Math Mysteries Series: Crimes, Capers and Whodunits
Math Mysteries: Crimes, Capers and Whodunits is a series of five interactive mysteries designed to integrate Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in mathematics with engaging mysteries for students to unravel. Because each mystery incorporates a range of appealing skills applications, it is ideal for review, skills recovery, and enrichment purposes.
Let your students apply their math skills to real world problems as they solve intriguing mysteries and whodunits. Super sleuths from the Pi Detective Agency have gathered data and clues from unsolved cases. Your students will need to sift through written case files, dissect video interviews with possible suspects, test theories and more as they apply their content knowledge to a variety of engaging mathematical challenges.
The student activities and the workbook help scaffold learners towards solving the crime, grabbing the reward, catching the crook and finding the treasure!
Aligned with Common Core Standards, the mysteries cover 5 domains and 35 unique standards.
For more information on each individual program or to purchase a program individually click on each title below.
The Treasure of Pirate's Cove
Domain: Geometry
Captain Jack has buried a treasure on Bell Harbor Island. There’s a map (but what does it mean?) and other clues, including a stolen sextant, shifty stories from old-time treasure hunters, and a talking parrot. Students need to apply their geometry skills to bring this case to a close.
The Cookie Factory Mystery
Domain: Ratios and Proportional Relationships
Someone has sabotaged Charlene Strawberry’s secret cookie recipe and made the cookies taste like dog food! Students need to understand ratios and proportional relationships to be able to solve this mystery.
Peterson's Last Challenge
Domain: Number System
When Gabe Peterson died, he left videotaped instructions promising gobs of money to the first person to correctly identify the name of Peterson’s favorite dog. Student sleuths need to unravel tricky clues using the number system if they want a shot at his Peterson’s millions.
Lord Symington's Castle
Domain: Expressions and Equations
Lord Symington hid a fortune in diamonds and gold somewhere in his huge castle. He left clues to the whereabouts of his fortune in the form of mathematical riddles. Students must apply their knowledge of expressions and equations to get straight to the heart of the matter and find the goods.
The Clown Capers
Domain: Statistics and Probability
Someone cleverly disguised as a clown has been covering the city in graffiti and making a mess. Security cameras have caught the culprit on video, but it’s awfully hard to make a positive ID of someone in a clown costume. To unravel the clues and catch that clown, they need to utilize statistics and probability, plus their critical thinking skills.
Includes:
Five 11-minute videos, and 5 Teacher’s Resource Books which include Teacher’s Notes, Student Investigation Workbook and Case File
This series consists of the following products:
Math Mysteries: Lord Symington's CastleMath Mysteries: Peterson's Last Challenge
Math Mysteries: The Clown Capers
Math Mysteries: The Cookie Factory Mystery
Math Mysteries: The Treasure of Pirate's Cove
Math Mysteries: Crimes, Capers and Whodunits offers an interactive, hands-on, investigative learning program in five core mathematical areas for students in grades 6-8. Students are asked to solve crimes by applying math skills taught throughout the year. The program covers ratios and proportional relationships, the number system, expressions and equations, geometry, and statistics and probability—making it ideal for using to review concepts, recover skills, or challenge those students in need of enrichment.
Math Mysteries is set up in a way that the work can be done individually or in groups, allowing for a variety of mathematical skills to be brought together. Each mystery is accompanied by an easy-to-use DVD with minimal setup and provides scaffolded instruction, clues, and suspects to help students dive in to solve the case. The accompanying DVDs bring the mystery to life, ensuring that students feel as though they are solving a real-life crime without realizing how much math they are doing!
Math Mysteries also offers a step-by-step teacher manual that includes instructions, activity sheets, and suggestions on how best to use the program. The manual informs teachers about which Common Core State Standard is being taught at each point, allowing teachers to use it as part of their teaching throughout the year. Because of the mathematical knowledge, steps to be taken, and art of solving a mathematical mystery, the program will take time; plan on spending a few days with each mystery.
I would highly recommend this math mystery series for those teachers looking for an engaging way to bring middle school math to life and ensure that students can apply the mathematical skills they have been taught. –Patty Pomerleau, Weathersfield School, Ascutney, Vermont.
NCTM Journal