In this 2-page ancient Egyptian murder mystery, Seti the Small, the 12-year-old Pharaoh has been murdered—poisoned at a banquet held in his honor. There are three main suspects—his jealous older sister, his heavy-handed advisor, and his seemingly-loyal cupbearer. Unfortunately, each suspect appears equally suspicious, so it is up to your students to sleuth out the culprit. Students must analyze the incriminating evidence in the passage, highlight evidence for each suspect, and then formulate their own argument for “whodunit” using specific examples from the text. The activity includes four possible solutions—explaining exactly who, where, and how the culprit murdered the Pharaoh. A teacher guide includes additional questions, thematic add-ons, and instructions for turning this activity into a classroom debate.

This activity teaches:

• Making inferences
• Citing evidence
• Referencing details
• Argumentation
• Egyptian culture

Length: 90 minutes

Included materials:

• 2-page illustrated passage with analysis questions
• 4 possible solutions
• Teacher guide with name pronunciation guide