"Mini Mysteries" Mystery Story Writing (Keep It Fresh! Writing Center)

Mini Mysteries is a "Keep It Fresh! Writing Center" in which students write short mystery stories. Through the writing center materials, students plan and write a mini-mystery using a fun little booklet they create. Use it as a writing center, a writing station, or individual writing activity.

Each of my "Keep It Fresh! Writing Centers" is designed to engage students in fresh writing practice without having to create a brand new center each week. Each writing center focuses on one form or part of writing and uses simple ways for you to easily change it and keep it fresh!

With Mini Mysteries, the student is given a missing item and a setting, and uses a planner that guides them through planning a mystery: developing characters, clues, and solving the mystery. The student then cuts and folds a mini-booklet to write their mini-mystery story within. (A step-by-step assembly guide is included to help with the mini-booklet.)

Check out the PREVIEW for a closer look!

Within the resource, I explain how to set-up and organize the writing center using a two-pocket folder and a couple of sheet protectors (*NOTE: Folder and sheet protectors are not included in the resource). This way, everything students will need is contained within the folder, allowing students to simply grab it and go!

What's Included?

• Teacher Information and Detailed Set-Up Instructions
• List of Suggestions for Mystery Inspiration: Missing Items & Settings
• Student Directions
• Mini Mysteries Topic Page
• Student Planners (two differentiated options)
• Mini-Booklet Template (four options)
• Mini-Booklet Assembly Guide
• 4 Tip Cards (with writing tips specific to this center)
• Folder "extras": cover-label, pocket labels
• Scoresheets
• DIGITAL VERSION of the entire writing center, using Google Slides
• Information on Creating a Keep It Fresh! Writing Centers "Hub"

**For personal and single classroom use only. If using with multiple classrooms, please purchase additional licenses at the discounted rate.**

Be sure to check out ALL of my Keep It Fresh! Writing Centers:

1. "Choose Your Chapters" (Fictional Narrative Writing)
2. "Writing Battles" (Persuasive Writing)
3. "Adventures with Strange Items" (Adventure Story Writing)
4. "How-To Guides Through Different Eyes" (Procedural Writing)
5. "Character Scrapbooks" (Developing Characters for Writing)
6. "Problem Fixers" (Opinion Writing)
7. "One-Prop Skits" (Script Writing with Partners)
8. "Object Mash-Ups" (Descriptive Paragraph Writing)
9. "Verb Bundles" (Writing with Strong Verbs)
10. "Mini Mysteries" (Mystery Story Writing)
11. "Split P.O.V.s" (Story Writing from Different Points-of-View)
12. "Voice Letters" (Creative Letter Writing)
13. "Front Page Memories" (Partner Interviews & Article Writing)
14. "Superhero Comics" (Comic Strip Story Writing)
15. "Memory Twists" (Personal Narrative Writing with a Twist)

Or check out the Keep It Fresh! Writing Centers BUNDLE.

You can also grab my free Accessory Pack of tools to help organize and manage Keep It Fresh! Writing Centers within your classroom.

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