Dot's Detective Challenge

By Forest Moss

A breakthrough in children's critical thinking education. Finally, a story that teaches kids to think like detectives about the information they encounter online

Chapter 1: Something Seems Fishy

"OH MY GOSH!" Maya's voice exploded across the quiet classroom like a firecracker. "You guys have to see this! Kids can hold their breath underwater for 20 minutes!"

Dot looked up from organizing her markers by color—she loved the way the reds flowed into oranges, then yellows, like a rainbow on the art table. The afternoon sun made dust particles dance in the air, and the classroom had felt so peaceful just seconds ago. Now it smelled like excitement and erasers.

Chairs scraped loudly across the floor as everyone rushed over to Maya's computer. Sam bounced on his toes, trying to see over shoulders, accidentally bumping into Marcus and mumbling a quick "sorry!"

"What?! No way! Show me, show me!" Sam pushed closer to the bright screen, his sneakers squeaking on the linoleum floor.

Maya clicked play on a video showing kids swimming underwater for what seemed like forever. The timer on the screen counted up and up—fifteen minutes, sixteen, seventeen. The computer speakers crackled slightly with underwater sounds.

"That's so cool!" Sam's eyes grew wide as saucers. "I'm gonna practice in the bathtub tonight! My little brother is gonna be so jealous! Maybe I'll become a professional underwater person!"

Dot hung back a little, that funny feeling creeping into her stomach. The same feeling she got when her little brother told stories about flying to the moon on his tricycle. Something felt... off. Like when you bite into what looks like a chocolate chip cookie but it turns out to have raisins.

"Um..." Dot stepped closer, squinting at the screen and catching a whiff of Maya's strawberry lip gloss. "That seems like a really long time. I can barely hold my breath for like... ten seconds."

"Maybe these kids are just super good at swimming!" Maya's eyes sparkled with excitement as she twisted a paint-stained curl around her finger—a sure sign she was really interested in something.

"Yeah..." Dot looked down at her sneakers, one shoelace slightly looser than the other. "Maybe I'm just not good at holding my breath."

She started to back away, but her teacher looked over from helping another group. Ms. Rodriguez's comfortable shoes made soft sounds on the carpet as she walked toward them.

"What are you all looking at?" Ms. Rodriguez asked, walking toward them with curious eyes. "This looks interesting. What do you think about it?"

Dot felt her cheeks get warm, like when the heater kicked on in winter. Maybe Ms. Rodriguez would think the video was amazing too. Or maybe... maybe she'd have that same funny feeling.

Chapter 2: Detective Academy Begins

The next morning, Ms. Rodriguez stood in front of the class wearing a mysterious smile and a bright yellow cardigan that made her look like sunshine. Behind her, the whiteboard sparkled with new words written in rainbow markers: "DETECTIVE ACADEMY."

Sunlight poured through the tall windows, making the classroom feel bright and full of possibilities. The morning energy buzzed through the room like electricity—that special feeling when something exciting was about to happen. The room smelled like fresh markers and that clean morning smell classrooms get.

"Today we're starting something special," Ms. Rodriguez announced, her voice carrying the hint of a secret. "We're going to learn how to be information detectives!"

Sam's hand shot up with enthusiasm, nearly knocking over his pencil cup. "Like real detectives? With magnifying glasses and everything?"

"Even better," their teacher said, pointing to a colorful chart hanging beside the whiteboard. The chart looked official and important, like something real detectives would use. "We're learning to investigate information. Detectives ask good questions and look for evidence."

She pointed to a chart she'd made with four simple rules written in different colored markers:

Detective Tools:

1. Look Carefully - Does this look real?

2. Think About What You Know - Have you heard this before?

3. Ask for Help - When unsure, ask a trusted adult

4. Check with Friends - Do other people think the same thing?

"You already know how to think like detectives!" Ms. Rodriguez smiled at the class, then turned to look directly at Dot. "Dot, what did you notice about the swimming video yesterday?"

