Mystery Box Critical Thinking Game
Fun, Practical, and Editable!
This Mystery Box activity has been one of the most tried-and-true of my teaching career! Children as young as Pre-K love this game, where they guess the mystery object based on a series of clues. You can use my 20+ pre-written clues, or you can make edits to this Google Slides document by typing your own prompts, tailored to your children and their interests! This slideshow also contains photographs of a real-life mystery box I created.
A Crowd Pleaser!
This activity has served as an amazing motivation or warm up for any lesson and is a great way to get children excited about a topic. For example, I've used it to introduce new art materials before a lesson about that material, such as a paintbrush, a sponge, or a watercolor set. It gets the whole class on the same page and gives them an opportunity to practice critical and divergent thinking.
I made this Google Slides version so that you may use it during live video conferences with children during distance learning (simply share your screen to this slideshow), or use it in the classroom. Slides could even be printed out and laminated, so families can play it as a fun and educational game at home after school!
Possible extensions:
-Ask children and their families to author new clues about a mystery object. Have them submit a photo of an object and some clues to you before class so you may include it in the slideshow.
-Brainstorm with children after a session to 'check' and make sure the clues were good ones. Analyze each response, debate the clue’s strengths and weaknesses. Chart responses.
-Look at the photos and determine the length and width of the Mystery Box. Then, brainstorm items that would not fit inside of the box because they are too large. Chart responses, or have children draw these items.
More extensions like these are available at the end of the slideshow!
Great for the end of the year as a relaxing way to spend time together as a class, or at beginning of the year as an icebreaker to get students talking! Excellent for substitute teachers, new teachers, and team-building.
Includes:
Slideshow with Original Photos and Instructions
Possible Extensions are written at the end of the slideshow
Terms of Use
Recommended background reading and Resource Lists
Fun, Practical, and Editable!
This Mystery Box activity has been one of the most tried-and-true of my teaching career! Children as young as Pre-K love this game, where they guess the mystery object based on a series of clues. You can use my 20+ pre-written clues, or you can make edits to this Google Slides document by typing your own prompts, tailored to your children and their interests! This slideshow also contains photographs of a real-life mystery box I created.
A Crowd Pleaser!
This activity has served as an amazing motivation or warm up for any lesson and is a great way to get children excited about a topic. For example, I've used it to introduce new art materials before a lesson about that material, such as a paintbrush, a sponge, or a watercolor set. It gets the whole class on the same page and gives them an opportunity to practice critical and divergent thinking.
I made this Google Slides version so that you may use it during live video conferences with children during distance learning (simply share your screen to this slideshow), or use it in the classroom. Slides could even be printed out and laminated, so families can play it as a fun and educational game at home after school!
Possible extensions:
-Ask children and their families to author new clues about a mystery object. Have them submit a photo of an object and some clues to you before class so you may include it in the slideshow.
-Brainstorm with children after a session to 'check' and make sure the clues were good ones. Analyze each response, debate the clue’s strengths and weaknesses. Chart responses.
-Look at the photos and determine the length and width of the Mystery Box. Then, brainstorm items that would not fit inside of the box because they are too large. Chart responses, or have children draw these items.
More extensions like these are available at the end of the slideshow!
Great for the end of the year as a relaxing way to spend time together as a class, or at beginning of the year as an icebreaker to get students talking! Excellent for substitute teachers, new teachers, and team-building.
Includes:
Slideshow with Original Photos and Instructions
Possible Extensions are written at the end of the slideshow
Terms of Use
Recommended background reading and Resource Lists
Fun, Practical, and Editable!
This Mystery Box activity has been one of the most tried-and-true of my teaching career! Children as young as Pre-K love this game, where they guess the mystery object based on a series of clues. You can use my 20+ pre-written clues, or you can make edits to this Google Slides document by typing your own prompts, tailored to your children and their interests! This slideshow also contains photographs of a real-life mystery box I created.
A Crowd Pleaser!
This activity has served as an amazing motivation or warm up for any lesson and is a great way to get children excited about a topic. For example, I've used it to introduce new art materials before a lesson about that material, such as a paintbrush, a sponge, or a watercolor set. It gets the whole class on the same page and gives them an opportunity to practice critical and divergent thinking.
I made this Google Slides version so that you may use it during live video conferences with children during distance learning (simply share your screen to this slideshow), or use it in the classroom. Slides could even be printed out and laminated, so families can play it as a fun and educational game at home after school!
Possible extensions:
-Ask children and their families to author new clues about a mystery object. Have them submit a photo of an object and some clues to you before class so you may include it in the slideshow.
-Brainstorm with children after a session to 'check' and make sure the clues were good ones. Analyze each response, debate the clue’s strengths and weaknesses. Chart responses.
-Look at the photos and determine the length and width of the Mystery Box. Then, brainstorm items that would not fit inside of the box because they are too large. Chart responses, or have children draw these items.
More extensions like these are available at the end of the slideshow!
Great for the end of the year as a relaxing way to spend time together as a class, or at beginning of the year as an icebreaker to get students talking! Excellent for substitute teachers, new teachers, and team-building.
Includes:
Slideshow with Original Photos and Instructions
Possible Extensions are written at the end of the slideshow
Terms of Use
Recommended background reading and Resource Lists