Lesson & Activity Plan

Name: Kirsten den Elzen

Level: 3D VWO

Date: 07/10/2015
School: Bonaventura College Roelofarendsveen

RATIONALE
Pupils interests, needs, level and background knowledge:
Interests:
Needs:
Level:
Background knowledge:
A. Language:
B. Skills:
C. Concepts:
The students should be able to understand the murder mystery concept; the game Cluedo (or Clue
in English) is fairly well known. If they do not know the concept, I will provide them with information.

Anticipated problems / Back-up plan:

-

Students may not know what murder mystery solving is Elicit explanations from other
students.

Overall aims of the lesson are:

To improve their speaking skills with focus on accuracy and the use of the past tense.
To improve their listening skills with regards to listening for detail.
To improve their critical thinking skills with regards to filtering useful information and
selecting received input.

Learning outcomes:
At the end of the lesson, the learners will be able to
A. Pose questions with the goal of obtaining the required information in the context of solving
a crime scene investigation.
B. Use the past tense in interrogative and affirmative form.
C. Listen in order to obtain the information regarding a scene; the learners will be able to filter
the information they receive.
D. Use their critical thinking skills to elicit information about a scene.

Evidence of achievement of outcomes:

I walk around (monitoring) whilst they communicate with each other about alibies, motives and
clues. I will steer them with language where needed and give input on appropriate vocabulary and
grammar. At the end of the lesson they will write down which questions they used to elicit the
required information. I will ask one of the best students to tell me the questions s/he used, one of
the average learners and one of the lower scoring learners; this should give a good reflection
whether the learners have been capable to achieve the outcomes.

Materials & Teaching Aids:

Whiteboard marker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyV9qmyTuiw (Clue intro, 46 seconds)
Projector
PC (for the teacher to show video)

Out of Class Activities:

None

ACTIVITIES
Phase
+ Time
Start up
5 mins

Pre-activity I
3 mins.

Pre-activity
II
10 mins.

WHAT

WHY

HOW

Activity

Aim

Task
organisation

Welcome students

Word of the day:

Mystique

Show video on
YouTube (Clue intro)

Talk about what we just

watched

A. Explain murder mystery

game

To make them feel

welcome in class
To learn a new word
every lesson and
broaden their
vocabulary.

Class work

To activate prior
knowledge.

Class work

To check
understanding

A. To create
understanding of
assignment

B. Ask 1 student to
summarise what we
are going to do

B. To check for
understanding

C. Ask the class why we

do such an activity;
what is the importance,
what do we learn from
this?

C. To create
awareness of the
importance of
assignment and the
goals of this lesson

Class work

Main-activity
15-20 mins

D. Ask students to write

down a number from
one to ten to describe
their confidence in their
speaking ability and
what it is they feel they
can/need to improve.

D. To create
awareness of their
weaknesses and
what we are going
to work on this
lesson. At the end of
the lesson this
number will be
compared
(personally) to
check personal
improvement and
confidence.

E. Teacher read out

background information

E. 1. To get the
students interested.
2. To build
atmosphere and
tension

Split group in two; the

murder mystery will be
taking part in two
groups at the same
time, due to size. One
on the left side of the
classroom, one on the
right.

To give everybody a
fair opportunity to
ask questions and
gather their
information.

Hand out who am I

cards.

To provide
everybody with a
role and so nobody
feels left out behind.

Ask students what

tense they will have to
use to pose questions
that will answer

To activate prior
knowledge of the
past tense and to
remind them what
language is needed
(Outcome B).

Give students a minute

to think of questions to
ask.

To create more selfesteem when

entering a
conversation

Students ask people in

their group who they
are and what alibies,
motives and clues they
have. The students will
have to speak and
listen to obtain this
information.

So the students can

elicit information
regarding who
murdered Ms.
McGowan. The
learners will practice
their speaking and
listening skills

Individual/
group
work

Post-activity
I
10 mins

Teacher walks around

to monitor language
and to help/steer where
needed.

(Outcome A+C).
-

1. To monitor
behaviour and
language usage.
2. To give direct
feedback on errors
made.

To see if they have

used their thinking
skills (Outcome C)

To create a visual
understanding of
how we got to the
answer.

Ask pupils who did it

and why this person
(motive, alibi and clue)

Make schedule on the

board of all the people:
Who | Alibi | Motive |
Clue and fill in all the
gaps.

Students write down

questions they have
used in their interview.
Teacher asks 3
students (as described
in the evidence of
outcomes) for their
questions.

1. To check for
evidence.
2. To create
awareness of what
has been done and
achieved.
3. To create a
second chance to
process the
language used.

Ask students what they

have learned this
lesson. Ask students if
they feel more
confident speaking
now.

To create
awareness of the
practiced (speaking)
skill and show how
they can easily
practice their
speaking skills
themselves.
This also checks the
evidence of
outcomes.

