Five suspects. One stolen manuscript. Five stations of evidence. Your students become detectives in this self-checking ELA Whodunnit that builds real inference and theme skills through a story-driven mystery they’ll actually want to finish.

This is Case File 01: The Missing Manuscript — the launch case in the DeskMade Detective Agency series for Grades 3-5. Classroom-tested and built to feel like a genuine case file, complete with a manila aesthetic, evidence stamps, and detective notes.

HOW IT WORKS: Students work through five evidence stations, answering text-based questions. Each correct answer eliminates a suspect until only the culprit remains — so the activity is fully self-checking and students stay hooked to the end.

SKILLS COVERED:
• Making inferences from text
• Identifying and analysing theme
• Citing text evidence
• Close reading and critical thinking

WHAT’S INCLUDED:
• Print-and-go student case booklet (PDF)
• Full answer key (PDF) for instant marking
• Editable Google Slides version for digital or projected play

PERFECT FOR: reading centres, review and revision, early finishers, enrichment, substitute/cover lessons, and end-of-unit fun.

Part of the DeskMade Detective Agency ELA Whodunnit series — classroom-ready mysteries that do the prep for you. Collect all seven Grades 3-5 cases in the bundle and save.