Vanishing Clues Case File

This worksheet engages students in Grades 4 and 5 in a two-part mystery that strengthens reading comprehension, prediction, and evidence-based reasoning. Learners pause at key moments in the story to analyze vivid clues such as missing items, crumbs, and empty spaces, then make thoughtful predictions about what will happen next, explaining their reasoning using details from the text.

Learning Goals

• Prediction Using Text Evidence (Grades 4-5) – Students anticipate future events by analyzing clues and patterns in the story.
• Close Reading & Attention to Detail – Learners identify subtle hints that support logical predictions.
• Cause-and-Effect Reasoning – Students connect story details to possible outcomes.
• Evidence-Based Explanation – Written responses require students to justify predictions with specific textual proof.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with upper-elementary reading comprehension standards.
• Two-Checkpoint Mystery Format – Built-in stopping points encourage purposeful reading and reflection.
• Detective-Style Engagement – Mystery elements motivate students to read carefully and think critically.
• Flexible Classroom Use – Ideal for guided reading, literacy centers, independent practice, or assessment.

This vanishing clues case file worksheet helps students become active, strategic readers by practicing how to predict events using evidence rather than guesswork. By slowing down to analyze clues and defend predictions, learners strengthen comprehension, reasoning, and confidence in text-based analysis. Whether used in a classroom or homeschool setting, this printable resource offers meaningful, low-prep practice that builds strong prediction habits and detective-style thinking.

This worksheet is part of our Making Predictions Worksheets collection.