Mystery Unit Vocabulary

an excuse that an accused person uses to show that he or she was not at the scene of the crime

• deduction

• crime

• witness

• alibi

A discovery that helps solve the crime

• hunch

• motive

• breakthrough

• sleuth

Something that is unknown

• mystery

• witness

• deduction

• crime

An action that breaks the law

• alibi

• red herring

• suspect

• crime

detectives and sleuths are the same because they

• commit crimes

• find false clues

• investigate crimes and look/gather clues

• are the people who have a motive

A witness is someone who...

• investigates a crime

• saw something or has knowledge about the crime

• finds clues to solve a crime

• investigates detectives in a case

I had a ___________ that he was the one who committed the crime. He just seemed a bit suspicious!

• breakthrough

• suspect

• alibi

• hunch

All of these are examples of evidence that can be gathered at a crime scene to help solve a crime except:

• a FINGERPRINT

• A PIECE OF HAIR

• A DROP OF BLOOD

• A PIECE OF FURNITURE

Mrs. McMillin wasn't at school on Friday. Mrs. Czech and Mrs. McMillin's classes are reading mysteries in class. They couldn't believe it. Someone stole a cookie from the NOMS cafeteria last Friday. There is a real mystery to be solved! Who would not be possible suspects in this crime?

• Mrs. McMillin

• Mrs. Czech

• 6th grade students

A false clue that throws the investigator off track is called a...

• alibi

• red herring

• deduction

• evidence