lessons/Cookie_Mystery.txt

The Mystery of the Missing Cookies

Hello, Detective! We need you to solve an urgent case in Animal Village.

The Case:
Mrs. Bear baked a plate of honey cookies and left them to cool in the window. When she came back, they were gone!

Suspects:
1. Mr. Fox (Loves sweets, but says he was sleeping).
2. Speedy Squirrel (Always hungry, but too small to reach the window).
3. Mischievous Raccoon (Has crumbs on his whiskers, but says they are from bread).

Your Investigation:

1. Gathering Clues (Observation & Logic):
   - Clue 1: There are footprints in the mud near the window. They are small and have long fingers.
   - Clue 2: You found some gray fur in the bush.
   - Clue 3: It smells like honey near the river burrow.

2. Interrogation (Social Skills & Empathy):
   - Ask Mr. Fox: "Where were you at 3 o'clock?"
   - Ask the Squirrel: "Did you see anyone near Mrs. Bear's house?"
   - Ask the Raccoon: "What did you have for lunch today?"

3. Evidence Analysis (Critical Thinking):
   - The Fox is orange, so the gray fur isn't his.
   - The Squirrel is too short to reach the window without help.
   - The Raccoon is gray, has long fingers and... crumbs on his face!

4. Solving the Case:
   - Who do you think took the cookies?
   - It was the Mischievous Raccoon!
   - But wait, the Raccoon says he was very hungry and had no food.

5. The Friendly Solution (Conflict Resolution):
   - What should we do?
   - The Raccoon should apologize to Mrs. Bear.
   - Mrs. Bear teaches the Raccoon to ask "please" instead of taking things without permission.
   - Everyone shares a new batch of cookies together!

Suggested Activities:
- Play "I Spy" to practice observation.
- Draw the suspects.
- Bake your own cookies (with an adult's help!).