DETECTIVE CLUB READING PROGRAM

Lara Walker

Description with Purpose:

Everyone loves a good mystery—especially kids. When kids enjoy mysteries, they have fun and want more. Because kids love mysteries, they are an ideal way to teach critical thinking, problem solving, writing, and literature. For the Detective Club Reading Program, children belong to a detective club formed at the library. Mystery books, videos, DVDs, and CD-ROMs are set aside in a separate section of the library all summer. The three-part Detective Club program can be tailored or modified to the age level of the children participating, simplified for younger children and complicated for older children.

 

40 Developmental Assets:

#5, 8, 14, 15, 16, 18, 22, 23, 25, 30, 33, 37, 38, 39

 

Goals and Objectives:

Foster curiosity in school-age children; sharpen their observation skills; enhance their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities; encourage their love of reading mysteries and detective stories.

 

Timeline:

Two Months Before Program:

  1. Send description of program to Program Coordinator.
  2. Contact Cincinnati Homicide Detective Sal Tufano for availability.
  3. Establish dates for 3-part program.
  4. Fill out Graphic request form and send to Publicity/Marketing. Request posters, flyers, bookmarks, reading logs, and magnifying glass cut-outs.
  5. Prepare materials (detective badges, certificates, unfinished stories, codes to be deciphered, clues for Part Three, etc.).

One Week Before Program:

  1. Print copies of evaluation forms for each part of the program.
  2. Confirm meeting place and time with speaker.
  3. Purchase clues, prizes, and refreshments if needed.
  4. Prepare book/library material display, ordering materials from other branches if necessary.

Day of Part One Program:

  1. Check set-up at least 1 hour before program begins.
  2. Set up extra tables for hands-on activities. Detective Tufano will bring fingerprinting supplies.
  3. Set up table with detective badges, reading logs, magnifying glass cut-outs, and detective bookmarks.
  4. Set up book/library material display with items for checkout.
  5. Set up refreshments.
  6. Check special requests from speaker.
  7. Take attendance at program. Collect evaluation forms afterward.

Day of Part Two Program:

  1. Check set-up at least 1 hour before program begins.
  2. Set up extra tables for hands-on activities (make sure there are plenty of decoding sheets; lemon juice, paper, and paintbrushes/toothpicks for writing with invisible ink; lamp with a bare bulb for “reading” the invisible ink message).
  3. Set up table with detective badges, reading logs, magnifying glass cut-outs and detective bookmarks.
  4. Set up book/library material display with items for checkout.
  5. Set up refreshments.
  6. Set up chalkboard for brainstorming discussion about what makes a good mystery.
  7. Choose a read-aloud picture book mystery.
  8. Make sure there are plenty of copies of the half-finished mysteries. Provide plenty of writing utensils.
  9. Take attendance at program. Collect evaluation forms afterward.

Day of Part Three Program:

  1. Set-up clues at least 1 hour before program begins.
  2. Set up table with detective badges, reading logs, magnifying glass cut-outs, detective bookmarks, and detective certificates.
  3. Set up book/library materials display with items for checkout.
  4. Set up prize table.
  5. Take attendance at program. Collect evaluation forms afterward.

After Program:

  1. Send photographs to Public Relations Department.
  2. Send completed evaluation forms to Program Coordinator. Report any problems, concerns, suggestions, or other feedback.
  3. Send thank you note to speaker.

 

Three parts of the program:

PART 1:  What Does a Detective Do?

AGE GROUP: Kindergarten-6th grade

PRE-ACTIVITY: (Opening)

  1. Guest Speaker, Cincinnati Homicide Detective Sal Tufano, is introduced.
  2. Detective Tufano gives a presentation about what detectives do. Children learn about clues, fingerprints, and solving mysteries.
  3. Detective Tufano answers questions.
  4. Hands-on activity: dusting for fingerprints under the direction of Detective Tufano.

CLOSING:

  1. Detective badges, reading logs, and bookmarks are distributed to members of the Detective Club. Magnifying glass cut-outs will be given to anyone who has completed the first part of their reading logs. Each cut-out will have the child’s name on it and will be hung in a visible location in the library.

POST ACTIVITY:

  1. Evaluations are completed and turned in.
  2. Children are encouraged to check out the mystery materials that have been set aside.

 

PART 2: Detective Stories

AGE GROUP: Kindergarten-6th grade

PRE-ACTIVITY: (Opening)

  1. A picture book detective story is read aloud.
  2. Brainstorming discussion about what makes a good mystery.
  3. Small group activity: write the ending to a detective story, solving the mystery. Stories are shared aloud.
  4. Presentation on codes, decoding, and writing with invisible ink.
  5. Hands-on activity: Children develop their own codes and write a message using their new code. Children may choose to write with invisible ink. Have a lamp with a bare bulb handy to “read” the messages (need adult supervision).