Class work

Murder Mystery!
Background information
During a school reunion a scream is heard from one of the classrooms. Its 8.30 PM. A
few minutes later the dead body of Miss Eliza McGowan, a cranky old English
teacher, is found. She has been hit on the head. Also found were a number of items
that may lead us to the killer: a book written by one of her ex-students, Simon
Donnelly; a photograph of one of her fellow teachers, a young man called Saul Sheen;
and a handkerchief with the initials I.W. At the moment these are the three main
suspects but everyone who was at the party and saw or spoke to Miss McGowan needs
to be questioned.
Solution
Mr. Green is Saul Sheen's father; he and Miss McGowan had a relationship in
college.
Miss McGowan has always kept it a secret but after the last argument with Saul she
plans to tell him the truth. She tells Mr. Green about her plan and they argue. Louise
King overhears them. Mr. Green is furious and it is he who follows Miss McGowan to
the classroom and hits her over the head. He wasn't in his office when everyone heard
the scream, that's why when Saul Sheen knocked on the door he got no answer.
Your name is Simon Donnelly; you are an ex-student.
Memories of Miss McGowan: She was a very tough teacher, she made you do extra
writing assignments and she said you had talent but you hated all the extra work. But
now you're grateful, you're a writer, you have just written a new book and you
dedicated it to Miss. McGowan.
Last time you saw Miss. McGowan: You saw Miss McGowan at about 7 pm, you gave
her a copy of your new book and she was pleased.
When you heard the scream: You were talking to Louise King, another ex-student.
Your name is Louise King; you are an ex-student.
Memories of Miss McGowan: You thought she was an old hag, you hated her class,
she gave too much homework, she made you hate school so you stopped going. You
didn't do your exams and now you work in a chicken factory. You think it's all Miss
McGowan's fault. You're glad she's dead!
Last time you saw Miss McGowan: You went outside for a cigarette at about 8 pm,
you saw her with Mr. Green, it looked like they were arguing and it seemed serious.
Anyway, they were talking about someone called Paul or Raul or something.you
couldn't hear very well.
When you heard the scream: You were glad for the distraction; you were trying to
escape from boring Simon Donnelly

Your name is Saul Sheen; you are a teacher at the school.

Opinion of Miss McGowan: She was a very serious woman, she wasn't easy to like.
Last time you saw Miss McGowan: Nobody at school knows this but Miss McGowan
was your mother, she gave you up for adoption when you were a baby. You were
having an argument because she wouldn't tell you who your father was. It was about
7:30 pm.
When you heard the scream: You were looking for Mr. Green, the headmaster, you
knocked on his office door but there was no answer.
Your name is Ivan Williams; you are the caretaker at the school.
Opinion of Miss McGowan: You thought that she was a very classy lady; it surprised
you that she wasn't married. You wanted to invite her to dinner but you were afraid she
would say no.
Last time you saw Miss McGowan: You saw her arguing with Mr. Sheen. You never
liked him; he was always upsetting poor Miss McGowan. You went to see if she was
okay, you loaned her your handkerchief, you always carry one because you have
allergies.
When you heard the scream: You were cleaning the floor in the men's toilets.
Your name is Lily Simmons; you are an ex-student.
Memories of Miss McGowan: She was a very scary teacher, most of the students
worked hard because they were afraid of her. You did very well in English and,
because of Miss McGowan, you are training to be a teacher.
Last time you saw Miss McGowan: You spoke to her briefly at about 7:45, you were
telling her about your studies; she didn't seem interested, she kept looking around, then
she saw Mr. Green and said she had to go. You thought she was a bit rude.
When you heard the scream: You were dancing in the Sports Hall with some of the
other ex-students
Your name is Edward Green, you are the headmaster at the school.
Opinion of Miss McGowan: You have known Miss McGowan since you were both
students in college, you thought she was a wonderful woman, you will miss her very
much.
Last time you saw Miss McGowan: You were very busy this evening, you didn't see
Miss McGowan.
When you heard the scream: You were in your office working on the computer.

Your name is Patricia Woods, you are a teacher at the school.

Opinion of Miss McGowan: She was a good teacher but she didn't have very many
friends.
Last time you saw Miss McGowan: She was walking to her classroom, it was about
8:15 pm and she looked upset. You think she was crying; she was wiping her eyes
with a handkerchief.
When you heard the scream: You were serving drinks with some of the other
teachers in the Sports Hall.
Your name is Janice Carroll, you are a teacher at the school.
Opinion of Ms. McGowan: You only just started at the school so you didn't really
know Ms. McGowan.
Last time you saw Ms. McGowan: You didn't see Ms. McGowan at all.
When you heard the scream: You were talking to some of the other new teachers in
the Sports Hall.
Your name is Mike Newell, you are an ex-student.
Opinion of Ms. McGowan: She wasn't one of your teachers when you were at
school but you always heard from your friends that she was very strict.
Last time you saw Ms. McGowan: Early in the evening, the party was just starting.
When you heard the scream: You were getting something to drink in the Sports
Hall.
Your name is Judy Hall, you are an ex-student.
Opinion of Ms. McGowan: She was very strict, not very friendly, most of the
students were afraid of her.
Last time you saw Ms. McGowan: When you arrived at the party, before 7 pm.
When you heard the scream: You were in the Sports Hall dancing with an old
school friend, Lily Simmons.
Your name is Hal Johnson, you are the receptionist at the school.
Opinion of Ms. McGowan: She was a polite woman, not very friendly but you
didn't have any problems with her.
Last time you saw Ms. McGowan: This afternoon while we were getting ready for
the party. You arrived late for the party and you didn't see her all evening.
When you heard the scream: You were washing your hands in the men's room.
Your name is Lucy Marshall, you are an old colleague of Ms. McGowan.
Opinion of Ms. McGowan: When they were younger you would go out for drinks
together with Ms. McGowan and Mr. Green; she was a strict teacher but a lovely
personality.
Last time you saw Ms. McGowan: at the beginning of the party you spoke about
the past for a while, you also spoke about how your paths had separated.
When you heard the scream: you were getting something to drink in the Sports Hall

Murder Mystery
Fill in the sheet and find out who murdered Ms. McGowan.

Who

Alibi

Motive

Clue

Patricia Woods

I solved it! .. did it!