Dot's stomach did a little flip like she was on a swing. Everyone was looking at her, and she could hear the soft sounds of chairs creaking as kids turned to listen. "Um... the kids seemed to hold their breath for a really long time?"

"That's detective thinking! You noticed something that seemed unusual." The teacher picked up a purple marker and wrote "NOTICED SOMETHING UNUSUAL" on the board in big, happy letters. "What else?"

"It didn't feel right," Dot said quietly, remembering that strange feeling in her tummy. "Like when my brother says he can fly to Mars on his bicycle."

A few kids giggled, but not in a mean way—more like they understood exactly what she meant. Marcus nodded enthusiastically and said, "My sister says stuff like that too! She said she taught our cat to read!"

Maya laughed, accidentally snorting a little, which made everyone laugh even more. "I wish cats could read! Mine would probably only read books about tuna!"

"Perfect! Your brain was telling you something important." Ms. Rodriguez drew a big star on the board. "Let's practice with something easier. Here's a statement: 'Kids need to sleep every night to grow bigger.'"

Hands shot up around the room, eager to participate.

"That's true!" called out Marcus, stretching his arms up high. "My mom always says that when I don't want to go to bed!"

"Good! How about this one: 'Kids grow taller by eating ice cream for breakfast every day.'"

The whole class burst into laughter that bubbled up and filled the room.

"That's silly!" Maya giggled, wiping her eyes. "I wish that was true though! Ice cream tastes way better than oatmeal! My dad would probably eat ice cream for breakfast too!"

Sam bounced in his seat. "My grandma says ice cream for breakfast would make our teeth fall out AND our stomachs hurt. That doesn't sound like growing taller!"

"You spotted that right away! You ARE detectives!" Ms. Rodriguez grinned like she'd just discovered treasure. "Dot, how did you know the ice cream one was false?"

Dot thought for a moment, twirling a piece of hair around her finger. The classroom felt warm and safe, like when you're wrapped in your favorite blanket. "Because... because I eat ice cream sometimes and I'm not super tall. And my mom says too much ice cream isn't good for you, even though it tastes amazing."

"Exactly! You used what you already know." Ms. Rodriguez drew a star next to Dot's name on the board. "That's what good detectives do—they think about what they already know from real life."

For the first time since yesterday, Dot felt that warm, proud feeling in her chest, like sunshine spreading from the inside out. Maybe being the kid who noticed weird things wasn't so bad after all.

Chapter 3: The First Case

After lunch, Ms. Rodriguez arranged the class into groups of three. The room filled with the sounds of chairs scraping and excited chatter as friends found each other. Dot slid onto a floor cushion next to Maya and Sam, clipboard balanced on her knees like a desk.

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows, making everything feel cozy and important. Around them, other groups were settling in with their own clipboards and pencils, the whole classroom buzzing with detective energy.

"Now for some real detective work," their teacher announced, holding up small cards like treasure maps. "Each group gets a challenge. You need to figure out which statement is false."

She handed Dot's group a cream-colored card with three statements written in clear, bold letters:

• You lose baby teeth when you're a kid

• Your heart beats inside your chest

• Kids grow taller by watching more TV

Maya read them out loud, then immediately pointed to the last one like she was swatting a fly. "The TV one! That's silly!"

"Yeah!" Sam bounced in his spot like a rubber ball. "My mom says too much TV is bad for you, and she definitely doesn't want me to be taller!"

But Dot was staring at the first statement, that familiar funny feeling tickling her brain like a gentle warning. "Wait... do we really lose ALL our baby teeth? I've only lost two so far."

Maya and Sam looked at her with surprised expressions, like she'd just said something magical. "What do you mean?" Maya asked, touching her own mouth where she still had most of her baby teeth.

"Well..." Dot wiggled one of her loose teeth with her tongue. It felt funny and slightly scary. "I know I'll lose more, but... how do I know I'll lose all of them?"