CLOSING:

  1. Detective badges, reading logs, and bookmarks are distributed to members of the Detective Club who missed Part One of the Detective Club Program. Magnifying glass cut-outs will be given to anyone who has completed the first part of their reading logs. Each cut-out will have the child’s name on it and will be hung in a visible location in the library.

POST ACTIVITY:

  1. Evaluations are completed and turned in.
  2. Children are encouraged to check out the mystery materials that have been set aside.

 

PART 3: You Be The Detective

AGE GROUP: Kindergarten-6th grade

PRE-ACTIVITY: (Opening)

  1. Clues are scattered throughout the library. Children are given instructions on how to conduct themselves while solving the mystery.
  2. In small groups, children gather the evidence and solve the mystery.
  3. Presentations of each group’s theories are made to the members of the Detective Club.

CLOSING:

  1. Detective certificates are handed out and prizes are awarded (mystery books, of course!). Magnifying glass cut-outs will be given to anyone who has completed the first part of their reading logs. Each cut-out will have the child’s name on it and will be hung in a visible location in the library.  

POST ACTIVITY:

  1. Evaluations are completed and turned in.
  2. Children are still encouraged to check out the mystery materials that have been set aside.

 

Marketing/Promotion Plan:

“Join the Detective Club. A world of intrigue awaits” is the slogan. A picture of a girl wearing a trenchcoat and carrying a magnifying glass will be on all of the promotional materials which include posters, flyers, bookmark, and reading logs. Posters will be displayed in all of the branches of the library and in other visible places throughout the community. Flyers will be available at all library branches. Detective Club bookmarks, reading logs, and magnifying glass cut-outs will be available at the branch where the library program will be held. (Magnifying glass cut-outs will be designed for children who have completed the first part of their reading logs. Each cut-out will have the child’s name on it and will be hung in a visible location in the library.) Local newspapers will be asked to publicize the program in their “Community Events” pages. The Children’s Librarian will promote the program at the end of the school year during a school visit and with the help of the Elementary School Librarian.

 

Assignment of Responsibility:

The Children’s Librarian will be responsible for planning and conducting the 3-part program as well as preparing the materials. S/he will need help from a co-worker with materials preparation, set-up, clean-up, and helping to conduct each part of the program. A Guest Speaker, Cincinnati Homicide Detective Sal Tufano, will be asked to speak during Part One. Publicity and Marketing will design the promotional materials (posters, flyers, bookmarks, reading logs, and magnifying glass cut-outs).

 

Budget:

Detective Fee                                 None                                                                                                                                                        

Salaries                                                 Professional: $100 (5 hours labor)                               Paid for by the library’s General Operating Fund

                                                                                                                                                Assistant: $50 (5 hours labor)                                       Paid for by the library’s General Operating Fund

Materials                                                                     $20                                                                                                             Paid for by Friends of the Library

Prizes                                                                                                                $40                                                                                                             Paid for by Friends of the Library

PR & Marketing                            $80                                                                                                             Paid for by Friends of the Library

TOTAL COST:                              $290

 

Materials:

Detective Badges                                                                                              Magnifying Glass Cut-outs (to show that 15 books were read)

Detective Certificates                                                                                  Lamp/Lemon Juice/Toothpicks/Paintbrushes

“Detective Club” Bookmarks                                                               Decoding Sheets

Detective Club Reading Logs

 

Program Evaluation:

The Program Evaluation Form includes the following questions:

1.         How did you find out about this program? (Please check all that apply) poster in the library; poster, not in the library; flyer/bookmark from the library; library’s monthly program calendar; library’s web page; radio; newspaper; Cincinnati Magazine; word of mouth; other.

2.       Did you enjoy this program? Yes; No. What could have made it better?

3.       What other types of programs would you like the library to offer?

4.       Which library resources do you normally use? (Please check all that apply) checking out books, videos, CDs, DVDs, and other materials; programs at the library; library web page; other.

5.       Do you have a library card? Yes; No.

6.       Would you like to receive email updates on future library programs? Yes (provide your email address); No.

7.        Additional comments.

 

Bibliography of Professional Multimedia Resources:

Mysteries for Younger Readers:

Alexander, Sue. World Famous Muriel.                                                                                    

Bunting, Eve. Jane Martin, Dog Detective.

Cushman, Doug. The Mystery of the Monkey’s Maze.                                                  

Gosling, Gabby. Top Secret Files of Mother Goose.  

Hurd, Thatcher. Art Dog.                                                                                                                            

Kellog, Steven. The Missing Mitten Mystery.

Lass, Bonnie & Sturges, Philemon. Who Took the Cookies from the Cookie Jar?

