Are you looking for interesting middle school mystery lessons for your students? Check out these engaging non-fiction articles about famous mysteries such as Who Was D.B. Cooper or The Loch Ness Monster. These lessons are perfect for days when several of your students are absent due to a school event or as entertaining lessons before a holiday break or the end of the year.
Middle School Mystery Lessons
With these middle school mystery lessons, students will love theorizing if mythical creatures exist or if D.B. Cooper and the Alcatraz escapees survived.
Each Middle School Mystery Lesson Contains:
- Lesson Plan
- Pre-Reading Activity
- A Non-Fiction Article Written At Two Different Reading Levels
- Mp3 Audio Files Of Each Article
- 3 Post-Reading Activities (comprehension questions, grammar questions, long answer writing) response
The D.B. Cooper Mystery Non-Fiction Article
In this D. B. Cooper Mystery Non-Fiction Article, students will learn about the mystery surrounding the only unsolved skyjacking in American history. In 1971, a man boarded an airplane and sent his demands to the FBI. He escaped with the ransom money and was never heard from again.
You can find the D. B. Cooper Mystery Non-Fiction Article on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Teacher Feedback:
“My students found this material so intriguing! That can be difficult to accomplish with nonfiction text, but everyone was very engaged.” – Christina D.
The Disappearance of Amelia Earhart Non-Fiction Article
Students will learn about the mysterious disappearance of Amelia Earhart (a well-known female aviator) in this Disappearance of Amelia Earhart Non-Fiction Article. You can find the this resource on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Teacher’s Feedback:
“My kids were highly engaged with this topic and it allowed for great conversation. I loved the leveled reading option as it allowed all my students to be successful!” – Middle in the Mountains
Alcatraz Non-Fiction Article
In this Alcatraz Non-Fiction Article, students will learn about Alcatraz, a former maximum-security prison. You can find the Alcatraz Non-Fiction Article on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Teacher Feedback:
“This was a great way for me to introduce the novel I was about to read aloud to my students (based on Alcatraz). It gave the students information and plenty of ways to show their learning. The students were really engaged, especially my male students. It is not easy to engage male students in reading exercises so I was impressed. I have many products from this seller and they are amazing!” – Carolyn J.
The Mystery of Oak Island Non-Fiction Article
In this Mystery of Oak Island Non-Fiction Article, students will learn about the mystery behind Oak Island near Nova Scotia, Canada. Legends claim that pirates buried their treasure on the island. You can find the Mystery of Oak Island Non-Fiction Article on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Teacher Feedback:
“My students really enjoyed learning about this Canadian mystery! Easy to prep and good activities to go along with the article.” – Chelsea P.
The Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle Non-Fiction Article
In this Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle Non-Fiction Article, students will learn about the mysterious disappearances of ships and planes while passing through the Bermuda Triangle. You can find the Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle Non-Fiction Article on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Teacher Feedback:
“My students love these non-fiction articles and actually requested that we learn more about the Bermuda Triangle. This was an excellent and very engaging resource!” – Kayla W.
The Mystery of the Loch Ness Monster Non-Fiction Article
Students will learn about the Loch Ness Monster’s mystery in this Mystery of the Loch Ness Monster Non-Fiction Article. You can find this resource on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Teacher Feedback:
“I used this on a day when I had a sub. The kids remained engaged during class time and couldn’t wait to tell me what they learned about the Loch Ness Monster when I got back! I used this resources in my Fairy Tales, Myths, and Legends unit.” – Emily M.
The Mystery of Bigfoot Non-Fiction Article
In this Mystery of Bigfoot Non-Fiction Article, students will learn about the mystery behind Bigfoot, a huge creature said to live in the forests of Canada and the USA. You can find the Mystery of Bigfoot Non-Fiction Article on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Teacher Feedback:
“This is a great resource and just what I was looking for! Thank you! My students loved this activity!” – Angela H.
The Yeti Non-Fiction Article
In this Yeti Non-Fiction Article, students will learn about this mysterious creature that lives in the Himalayan mountains. You can find the Yeti Non-Fiction Article on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Teacher Feedback:
“This was a great resource for my 6th grade social studies classroom. Thank you!” – Jennifer C.
Crime Scene Investigations Non-Fiction Article
Although not a traditional mystery like the previous articles mentioned, students might enjoy learning how science professionals solve mysteries of a criminal nature. In this Crime Scene Investigations Forensic Science Non-Fiction Article, students will learn about different science techniques used by crime scene investigators. You can find this resource on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Teacher Feedback:
“Great non-fiction article! The students found it so interesting and were really into doing further research into the topic!” – Sarah J.
Why not try a digital escape room?
Digital escape rooms are wildly popular in the middle school classroom and you may want to incorporate the following one into your middle school mystery lessons. As like the Crime Scene Investigations Non-Fiction Article, this digital escape room is not a traditional mystery, but it still pairs nicely with learning about different mysteries of the world.
This Forensic Science Digital Escape Room is a perfect activity to help build community and engage students in social-emotional learning for 6th, 7th, or 8th grade. It allows students to work independently or with their peers to solve 11 forensic science-themed challenges “locks.” Students must solve the required challenges to solve the crime of their principal’s missing car. Participants will use their reading and listening comprehension skills and general knowledge about forensic science (working dogs, fingerprints, footprints, etc.) to solve each challenge.
Teacher Feedback:
“I purchased this product for my middle school summer camp, and it was a fantastic decision! The activities were engaging, and the kids loved completing all of the activities. The clear directions made it easy to follow, allowing campers to think critically as they pieced together clues. This product was a hit, and I will definitely use it again in future camps! Highly recommend for educators looking to add a fun, educational twist to their programming.” – Big Bang Science
This digital escape room is not scary and does not involve real crimes except for a cat who steals. You can find the Forensic Science Digital Escape Room on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Use these middle school mystery lessons to keep your students interested in learning and engaged in your lessons.
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