Their teacher must have radar for interesting questions, because she crouched down beside their group with a gentle smile. "What do you think, Dot? Do you know anyone who still has baby teeth?"

Dot thought hard, picturing her family like a photo album in her mind. "My big sister lost all hers... and she's in middle school now."

"Yeah!" Sam's eyes lit up with sudden understanding. "My cousin is in high school, and she has no baby teeth left! They're all big ones now!"

"And my older brother lost his last baby tooth when he was eleven," Maya added, counting on her fingers. "He was so excited because the tooth fairy gave him extra money for the last one!"

Dot felt that warm proud feeling again, spreading through her chest like hot chocolate. "So the baby teeth one is true because we know kids who lost all theirs."

"And the heart one is true because I can feel mine beating right now," Sam said, putting his hand on his chest and making a serious detective face.

"Which means the TV one is definitely false," Maya concluded, crossing it out with a satisfying scribble.

"Excellent detective work!" their teacher said, giving them each a small detective badge sticker that sparkled in the sunlight. "Dot, I noticed you asked a really good question about the baby teeth."

"I did?" Dot looked up, surprised. "I thought maybe I was being annoying or asking too many questions."

"No way!" Sam shook his head so hard his hair bounced. "Now I want to know when I'll lose my next tooth! And if it'll hurt!"

Maya nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! Detective questions are the best questions!"

Dot smiled, feeling like she'd discovered something important about herself. Maybe asking questions wasn't so scary after all. Maybe it actually made her a good friend.

Chapter 4: Website Detectives

The computer lab hummed with quiet energy—keyboards clicking softly like rain on a roof, mice moving across mouse pads, and the gentle whir of computers working hard. Each group had spread out to different tables, notebooks and pencils scattered around like detective tools.

The room smelled faintly of cleaning supplies and that special computer smell that all labs had. Colorful educational posters covered the walls, and the afternoon light filtered through blinds, creating stripes of sunshine across the keyboards.

"Let's research something we all know about," Dot suggested, twirling a pencil between her fingers like a tiny baton. "Like... our bodies? Or health stuff?"

"Ooh! Let's look up cool facts about being healthy!" Maya's cursor hovered over the search results like a butterfly deciding where to land.

The first website Maya clicked burst onto the screen like a carnival—bright flashing colors, spinning animations, and a huge headline that practically shouted: "AMAZING SECRETS! Kids Who Eat Vegetables Get Superpowers!"

"Whoa!" Sam leaned closer, his eyes reflecting the colorful screen. "Look at those cool superhero pictures!"

Maya scrolled down excitedly, pointing at cartoon characters with cape and masks. "It says here that eating broccoli gives you laser eyes! And carrots let you see through walls! And spinach makes you super strong like a real superhero!"

"Awesome!" Sam bounced in his chair with excitement. "Do you have laser eyes, Dot? You eat vegetables at lunch every day!"

But Dot was getting that funny feeling again—stronger this time, like a bell ringing in her head. She looked at the flashing colors and cartoon superheroes dancing across the screen.

"I'm getting that weird feeling again," she said quietly, leaning back in her chair.

"What weird feeling?" Maya paused her excited scrolling to look at Dot with concerned eyes.

"Like... it feels like when my little brother tells stories about riding his bike to Mars and having tea parties with aliens."

Sam tilted his head, studying the screen with new eyes like he was seeing it for the first time. "But vegetables ARE good for you! My dad makes me eat them every single night!"

"Yeah," Dot said slowly, pointing at the cartoon superhero shooting laser beams from his eyes. "But... laser eyes? Really? I eat broccoli, and I definitely don't have laser eyes. I can't even see the board from the back of the class without squinting."

"What's making you feel that way, Dot?" came a familiar voice. Ms. Rodriguez had quietly joined them, pulling up a chair instead of just appearing, her movements gentle and unhurried.