 Lewis, Thomas P. Mr. Sniff and the Motel Mystery.

Lexau, Joan M. The Homework Caper.

 Massie, Diane Redfield. Chameleon Was a Spy.

Preller, James. Jigsaw Jones series.

Rylant, Cynthia. Bunny and Jack series.

Sharmat, Marjorie Weinman. Nate the Great series. 

Smith, Jim. Alphonse and the Stonehenge Mystery.

Stefanec-Ogren, Cathy. Sly, P.I.: The Case of the Missing Shoes.

Supraner, Robyn. Sam Sunday and the Mystery at the Ocean Beach Hotel.

Teague, Mark. Detective LaRue: Letters From the Investigation.

Yolen, Jane. Piggins.

 

Mysteries for Older Readers:

Dixon, Franklin W. Hardy Boys series.

Fitzhugh, Louise. Harriet the Spy.

Hass, E.A. Incognito Mosquito, Private Insective.

Hildick, E.W. The Case of the Condemned Cat.

Keene, Carolyn. Nancy Drew series.

Nixon, Joan Lowery mysteries.

O’Connell, Jean S. The Dollhouse Caper.

Raskin, Ellen. The Westing Game.

Rinehart, Mary Roberts mysteries.

Simon, Seymour. Einstein Anderson, Science Sleuth.

Sobol, Donald J.  Encyclopedia Brown series. Titus, Eve. Basil of Baker Street.

Van Draanen, Wendelin. Sammy Keyes series.

Voigt, Cynthia. Callender Papers.

Warner, Gertrude Chandler. Boxcar Children series.

 

Nonfiction Books about Being Detectives:

Albert, Burton Jr. Code Busters!

 Butler, William. The Young Detective’s Handbook.

Hindley, Judy and King, Colin. Fakes and Forgeries.  

Martini, Teri. The Secret is Out: True Spy Stories.  

Paige, David. A Day in the Life of a Police Detective.

 Rawson, Christopher. Disguise and Make-Up.  

Sobol, Donald. Encyclopedia Brown’s Book of Wacky Spies.

Thomson, Ruth and Hindley, Judy. Tracking and Trailing.

Travis, Falcon and Hindley, Judy. Secret Messages.

 

DVDs/Videos and CD-ROMs:

An American Tail: Mystery of the Night Monster. Universal Studios, 2000, 76 min.

Arthur Accused. Sony Wonder, 2001, 40 min.

Arthur Cracks the Case. Sony Wonder, 2003, 40 min.

The Bugs Bunny Mystery Special. Warner Home Video, 1993, 24 min.

Cloak and Dagger (Rated PG). MCA Home Video, 1985, 101 min.

Computer Caper.  Sony Wonder, 2002, 50 min.

Encyclopedia Brown: The Case of the Ghostly Rider. Golden Book Video, 1990, 30 min.

Encyclopedia Brown: The Case of the Amazing Race Car.  Golden Book Video, 1990, 26 min.

The Great Muppet Caper. CBS/Fox Video, 1984, 98 min.

Harriet the Spy (Rated PG). Paramount, 1996, 102 min.

Mystery on the Docks. Great Plains National Instructional Television Library, 1984, 60 min.

Nancy Drew: Mystery of the Diamond Triangle.  MCA Home Video, 1993, 47 min.

Nancy Drew: Mystery of the Fallen Angels. MCA Home Video, 1993, 47 min.

Thinkin’ Things: Sky Island Mysteries CD-ROM. Edmark Corporation, 1998, ages 8-12.

 

Books and Websites on Creating Detective/Mystery Programs:

KidsDomain. “Mystery.” Retrieved November 29, 2004 from

     http://www.kidsdomain.com/kids/links/Mystery.html

MysteryNet. “MysteryNet’s Kids Mysteries.” Retrieved November 29, 2004 from 

     http://kids.mysterynet.com/solveit/

MysteryNet. “Teaching Mysteries.” Retrieved November 29, 2004 from http://www.mysterynet.com/learn/

Planet Oz Kids. “Mystery at Ghost Mine.” Retrieved November 29, 2004 from

     http://www.planetozkids.com/Ace_Detectives/ghostmine/ghostmine_poster.html

Raines, Shirley C. (1994). 450 More Story S-T-R-E-T-C-H-E-R-S for the Primary Grades: Activities to Expand

     Children’s Favorite Books. Gryphon House, Mt. Rainier, Maryland.

Simpson, Martha Seif (1992). Summer Reading Clubs: Complete Plans for 50 Theme-Based Library Programs.

     McFarland & Company, Inc., Jefferson, North Carolina.

Toronto Public Library. “Summer Sleuth.” Retrieved November 29, 2004 from

     http://www.tpl.toronto.on.ca/KidsSpace/src2001/index.html