826michigan

Jane

Cousin Atti (she was such a great actress, some people thought she was really sick!)  :)  

Edna Speilberg

Our case files are SO cool!

After riding the AATA bus, we land at Blake Transit Center and make our way to Liberty Street, where we enter the Robot Repair Shop (always fun to pass through this fun shop!) and head back to the lab.  Kids gathered on the floor to meet Cat and find out what they will be working on in our two-hour time slot.  They were asked to write a story and began to talk about plot, characters, problems within the story, etc..   Suddenly, they are interrupted by the evil Dr. Blotch.  She is communicating via speakers from the Moon (she’s visiting her vacation home).  She immediately starts yelling at Cat and she complains that her glasses have been stolen.  After a lot of haggling (she hates kids, so Cat does her best to convince her the room is full of adults, she agrees to let Cat and the adult detectives in the room solve the mystery of the missing pair of glasses.  Three suspects are paraded through and kids get a chance to interview and question each suspect.  While they are interviewing, there is an 826 staff member taking notes on the computer and what she is typing, it is being projected behind Cat where kids can read what she has written.  Cat has prepared them to interview the suspects and discussed key words (alibi, suspect, evidence, motive, scene of the crime, etc.) and guides them while they ask questions, learning about each suspect and why they might be the guilty one.  They were AMAZING.  They asked thoughtful and relevant questions, noting how each suspect evaded questions and how their body language made them think they were lying.  After interviewing the three suspects, they were sent to write a letter to Dr. Blotch telling her who they think took her glasses and WHY.  They needed to give EVIDENCE as to why they chose this suspect, trying to convince her of their guilt.  They were also given a chance to create an ID badge and personnel file.  Brilliant work was being done at every table, from every pencil.  Every single kid was on task for the entire 2 hours.  Two hours.  To wrap up our day, we had to share our letters with Dr. Blotch so she was able to determine who she thought stole her diary.  Was it: Edna Speilberg?  Her fancy and rich next-door neighbor?  Atti, her mooching cousin?  Or was it a former employee, Jane?  They guessed and several kids thought it was all THREE suspects.  As it turns out, it WAS ALL THREE!  J