My Dog Stole my Underwear!
by Georgia, first grade writer
One day, my dog Copper opened my underwear drawer. He stole all my underwear! He then tried to steal the underwear I was wearing. While I was sleeping, he pulled down the covers, and took that pair too.
I told my Mom and Dad.
I found Copper’s secret lair. Inside his lair were potions, a belt from a robe and other things like dog toys, chicken bones and a spatula. I didn’t see any underwear!
We called our neighbors and they helped us look for Copper. We went to the park and we saw Copper digging a hole. He was putting my underwear in the hole.
We didn’t know why he did this so we took him home and said, “Bad, bad, boy!” Now we lock up my underwear and I’m the only one with a key.
(Click here to view and print Georgia and two of her classmates' mystery stories.)
Missing Soap
by Wisam, second grade writer
Once there was a rich family. They bought a muskrat because he looked cute. The pet store salesperson said the muskrat was old. They put him in a cage so he wouldn’t go everywhere.
The next day, the mother was drowsy so she wasn’t paying attention and she lost her soap. On that day, the muskrat got white spots. He felt like bubbles. Mother heard an odd sound like bubbles popping.
They just thought the muskrat was getting older.
Their daughter turned white, too, and her mother thought she had the soap. But it turned out she was just getting pale because she was worried about the crime.
Suddenly the soap slipped from the muskrat’s paw. They knew he was the thief. The muskrat never stole the soap again.
(Click here to view and print Wisam and one of his classmate's mystery stories.)
Student Samples: Upper Elementary
My Brother's Crime
by Alex, fourth grade writer
“Ahhhh! Mom, call 911! Call a lawyer! Call National Security! Call anyone!”
My video games were missing. I kept my games on this table in my bedroom. Erik, my brother, always went in my room when I’m not there, and I think it was him. I never let him play my games, and I think he stole them because they’re the most popular and expensive games that everyone wants.
I looked under my bed, on the table, downstairs and upstairs, but nothing. I think he is playing them right now with his friend at his friend’s house or in his secret lair. Or maybe in a underground house. So I had the police and the S.W.A.T. team start investigating.
One night later, I saw him riding on a new motorcycle on the street. I thought to myself, "Erik can’t drive, or can he?" The next morning I told the police and S.W.A.T team that I saw him, and they investigated every house on that road.
Finally one night I found my brother sneaking into my room and putting back the games. He still had to serve community service, and he hated it but that‘s what he got for stealing my video games.
(Click here to view and print Alex and another fourth grader's mystery stories.)
My Stolen Homework
by Elizabeth, fourth grade writer
Seven words were all it took for a person to know something special was missing: “Please get your Social Studies homework out.”
Those were the words of my teacher, Mrs. Pritchard. I picked up my blue homework folder with the fancy-looking gold imprint that read ‘Parent/Teacher Communication Folder’ on the bottom to take out my homework. But wait! To my shocking surprise, it was gone! Thoughts were racing through my mind. What devious, terrible, and monstrous person could have taken it? A bully? A real robber? The thought made me shudder. Then, as if a person had pulled a file from my brain, a light bulb popped over my head. I knew who had done it: Mrs. Pritchard. My instincts told me she was the one because she loves Social Studies so much.
Immediately, I charged up from my somewhat clean desk and to her ‘mini office’. “Yes, Elizabeth?” Mrs. Pritchard asked.
I loved listening to her teaching and all, but I reminded myself to be angry at her. “You know what you did, Mrs. P,” I said accusingly.
“Why, I don’t know what you’re talking about Elizabeth,” she responded.
“Mrs. Pritchard, you know your exact ferocious actions,” I blurted.
(Click here to view and print Elizabeth's entire mystery story.)