"It just seems too... too much like a story," Dot explained, comparing the flashy website to what she knew was real. "Like, I know vegetables are good for me because my doctor says so and my mom says so, but superpowers? That sounds like something from my brother's comic books."

"Let's try a different website," Ms. Rodriguez suggested thoughtfully. "What about this one?" She pointed to another link on their list with a gentle finger.

Maya clicked on a simple website from a children's hospital. The page was clean and white with blue text and real photographs of smiling kids and doctors. It said: "Vegetables Help Kids Grow Strong and Healthy" in friendly letters.

"This one looks different," Sam noticed, comparing the two websites like he was solving a puzzle.

Dot read both websites carefully, her detective brain working hard. "The hospital one sounds like what my mom and the doctor tell me. The superhero one sounds like... like it's trying to trick kids into eating vegetables by making up exciting stories."

"But we should eat vegetables anyway, right?" Maya asked, looking a little confused but interested.

"Yeah," Dot nodded enthusiastically. "But the superhero website is telling lies to make vegetables sound more exciting than they already are."

Ms. Rodriguez smiled proudly. "What made you trust the hospital website more?"

Dot thought carefully, like she was organizing her thoughts into neat piles. "It looked like the websites my mom shows me when I have questions about my body. And it sounded like what real grown-ups say about vegetables. The other one was trying too hard to be exciting, like a commercial on TV."

"Plus," Sam added with growing excitement, "if eating broccoli gave you superpowers, wouldn't everyone know about it by now? Wouldn't it be on the news? My dad always watches the news, and he's never mentioned vegetable superpowers."

Maya giggled, her confusion melting away. "Yeah! My mom would definitely tell me if I could get laser eyes! She tells me everything!"

Dot felt proud and confident for the first time all week, like she'd climbed to the top of the monkey bars. Her funny feelings were actually helping her figure things out, and that felt amazing.

Chapter 5: Creating the Challenge

Back in the classroom, each group spread out with supplies scattered across their tables like art explosions—poster paper in rainbow colors, markers with caps scattered everywhere like confetti, and fact-checking resources stacked like treasure books.

The afternoon sun slanted through the windows, painting everything golden and making the whole room feel warm and creative. Their job was to create their own 2 truths and a lie game for the other students, and excitement buzzed through the air like bees in a flower garden.

Maya had claimed a corner table near the windows, where the light was perfect for her artistic vision. Sam kept getting up to sharpen his pencil, his energy too big to stay in one spot for long. Dot sat cross-legged in her chair, thinking deeply about their challenge.

"Let's make ours about something everyone knows," Dot suggested, twirling a blue marker between her fingers like a tiny magic wand. "Like... teeth!"

"Ooh, yes!" Sam perked up with sudden enthusiasm. "Everyone has teeth! Well, except babies. And really old people. But most people! And teeth are interesting because they fall out and grow back, which is kind of weird when you think about it."

Maya started drawing a giant smiling tooth on their poster with a sparkly pink marker, her tongue poking out in concentration. "What should our facts be? They have to be good ones that make people think."

"How about... 'Kids lose baby teeth and grow new ones,'" Dot said thoughtfully. "That's definitely true because it's literally happening to us."

"And 'You need to brush your teeth every day,'" Sam added, pretending to brush his teeth with his pencil. "My dentist always says that, and my mom reminds me constantly."

"What about the fake one?" Maya looked up from her tooth drawing, pink marker poised in the air like a paintbrush.

Dot grinned mischievously. "How about 'If you don't brush your teeth, they turn purple'?"

All three kids burst into giggles that filled the air with happiness.

"That's perfect!" Maya laughed, adding purple polka dots to her tooth drawing. "It's silly but you have to think about it for a second!"

"But wait," Dot said, suddenly serious like a scientist making an important discovery. "We should make sure our true ones are actually true."

