Crime Scene Investigation

A few months ago  I was in need of an activity that would include speaking and writing. I needed to push my ELLs to new levels. In addition, we needed to do something active. These same students had also been learning about their rights  in civics class.

We watched a few clips of popular TV shows where crime solving is the name of the game. My students also shared their favorite TV shows and how crime is portrayed in them.

Through these background building sessions we reviewed vocabulary that most of the students had learned previously in civics class or while watching television. We talked about procedures, the different people who are involved in solving crimes, and what are their responsibilities. We talked about the suspected person's rights, and the responsibility that the police has in solving the crime the right way.

Then it was time to give everyone their role in our staged crime and set the scene.

Someone had really messed up my classroom! Books were everywhere. There was even blood on my supply table. And can you see those little yellow crime scene investigator markers? We really wanted to follow protocol.

First impressions are very important. Everyone involved had to come and observe before beginning to take notes.

Then you had to take notes in a specific way depending on your job description. If you were the lead investigator, you had to develop questions based on your crime solving skills. If you were the suspect or the witness, you had to write down your notes of what you had observed and create an alibi for yourself.

Then came the interviews. Remember, when we are working with English Language Learners, we must develop our students oral language not just writing skills. Here you have the lead detective along with with his partner questioning the witness while the first officer on the scene is giving his input. The detectives are trying to determine if this witness is reliable and has pertinent information towards the case that they are building.

All in all, it was fun to watch students interact, take their role seriously and really get into to investigation part. I saw students speaking to each other, asking questions and asking follow up questions like real professionals. They were writing; taking notes and then turning those notes into a report writing. They had to listen carefully to others; especially to the witnesses and to the suspect. When working with a partner, they also had to read each other's writing. They were using all four language domains (and that made me very happy)!

Now I just need to plan a similar lesson for the end of the year. Any suggestions?