3rd Grade September Math Adventure- The Native American Activism Mystery

The Baffled Bungler has accidentally destroyed an exhibit in a museum about Native American activism, but he isn’t sure which one burnt up! The Learning League is on the case! It’s up to your class and the League to solve the clues by solving math problems and narrow down the missing event of Native American activism. This Math Adventure will keep your classroom explorers engaged and working hard on math skills, while learning some social studies!
 
Also available for 4th and 5th grade.

WHO is this mystery for?
Students on the 3rd grade level who are practicing these math skills: 
Continue the Pattern
Subtract Multiple Numbers Word Problems
Even or Odd Representations
Adding 4 Numbers
Identify the Number of Ones, Tens, Hundreds
 
Teachers looking for a quick-prep, rigorous but differentiated, interdisciplinary activity that showcases topics that are often ignored or unexplored within social studies and science curriculum. 
 
WHAT is included?
This adventure is an hour-long activity that can be completed in 3 Tracks:
 
Track 1: ORIGINAL
Students read the mystery on a printed booklet, and they solve the clues by answering questions on Google Slides, which they can access with a QR code or link on a computer, tablet, or phone.
Track 2: ANALOG
Students read the mystery on a printed booklet, and they solve the clues by answering questions on printed task cards.
Track 3: DIGITAL
Students read the mystery in one browser window of Google Slides, and they solve the clues by toggling between another browser window of Google Slides to answer questions. This method works great for laptops, but is not recommended for tablets. 
 
No matter which track you take, the core of the activity is the same. Students always have access to the mystery story, 44 math problems, 5 Social Studies Exploration posters, a Writing Challenge, and an integral poster about:
 
Mount Rushmore, Occupy Alcatraz, Protect the Peaks, Standing Rock, & Trail of Broken Treaties
 
Students will walk away from this lesson knowing these social studies concepts:
Native Americans have been resisting all of American history and still are today
Why indigenous people have needed to protest
How students can support the struggle of our Native citizens today
and more!!
 
*interested in exploring more important Native American topics? Check out the Native American Tradition Mystery and the Case of the Influential Native American*
 
WHEN is it designed to be completed?
These skills are best practiced at the beginning of the year, and National Native American Day happens to be the fourth Friday in September!
 
WHERE can students solve this mystery?
Students can complete this activity in your classroom with pen and paper or technology, and even from home, thanks to the Digital Track!
 
HOW can this activity be differentiated?
Using either of these methods, you can scaffold these activities to meet each of your students, exactly where they’re at.
 
CUSTOMIZATION: great for students above and below grade level
Each math problem can be edited to whatever you please! Hypothetically, you could buy this mystery for the framework it provides, and change every single question. 
AUDIO SUPPORTS: great for multilingual students
For the tracks including technology, your students have access to a read-aloud of not just the story, but each word written on Google Slides. 
 
WHY should your students adventure with the Learning League?
 
Low teacher prep/High student engagement
Anti-racist curriculum that uplifts women and Black and Indigenous people of color
Three activity tracks with DISTANCE LEARNING OPTION
Audio scaffolding and editable problems
 
TRY OUT A MYSTERY FOR FREE!
Download The Oil Spill Mystery for math and The Case of the Absent Abolitionist for reading.
 
Adventure also available on TeachersPayTeachers!