encourage creative word choice and vivid imagery.
Step 4
Share and Showcase
3 minutes
- Invite a few students to share their monster creations with the class.
- Encourage peers to identify descriptive words used by the presenters.
Step 5
Cool-Down: One-Word Monster
2 minutes
- Display the Cool-Down: One-Word Monster.
- Ask students to summarize their monster (or the lesson) in one descriptive word.
- Collect responses as an exit ticket.
Slide Deck
š Monster Mash-Up Mix-Up! š»
Get ready to create some truly terrifying (or silly!) monsters!
Welcome students and introduce the fun Halloween theme. Briefly explain that today's lesson is about creative writing and designing something spooky!
What's Our Spooky Mission?
Today, you will:
- Brainstorm creepy characteristics.
- Design a unique monster by mixing and matching traits.
- Use descriptive language to bring your monster to life!
Clearly state the learning objective for the students. Emphasize 'vivid descriptions' and 'character traits' as key takeaways.
Warm-Up: Monster Trait Brainstorm
What comes to mind when you think of a monster?
Think about:
- Appearance: What do they look like?
- Sounds: What noises do they make?
- Actions: What do they do?
- Personality: Are they scary, goofy, shy, grumpy?
Explain the warm-up activity. Give students a few minutes to silently brainstorm, then facilitate a quick sharing session.
Unleash Your Inner Mad Scientist!
Today, you're going to create a brand new monster.
But not just any monster... a Mash-Up Monster!
We'll take parts and pieces from different creatures to build something totally unique.
Introduce the main activity. Explain that they will be combining different elements to create a truly original monster. Emphasize that creativity is key!
Your Monster's Blueprint
Think about:
- Head: What kind of head does it have?
- Body: What about its body and limbs?
- Special Abilities: Does it have a unique power?
- Habitat: Where does it live?
- Sounds/Smells: What sensory details can you add?
Use descriptive words to make your monster REAL!
Transition to the activity. Explain that the Activity: Monster Mash-Up Creator will guide them through choosing features and writing descriptions.
Monster Showcase!
Who wants to introduce their creation to the class?
Be ready to share:
- Your monster's name (if it has one!)
- A few vivid descriptions of its appearance or powers.
Prepare students for sharing. Remind them to listen respectfully and try to visualize the monsters described by their classmates.
Cool-Down: One-Word Monster
In ONE WORD, describe your monster. Or, in one word, describe what you learned today about descriptive writing!
Explain the cool-down. This is a quick exit ticket to assess their comprehension and retention of descriptive language.