Animal mysteries and critical thinking


Here’s one way to give intermediate and middle grade readers practice with revising predictions about text: Mystery passages. Students read a progressive set of descriptive details or clues about something; And of course, after each clue - they make an inference about what the object could be. Clues are arranged from general to specific; with each new clue, readers  rethink their guess based on the new information. When the answer is revealed students can discuss how the clues helped them, how close they got - and, in some cases, reread to see where and why their thinking went awry. 

Mystery animal passages are especially fun. Here are a few to try with your students.  (Suggestion: print out, and cut out and put individual clues in numbered envelopes - with the answer in a special “Solution!” one.  

Some of these are challenging!  Remember that success is measured by being open to revising your thinking.  And, if you are stumped - it’s an opportunity to learn about an animal new to you! 

Want to write your own animal mysteries?  Use the animal fact link provided.  Or, try other 

Animal Mystery #1      Animal Mystery #2      Animal Mystery #3      Animal Mystery #4

Animal Mystery #5     Animal Mystery #6      Animal Mystery #7       READING mystery #8 

Animal Mystery #9     Animal Mystery #10

Write more mysteries? Get some animal facts HERE.

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