~Seasonal-- 1st and 2nd Grade Mystery Math: Case of the Selfish Elf

Oh no!! A selfish elf has been stealing the cookies from the break room that Santa and Mrs. Claus leave for them as a special treat for making all of the toys! Since so many of these hard working elves have been missing out on their special treats, their production of toys has significantly reduced. Santa is worried that they won't make all of the toys in time for Christmas, and no matter how many cookies he and Mrs. Claus make, there always seems to be so many poor elves missing out! Santa and Mrs. Claus need our Math Detectives help!! In this super fun mystery, students must use their math skills to discover five very important clues about the case: What did the Selfish Elf use to take so many cookies? When did the Selfish Elf take the cookies? Why did the Selfish Elf take so many cookies? Where did the Selfish Elf hide the cookies? Who is the Selfish Elf? This fun detective story has students read simple words and phrases to match information given with a picture to present on their case file. 

Students will practice place value by using base ten blocks, reading analog clocks and writing the time in a "digital clock" format, adding and subtracting numbers (1-20), completing number patterns (counting by 1s, 2s, 3s, 5s), finding the missing addends in addition problems (1-20), and comparing numbers (greatest and least) as they work through all of the clues for the case. As students answer the questions for the clues, they will cut out their picture answer and paste it to their mystery case file until all five have been completed. 


At the beginning of class, we will have introductions and answer some fun Christmas related questions before getting started with the mystery. Then, students will watch a short intro video with the background story of what is going on at the North Pole with the Selfish Elf, and we will discuss the case file worksheet that should be printed before class (along with the 5 clues worksheets) for each student to work on. For each clue, I will read the directions, project the math problems onto the classroom screen, and let our Math Detectives get to work! We will work together as a whole group to answer the math problems. Students will be called on or asked to raise their hand to answer math equations. Please be sure that your learner brings some scratch paper and a pencil or a dry erase board and marker to work out their problems. As students answer the problems and clues, they will need to cut out their answers from the bottom of the sheet and paste onto their case file. At the end of class, we will go over the correct answers and discuss the 5 W's about the Selfish Elf fiasco. 

After class, I will send an award to each student for solving the case and to celebrate what great Math Detectives they were! Now, let's have some FUN learning math!! I look forward to seeing your learners in the classroom!!