How a Case Unfolds

From the First Clue
to the Final Verdict


In every Cactus Curricula mystery, your student isn’t simply reading about an investigation; they’re living it.

Each decision they make, each piece of evidence they examine, and each theory they form moves them closer to their own unique ending. It’s part forensic science, part storytelling—a choose-your-own-adventure investigation where their analysis determines the outcome.


Throughout the case, your student will:

  • Read the unfolding story in short, engaging chapters that reveal suspects, clues, and unexpected twists.
  • Examine realistic evidence files that contain photographs, documents, letters, maps, and other relevant case materials.
  • Run hands-on forensic labs to test or verify evidence—such as handwriting analysis, chromatography, fiber comparison, or DNA testing—using accessible materials.
  • Study suspect profiles and track alibis, looking for contradictions or suspicious details.
  • Compare new findings with earlier clues to build and refine their theory as the case develops.
  • Apply critical thinking skills to separate fact from assumption and eliminate distractions.
  • Write their own ending to the mystery, explaining how the evidence led them to their conclusions.


Every step blends reading comprehension, applied science, and creative writing, with an emphasis on problem-solving and analytical thinking. By the time the case closes, they won’t just know what happened—they’ll have built the proof themselves.

Available Formats: Solo Student and Group Editions, both with a free Teacher’s Edition included in every purchase.

Mystery Release Schedule

  • Mystery 1: The Case of the Missing Mona Leah—August 22, 2025
  • Mystery 2: The Case of the Boston Burglaries—October 3, 2025
  • Mystery 3: The Case of Hiker Heather Hensley—November 14, 2025
  • Mystery 4: Who Poisoned Paul?—January 2, 2026
  • Mystery 5: Derk the Caveman—February 20, 2026
  • Mystery 6: Brian the Broken Biker—April 3, 2026




Take a Deeper Dive into the Curriculum

The path is the same in both editions: each mystery unfolds over six weeks with identical stories, labs, and evidence. The difference is in how students participate; the Solo Student Edition supports one student working individually, while the Group Edition is designed for siblings, co-ops, or classrooms working together.

How the Mysteries Work

Each mystery is divided into six weekly sessions and designed to run approximately two to three hours, plus personal writing time. If you need to shorten or split the sessions, you absolutely can. This engaging program includes everything you need to create a memorable and educational experience.



Each Week Follows This Pattern

Storyline

Every mystery begins with the unfolding storyline. Each chapter pulls students deeper into the case, introducing suspects, revealing fresh clues, and raising new questions, keeping the suspense alive and the detectives guessing until the very end.

Team Collaboration Talking Points or Think Like a Detective

In each mystery, students pause after the story segment to process what has just happened. In the Group Edition, they work together using Team Collaboration Talking Points to spark discussion and analyze clues as a team. In the Solo Edition, students use Think Like a Detective prompts to reflect individually, guiding them to consider new evidence, motives, and theories. Both formats serve the same purpose, helping students think critically and step into the role of a detective.

Evidence Review & Crime Board Setup

The evidence folder contains that session’s forensic materials, photos, handwritten notes, maps, reports, and more. These documents are meant to feel like real case files landing on a detective’s desk. Students examine each piece as they collaborate and build their theory.

To bring the mystery to life, we recommend setting up a bulletin board where students can visually track the case. These become their detective “command centers,” ideal for pinning evidence, marking timelines, sketching out theories, and connecting ideas.

Lab Time

Every mystery includes themed science experiments tied to that week’s developments. For the Mona Leah case, these focus on forensic chemistry and document examination. Labs are hands-on, engaging, and written to work with basic supplies.

Each lab comes with a Student Lab Worksheet, which includes:

  • A brief explanation of the lab project
  • A section for notes, drawings, or charts
  • A checklist to reflect on what they did
  • One or more meaningful questions to connect science to the mystery

Take a Deeper Dive Videos (Optional)

For students who want to delve further, each mystery includes optional "Take a Deeper Dive Videos". These brief clips bring science, history, and forensic techniques to life, helping students make real-world connections to the case they’re investigating. They’re entirely optional, but they enrich the experience for curious learners who enjoy exploring beyond the mystery itself.



Forensic Focus Questions (FFQ)

These research-driven questions prompt students to delve beyond the mystery itself, connecting real-world science and forensic techniques to the unfolding case before them. Each question challenges them to think like investigators, drawing connections between fact and fiction.

Writing Assignments

This is an English course like no other. Each mystery unfolds over the six weeks as students step into the roles of both investigator and storyteller. By the end, every student will have written their own complete crime tale, filled with clues, motives, and twists, using the provided suspects and evidence.

The first mystery, The Case of the Missing Mona Leah, begins in Week 1 with a shocking discovery: the Mona Leah painting is missing, and five suspects are revealed. Each following week deepens the investigation as new evidence is analyzed and motives explored, inspiring the next chapter.

Students must include all five suspects and reference each piece of evidence, but beyond that, the direction is theirs to choose. Some will write as detectives solving the case, while others will write as curators, guards, or even thieves. Every voice is unique, and the stories often surprise with dramatic reveals and clever twists.

Even reluctant writers find success. The mysteries provide built-in characters, suspects, and clues, so students never face the stress of a blank page. Each week gives clear direction, introducing a scene, adding a clue, or developing a motive, so they keep writing without feeling overwhelmed. Some students work best by staying close to our original storyline, retelling scenes in their own words, or making small adjustments along the way. That’s perfectly fine. By Week 6, even these gradual steps will have shaped a unique version of the case, complete with their chosen culprit. The structure builds confidence while leaving room for creativity, and hesitant writers often surprise themselves by not only finishing the project but also enjoying it and realizing they’re capable of far more than they imagined.

Forensic Science Showcase

The Forensic Science Showcase is the capstone project for this course, appearing in all six mysteries but typically presented only once to meet credit requirements.

For states requiring additional hours, or for students wanting a greater challenge, each mystery also includes optional My Research and My Forensic Lab projects. These can be paired with the Showcase or completed separately to extend learning.

The Showcase invites students to present their theories, explain how science informed their conclusions, and reflect on their stories, blending forensic evidence, critical thinking, and creative writing.

Print Center

In the Print Center, you’ll find exactly what students need each week:

  • Evidence File materials to track suspects, evidence, and clues
  • Lab Worksheets for hands-on forensic activities
  • Table of Contents Checklist for students to mark progress as they move through the case

Everything is organized so that you only need to print a few specific pages for the week, saving you time and money—no more endless printing.

Most Important of All...

Have fun with it. This isn’t a scripted curriculum. It’s a flexible mystery adventure, and you’re the guide. You get to decide how immersive, suspenseful, or scientific you want to be.

Encourage your students to think deeply, be curious, follow the evidence, and build a story they’ll remember!

Some students will run wild with theories. Some will stay methodical and scientific. Both are valid paths. Let them explore and learn from mistakes and dead ends. You’re not just teaching science or writing; you’re developing thinkers who can integrate multiple skills with imagination and creativity.