From the slideshow:
Media Detectives
Cracking the Case of Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type
Free to all educators
Please email DK@InquiringMindsInstitute.org for password access for downloads and to arrange free consultation.
Main Benefits:
Enhances Critical Thinking – Engages students in analyzing sources, identifying biases, and constructing well-reasoned conclusions.
Promotes Civic Awareness – Encourages students to recognize multiple perspectives and practice democratic discourse.
Fosters Collaboration – Builds a cooperative learning environment where students work together as investigators and sources.
Supports Standards-Based Learning – Aligns with inquiry-based learning frameworks to help teachers meet curriculum goals.
Creates an Engaging Classroom – Uses role-play and interactive problem-solving to make learning dynamic and memorable.
Time: 45 min. Ideally, we should have forty five minutes to play out the game. The Inquiring Minds team views this as a good activity to work on after lunch (as an energizer for the afternoon’s curriculum).
What’s needed:
Provided by Inquiring Minds:
Sources subfolder with PDFs of secret character perspective cards and media they created including facts and eyewitness testimonies (print out or view on the source’s tablet).
Avery name tag template identifying the roles (provided in folder)
Slideshow to start off the game (includes a read aloud of Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type)
Provided by educator:
Detective Learning Wall - super easy to make
Pens for detectives to write notes to add to Learning Wall
optional:
notepads for the detectives is a plus (ok to use post its instead)
A copy of Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type is helpful for reference for clues.
Costumes are both helpful and fun.