Second graders at Mirror Lake Elementary put their detective skills to the test as they investigated fairy tale “crime scenes.”

After exploring the elements of fairy tales by comparing and contrasting two versions of the same story, students examined clues and textual evidence to determine which version matched the scene.

The activity encouraged students to think critically, justify their reasoning and support their conclusions with evidence from the text.

“This activity gave students an engaging way to apply reading skills while strengthening critical thinking, collaboration and evidence-based reasoning,” said gifted teacher Lindsay Lennert. “They were excited to defend their ideas using details from the stories, making the learning both meaningful and memorable.”