"How do we check about teeth?" Maya asked, pausing her polka-dot creation to look at Dot.

Dot chewed on the end of her pencil, thinking hard like she was solving a math problem. "Well, we all know about losing baby teeth because it's happening to us right now. Look around—half our class has gaps in their smiles! And we all know about brushing because our parents and the dentist tell us every single day."

"Plus," Sam added with a grin that showed his own gap where a tooth used to be, "I've never seen anyone with purple teeth, so that one's definitely fake! Unless they ate a lot of purple popsicles, but even then it would wash off."

Ms. Rodriguez wandered over, carrying a stack of books with careful steps. Her footsteps were quiet on the classroom carpet, and she had that special teacher smile that meant she was proud of what she was seeing.

"How's it going, detectives?" she asked, admiring Maya's colorful tooth drawing.

"We're making sure our facts are really true," Dot explained earnestly. "I don't want to accidentally tell people something wrong and make them worry or confused."

"Why is that important to you?" their teacher asked, settling into a nearby chair like she had all the time in the world to listen.

Dot looked at her friends, then back at her teacher, feeling the weight of being responsible for other people's learning. "Because if someone told me something false, like that my teeth would turn purple if I forgot to brush them one time, I might worry about it all night. And I might tell someone else and make them worry too."

"Yeah!" Sam nodded enthusiastically, his whole body showing agreement. "If someone told me kids could hold their breath for 20 minutes, I might try it and get scared when I couldn't do it!"

Maya stopped coloring and looked thoughtful. "I didn't think about that when I showed you guys the swimming video. I just thought it was cool and wanted to share something amazing."

"It's okay," Dot said gently, reaching over to pat Maya's hand. "Now we all know how to check if things are true before we share them. That's what makes us good detectives and good friends."

Ms. Rodriguez beamed at them like they were the smartest kids in the world. "You three are becoming excellent information detectives and excellent community members."

Chapter 6: Detective Dot Presents

The next morning, the classroom buzzed with nervous excitement like a beehive. Each group had decorated their posters with care, and now colorful fact displays covered every available wall space like a rainbow museum. The smell of fresh markers still hung in the air, and everyone kept glancing at their creations with pride.

Students bounced in their seats, whispered last-minute strategy discussions, and organized their presentation materials with the seriousness of real scientists. Some groups practiced their speeches under their breath, others checked their facts one more time, and a few artistic students added finishing touches to their drawings.

Dot's group went third. She felt nervous butterflies doing gymnastics in her stomach as they walked to the front, but Sam gave her an encouraging thumbs up and Maya squeezed her hand like they were sharing courage through their fingertips.

"We're going to test your detective skills with facts about teeth!" Dot announced, surprised by how strong and confident her voice sounded echoing in the classroom.

She held up their colorful poster, Maya's sparkly tooth grinning at the audience:

• Kids lose baby teeth and grow new ones

• You need to brush your teeth every day

• If you don't brush your teeth, they turn purple

The class studied the statements carefully, hands slowly rising with thoughtful consideration. Whispers filled the room as students discussed their thoughts with neighbors.

"I think the purple one is fake," called out Jasmine, wiggling her loose front tooth. "I've never seen purple teeth, and my little sister forgets to brush sometimes and her teeth are still white!"

"But how do we know the other ones are true?" asked Marcus, leaning forward with genuine curiosity.

Dot felt excitement bubble up in her chest like happiness overflowing. "Great detective question! We know the baby teeth one because it's happening to us right now. Look around—some of us are missing teeth!"

Several kids opened their mouths to show gaps where they'd lost teeth, creating a chorus of giggles around the room. The classroom looked like a patchwork of smiles with missing pieces.

"And we know about brushing because our parents, dentists, and doctors all tell us the same thing," Sam added, bouncing slightly on his toes with enthusiasm. "Plus, my dad always watches the news, and he's never mentioned vegetable superpowers."

