The Mystery Files
Describe what you notice, ask a sharper question, and defend a conclusion with evidence.
Nia Calder apprentices with Detective Omar Voss in the Harbor City archive. Eight cases teach the difference between what was seen and what it might mean.
World Language Architecture
- Language Focus
- Description, questioning, evidence, and inference
- Signature Bench Tool
- Evidence Sorter
- Grade Bands
- Grades 3–5 & Grades 6–8
- Playable Status
- 2 of 8 cases playable in this build
Interactive Episodes
Adventures in The Mystery Files
- Case 01 · Playable NowKey Use: InformELD-LA · Language Arts~18 min · Grades 3–5 & 6–8
The Lantern in the Stacks
A light moved after the archive closed. Describe it before you decide who moved it.
Nia Calder's first night in the Harbor City archive begins with a lantern that is no longer where Jun left it. She has to listen to the closing report, read the desk note, and tell Detective Voss what was observed.
Communicative Objective
Students describe what a witness observed and separate that observation from a guess about who moved the lantern.
Interactive Mechanics & Vocabulary
Bench Tool: Evidence Sorter (2 story forks). Words: observe, evidence, inference, witness, detail, report.
- Case 02 · Playable NowKey Use: ArgueELD-LA · Language Arts~20 min · Grades 3–5 & 6–8
The Salt-Stained Ledger
Harbor shipping ledger #12 came back with a crust of sea salt on page eight. Reconstruct the timeline before you blame the dock clerk.
The morning after the lantern case, Archive Keeper Jun Park discovers a white crust of dried harbor spray across page eight of the 1912 Wharf Ledger. Someone carried the book outside during the 5:30 p.m. squall and returned it before 6:00 p.m. Nia and Detective Voss must listen to the checkout log, inspect the weather slip, order the timeline, and write an evidence-based sequence report.
Communicative Objective
Students sequence an investigative timeline from multiple timestamps and argue which window of time accounts for the salt damage.
Interactive Mechanics & Vocabulary
Bench Tool: Sequence Builder (2 story forks). Words: timeline, residue, interval, verify, conclude, alibi.
Complete 8-Case Scope & Sequence
The Mystery Files · Episode Arc
- 01Play
The Lantern in the Stacks
Active branching adventure
- 02Play
The Salt-Stained Ledger
Active branching adventure
- 03
Two Keys at the Harbor Gate
Planned world syllabus case
- 04
The Clockmaker's Alibi
Planned world syllabus case
- 05
Footprints in the Bindery
Planned world syllabus case
- 06
The Missing Charter Seal
Planned world syllabus case
- 07
Echoes Under Pier Nine
Planned world syllabus case
- 08
The Archivist's Final Brief
Planned world syllabus case