Growth Mindset Math Mystery: Case of the Magnificent Growth Mindset - 1st Grade Edition
Growth Mindset Math Mystery Activity - 1st Grade Edition.
Easy prep! Just Print & Solve! Or go paperless with the new Google Slides option provided within your download.
⭐Optional video hook included for introducing the case! (Check it out in the preview section)
⭐BONUS: Ending video added to wrap up the case!
This mystery has been tailored to use early in the school year, so the math reviews concepts from the previous grade level to help you assess your students.
Students must use their math skills to unlock clues. Then, use their powers of deduction to narrow down the list of nominees to find the winner! The list is shorter and with profile pictures in the first-grade edition.
Suggestion: For this specific mystery, I recommend keeping the possible winners list away from students till the end.
- Easy Prep! Print the student pages, staple or place in a folder, and your students are set to go.
- Have the video hook ready for viewing at the start of the lesson on an IWB, iPad or computer monitor screen.
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Math Skills Required to Unlock Clues
There are five clues to crack to solve the mystery:
- Clue 1: Counting Objects (1-20)
- Clue 2: Addition with Pictures (less than 20)
- Clue 3: Subtraction with Pictures (less than 20)
- Clue 4: Comparing Numbers - Circle the larger number (less than 20)
- Clue 5: Comparing Numbers - Circle the smaller number (less than 20)
Students must use critical thinking skills to figure out what the clue is telling them to eliminate from the list of possibilities.
There's an optional video hook that you can use to set the stage to engage!
Multiple Uses
- Suitable for independent, pairs, or group work.
- Use as part of your math centers, add to your sub tubs, make it part of your early finisher tasks, give for homework, or make it part of your classroom practice/review sessions.
I recommend pacing this activity by giving students one clue at a time. Once the whole class has completed a clue, then move on to the next clue either within the same lesson or the next math session. New math content presented? Make a lesson out of it by modeling the math before diving into the clue. I like to say, "we must learn something new before attempting the next clue."
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How long will this activity take?
Time to complete will vary anywhere between 30mins - 2 hours or more! It mainly depends on how familiar your students are with the math mystery format, as well as how difficult they find math skills covered in the particular mystery. Please check the math skills outlined in the clues above to help determine suitability for your class.
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Other grade editions of the Case of the Growth Mindset are available if you would like the same mystery file, but different math involved.
Answer key included!
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Not sure what a math mystery is? CLICK HERE to watch a video about Math Mysteries or read this blog post: What is a Math Mystery?
Read Blog Post: FIVE Easy Ways to use Math Mysteries in your Classroom.
Check out this blog post to save paper:
How to Create Reusable Math Mystery Files to Save Paper
Please note that the Grade 1 Math Mysteries cannot be 'clue swapped' with other Grade Math Mystery versions for customization/differentiation as you usually can with Grades 2-6.
Mrs. J.
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