"Plus," Maya chimed in, holding up their colorful poster proudly, "we checked our facts by thinking about what we already know and what trusted grown-ups tell us. We used our detective tools!"

The teacher beamed at them from the back of the room like a proud parent. "Excellent detective work, both the presenters and the audience! What did you learn about checking information?"

A hand shot up from the back with enthusiasm. "That we should think about what we already know!"

"And ask people we trust!" added another student, waving her hand with enthusiasm.

"And if something sounds too crazy or exciting, maybe check it first," said Jasmine thoughtfully. "Like, purple teeth would be kind of cool, but it doesn't make sense."

Dot felt warm and proud, like she was wrapped in the world's coziest blanket. The whole class was learning to be information detectives, just like her.

"You've all become excellent critical thinkers," Ms. Rodriguez announced, clapping her hands together. "Remember, it's always smart to ask questions and check facts, especially when you see things online. Your brains are powerful detective tools!"

As they walked back to their seats, Maya whispered, "Dot, you're really good at this detective stuff. You should be proud!"

"We all are," Dot whispered back, looking around at her classmates with new appreciation. "We just needed to practice trusting ourselves and working together."

Chapter 7: A Real Detective

After school, Dot practically bounced down the sidewalk toward home, her backpack bumping against her back with each excited step. The autumn leaves crunched under her feet with satisfying sounds, and she couldn't wait to tell her mom about Detective Academy.

The familiar houses on her street looked extra friendly today, with their colorful front gardens and welcoming porches. Even Mrs. Patterson's grumpy old cat seemed to nod approvingly from its sunny windowsill perch.

The warm smell of cookies and something delicious for dinner greeted her as she burst through the front door with tremendous excitement.

"Mom!" she called, dropping her backpack with a satisfying thud in the entryway. "We were detectives today! And I figured out that some websites tell lies!"

Her mom looked up from folding a mountain of laundry on the kitchen table, smiling at Dot's excitement like sunshine. Her face had that special look parents get when their kids are bursting with good news.

"Wow! That sounds important and exciting. What happened?" Mom asked, patting the couch cushion beside her as an invitation.

Dot plopped down on the soft couch, her words tumbling out in a rush of excitement. "Well, Maya found this video about kids holding their breath underwater for super long, and it looked weird to me, but then we learned it's okay to ask questions! And then we found a website that said vegetables give you superpowers, but I got that funny feeling again!"

"It sounds like you learned to trust your instincts," Mom said, settling in beside her with a warm smile. "What else did you learn?"

"That my weird feelings might actually be my brain noticing something strange!" Dot's eyes lit up with wonder. "Ms. Rodriguez said that's what good detectives do—they notice when things don't seem right, even if they can't explain why at first."

Mom nodded thoughtfully, smoothing Dot's hair with gentle fingers. "That's a very important skill. So what will you do if you see something confusing online?"

Dot counted on her fingers with careful precision. "Get my weird feeling, ask you or Ms. Rodriguez or another grown-up I trust, and think about what I already know from real life. Oh! And check with my friends to see what they think too."

"That sounds really smart. I'm proud of you for trusting your feelings and learning to ask good questions," Mom said, giving her a squeeze that felt like the perfect hug.

Dot snuggled closer to her mom, feeling different than she had a few days ago. The warm afternoon light filtered through their living room windows, making everything feel golden and peaceful.

"And maybe I can help my friends figure things out too!" she said thoughtfully. "Like, if they see something that seems too crazy or too good to be true, I can remind them to use their detective tools to check if it's real."

"I think you'll be an excellent helper," Mom said, giving her another squeeze. "The world needs more people who ask good questions and check their facts before sharing information."

As they sat together in the cozy living room, surrounded by family photos and the comfortable sounds of home, Dot felt like she'd discovered something important about herself. She wasn't just the kid who noticed weird things anymore. She was a detective—a real information detective who could help people figure out what was true.

