As a background to this project, children may have previously worked on 'stranger danger' and personal safety issues.
Children in groups
Before the event, organise the squads, about four children in each squad. Allocating more than four team members could be a waste of manpower, equally, using less than four team members might prevent the children from coping! These should be mixed ability groupings, ensuring that each group has at least one fluent reader. Where appropriate, one member of the group should be designated as a runner, with the job of collecting new messages as they come off the printer. Each message must be read aloud by the group.
Introduction
Introduction to this work should take the form of background work, including discussions on responsible behaviour and role plays on, for example, running errands for parents. Where are children allowed to go? Why? What kind of rules do their parents have?
Make a list of appropriate guidelines for children of peer group age when going to the shops or to the park with friends.
On the day you have chosen for your session, begin the message stream immediately at the start of the lesson.
Start the message stream
Demonstrate to the pupils how to open the first message and read aloud the briefing. Distribute the note-taking sheets and answer any questions. When you are ready, 'log on' to begin the message stream. At this point pupils become responsible for collecting and reading messages as they arrive.
During the message stream
There are a number of points during the message stream when the groups are required to submit a report. There are only five minute periods allocated for these reports (and corresponding five minute lulls in the message stream). These reports should be produced collaboratively, with perhaps each team member describing their findings in the different sections (a, b, c, d). A member from each squad should give the reports to you so that you can 'send them on to the Chief Constable'. Where computers are available, pupils may like to email their findings to the 'Chief of Police' at an address you have set up.
After the message stream
When the stream of messages is over, allow the squads time to reflect and then issue them with the follow up task. Each squad must mount a presentation to the rest of the group detailing:
- what they think happened
- why they think the two children went missing (including the clues that led to this conclusion)
- where they went and why (including the clues that led to this conclusion)
- how they ended up at their final destination (including clues).
Pupils may wish to describe how their ideas of what happened changed over the course of the messages. They could use their previously submitted investigation reports to show this.
Pupils can use their investigation reports as submitted during the message stream and diagrams, blackboards, flipcharts (if available), or any other means which may aid their explanation.
They must organise their squad so that the presentation is shared around the group. Allow them at least half an hour for this stage (more if you think they need it and you have the time available).
Conclusion
End the session with the presentations. Visiting 'officials' can ask questions after each presentation, as can members of other squads.
Extend the session by selecting a curricular linked activity.
