Here's a Mystery Cauldron Halloween center activity idea that can be easily differentiated from toddler to elementary school student! It may also be a fun theme to add to your classroom's calming corner if you have one.

This post will first outline the set up, and then list some adaptation suggestions to suit kids from toddler to fifth-grader!

If you are looking for ways to add some fun to practicing rounding numbers, then  check out these fun and free online rounding games. Make the games a part of your math centers if you have iPads, tablets, or computers available (with Internet access), or encourage to play at home to get some extra rounding math practice in. 

If you use Math Mysteries, however hate the amount of paper that is required with all of the photocopying, you may like to try this reusable idea to save paper in the long run.

A bit more prep is required at the start, but then a simple wipe and store away is required for the next time you want to use the case. 

Items needed:
- Copies of the mystery pages (story, suspect list, clue pages, and the optional declaration page). Decide how many copies of a single case you would need at a time. 
- Laminating pouches + a Laminator
- Manila 'Case File' Folders. One folder for each mystery set. 

Steps:

• Laminate all of the printed pages.
• Then store each laminated 'mystery set' into a folder file. 
• I like to print the cover page in color to stick onto the front of the folder . This step is optional. To save ink and paper, you could just label the case title on the tab.

Now your case files are ready for use!

Complete the mystery using a washable marker as in the image examples below:

Once the mystery is solved, grab a damp cloth or a bit of water on some paper towel/tissues to wipe all of the pages clean.

Let the pages dry and put back into the folder. The mystery is ready to be used again. 

While the initial prep for this requires a little bit more effort, the extra step is worth it if you are trying to save on ink and paper in the long run. 

In the sample images, I used the Math Mystery 'Case of the Super Bad Superhero.' Download this fun Math Mystery resource for FREE HERE! 

Planning a week filled with Easter activities that are fun and yet still educational? Well, here is another free resource that you can add to your collection for your math sessions this week.

These Easter 'What's the question?' cards are great to help your students create their own Easter themed math word problems.

How to use
There are 30 cards in this set. Hopefully, that should be enough for at least one card per student. If you have more than 30 students, you’ll need to either make an extra set of cards OR pair students for the activity (one card per pair).

Students pick one card at random and keep their card a secret. On the blank card (or piece of paper) they must create a math word problem that will equal to the answer on the card that they have. For example, “The answer is 3 bunnies” – They know that the math question they make must equal 3 and be bunnies.
Once they finish writing their word problem, they must write their name on the back and either hand back to you, place in a box or get ready to swap with another student.

Give the student made word problems (at random from a box or swapped) to other students. Each student must solve the problem given, and then find the creator of it to see if they answered correctly. Alternatively, you could complete the questions as a class and ‘check in’ with the maker of the word problem to see if it was answered correctly by everyone.  

CLICK HERE to download for FREE from my TPT Store.
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Easter Reading Mystery - Once Upon a Crime, Easter EGGpocalypse!

Easter Reading Mystery: Once Upon A Crime, Easter 'EGGpocalypse.' 
​NO PREP, just print and go! 
- The main goal in this mystery is to encourage reading. 
- The work involved to solve the clues covers skills such as comprehension, spelling, vocabulary, synonyms, cause and effect statements, that work with the reading passages. 
- The discovery format requires a fill in the missing letter process to unlock clues. 
- Reading the text is required to be able to solve the missing letters in words, sentences and statements. 
- Each clue requires students to critically think to decide which suspects they can eliminate from their suspect list. The last suspect remaining is who is responsible for the Easter Eggpocalypse.

All of the reading passages are included in this original story that features your 'student detective' as the hero throughout. 

With Easter nearby, I thought it would be fun to do a little number mystery with a simple egg twist! Use this idea as a:

• Math center
  
• Put on display for your students to work on when they have some spare time throughout the week,  
• Do as a math warm-up with the whole class.

The prep is easy, and I have already put together some clues sets for you to use if you wish. Continue reading to find the free download for this activity. 

• Gather twelve plastic eggs that can be opened and filled.
• Fill one with some candy or maybe a real chocolate egg. I recommend something like M&M’s for easy sharing amongst a group minus a sugar overload. (Answer key pg
• Fill the other plastic eggs up with rocks or something that would sound similar if picked up. This is to prevent students from trying to move the eggs to see if it has something inside.
• Mark the numbers on each egg as in the worksheet templates per set. Ensure that the ‘mystery egg number’ answer is filled with the prize of your choice.
• Instead of rewards or rocks, a simple piece of paper marked with ‘no’ for eleven of them and a ‘yes, well done!’ for the correct mystery egg.
• I used a bit of tape at the bottom of each egg to stand them up and keep them in place. I recommend doing this to stop the eggs from rolling away, and it also discourages tempted hands to pick up the eggs and shake.
• The difficulty for each set in this download varies due to different abilities and needs. Please check the number skills involved with the clue sets to determine suitability.

The AIM is for students to use the clues given to solve which egg is the Mystery Egg! The clues will require them to use their number skills to eliminate possible eggs until there is only one egg left standing. The last egg remaining is the ‘Mystery Egg!’ 

They will only get one crack at picking the right egg. So they must read the clues carefully and be confident about their answer before opening an egg or telling you which egg they think is the right one. 

CLICK HERE to download this freebie from my Teachers Pay Teachers Store. 

• Use the Easter Math Mystery as a fun way to do some spiral review.
• Use the Easter Math Quest for a fun enrichment activity and extra math practice. 
• Use the Easter Math Project to challenge your students with applying a variety of math skills as they create their own Easter Factory. 

All of these activities are print and go! No prep is required by you (except photocopying!) 

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