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Objective: Participants must solve the mystery of who stole Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve.
Divide into Teams: Split the participants into small investigation teams.
Distribute Character Cards: Give each team a set of character cards, introducing them to the suspects.
Character Cards
Character Card 1: Eddie the Elf
- Role: Head of Toy Manufacturing
- Motive: Overworked, seeking efficiency
- Alibi: Claims to have been in the workshop all night
Character Card 2: Rudolph the Reindeer
- Role: Lead Reindeer
- Motive: Jealous of new high-tech sleigh
- Alibi: Says was practicing take-off near the garage
Character Card 3: Mrs. Claus
- Role: Santa’s Wife
- Motive: Wants Santa to stay home
- Alibi: Claims to have been busy in her kitchen
Character Card 4: Frosty the Snowman
- Role: Magical Snowman
- Motive: Felt neglected, wanted company
- Alibi: Claims to have been at the lake
Character Card 5: Ginger the Gingerbread Man
- Role: Head of the North Pole Bakery
- Motive: Upset over Santa’s critique of cookies
- Alibi: Claims to have been baking all night
These cards can be printed and handed out to participants. The clue cards provide hints and direct the investigation, while the character cards give participants roles to play and explore during the activity
Explain the Mystery: Tell the participants the following story – Christmas Mystery Story – The Case of the Vanishing Sleigh On Christmas Eve, as the final preparations are underway, a shocking discovery is made at the North Pole: Santa’s sleigh is missing! Without the sleigh, Santa can’t deliver presents, and Christmas could be ruined. It’s up to the participants to solve the mystery and save Christmas.
Create clue cards that offer hints about the mystery. See below for ideas.
Clue Cards
Clue Card 1:
- Text: “A set of blueprints for a new workshop was found in Eddie the Elf’s quarters.”
- Location: Eddie the Elf’s Quarters
Clue Card 2:
- Text: “Hoofprints leading away from the sleigh garage were recently covered with snow.”
- Location: Sleigh Garage
Clue Card 3:
- Text: “Mrs. Claus was overheard talking about wanting a ‘quiet Christmas’ this year.”
- Location: Mrs. Claus’s Kitchen
Clue Card 4:
- Text: “Frosty the Snowman was seen looking lonely and upset near the frozen lake.”
- Location: Frozen Lake
Clue Card 5:
- Text: “An angry note about Santa’s cookie comments was found in the bakery.”
- Location: North Pole Bakery
Clue Card 6:
- Text: “A piece of red fabric, similar to Santa’s suit, was caught in the ice at the lake.”
- Location: Frozen Lake
Clue Card 7:
- Text: “A set of sleigh keys was missing from Santa’s Workshop.”
- Location: Santa’s Workshop
Clue Card 8:
- Text: “Ginger the Gingerbread Man was seen arguing with Santa a day before the sleigh went missing.”
- Location: Santa’s Workshop
Exploration and Gathering Clues: Allow the teams to explore the different areas and find clue cards. Encourage them to talk to each other and exchange information.
Interrogation Round: Teams can ‘interrogate’ suspects (played by teacher or other facilitators or the paricipants) based on the clues they have gathered.
Solve the Mystery: After a set time, each team presents their theory on who stole Santa’s sleigh and why, based on the clues and information they have collected.
Reveal the Truth: Conclude by revealing the actual story and discussing how each team arrived at their conclusions.
Resolution:
It turns out, the sleigh was taken by Eddie the Elf, who wanted to force Santa to see the need for a more efficient workshop. Eddie felt that the current pace was unsustainable for the elves and wanted to make a dramatic point.
Debrief:
After revealing the truth, discuss the motives of each character and the importance of communication and understanding others’ perspectives. Congratulate the teams for their detective work and teamwork. Age Group: Suitable for ages 8 and above.
This activity can be customized in complexity based on the age and experience of the participants. It’s a great way to get into the festive spirit while promoting critical thinking and collaborative skills!