Tomorrow, she decided, she'd ask Ms. Rodriguez if they could start a Detective Club for other kids who wanted to learn these skills. Because everyone deserved to feel confident about figuring out what was true, and everyone deserved to have friends who cared about sharing accurate information.

The funny feeling in her stomach had turned into something much better: the warm, proud feeling of knowing she could help make her classroom, her family, and maybe even her whole community a little bit smarter and safer.

THE END

Dot's adventures in critical thinking continue in "Dot's Research Adventure," where she learns to guide her friends through more complex investigations and becomes a peer teacher for younger students who need help navigating the confusing world of online information.

BACK COVER

Can YOU be a detective like Dot?

When 8-year-old Dot sees a video of kids holding their breath underwater for 20 minutes, something seems fishy. But how can she tell what's real and what's fake online? In our age of misinformation, every child needs these essential skills.

Join Dot and her friends Maya and Sam as they enter Detective Academy and learn to become information detectives! With the help of their teacher Ms. Rodriguez, they discover that asking good questions isn't annoying—it's smart. And figuring out what's true isn't just important—it's an adventure!

"A breakthrough in children's critical thinking education. Finally, a story that teaches kids to think like detectives about the information they encounter online." 

In this engaging story, young readers will learn to:

• Trust their instincts when something seems wrong

• Ask good questions about information they see online

• Work with friends to figure out what's real

• Feel confident about being curious and careful

• Apply detective thinking to school, home, and digital life

Perfect for young readers who love mysteries and want to become super-smart about the internet! Every parent's guide to raising thoughtful digital natives.

From the award-track Detective Academy Series - where critical thinking meets adventure!

Ages 6-10 • Grades 1-4 • Common Core Aligned

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

For Young Readers (Ages 6-8)

After Chapter 1:

1. Have you ever seen something online that seemed weird or wrong? What was it?

2. What do you think Dot's "funny feeling" means? Do you ever get feelings like that? (Detective Thinking: This is your brain being a detective!)

3. Why do you think Dot didn't want to say the video looked strange at first?

After Chapter 3: 4. What are the four Detective Tools? Can you remember them all? (Try This: Practice using one Detective Tool today!) 5. Which Detective Tool do you think you're already good at using? 6. Do you think it's okay to ask questions when something seems confusing? Why?

After Chapter 5: 7. Why did Dot want to make sure their "true" facts were really true? 8. How do you think other kids would feel if someone taught them something that was wrong? 9. What makes a website trustworthy? What makes one not trustworthy? (Family Activity: Look at websites together and practice detective thinking!)

After Chapter 7: 10. How did Dot change from the beginning of the story to the end? 11. What would you do if a friend showed you something online that seemed too good to be true? 12. Do you want to be an information detective like Dot? Why or why not?

For Older Readers and Family Discussion (Ages 8-12)

Critical Thinking Questions:

1. Source Evaluation: What's the difference between the vegetable superpower website and the hospital website? What clues helped Dot's group decide which one to trust? (Real-World Practice: Compare two websites about the same topic)

2. Evidence and Proof: When Sam asks "If eating broccoli gave you superpowers, wouldn't everyone know about it?" what kind of thinking is he using? How can you use this same thinking for other claims?

3. Social Responsibility: Why does Dot worry about "accidentally teaching people something wrong"? How does sharing false information affect other people? (Think About It: Before you share something exciting online, what should you do first?)

4. Metacognition: Dot learns that her "funny feeling" is actually her brain doing detective work. Can you think of times when your brain has given you warning signals about information?

5. Transfer Skills: How could you use Dot's Detective Tools for things besides internet information? (Examples: News stories, advertisements, things friends tell you)

For Parents and Teachers

Extension Activities:

🔍 Family Detective Time: Practice the four Detective Tools with news articles, advertisements, or social media posts appropriate for your child's age. Make it a game!

📝 Create Your Own: Have children create their own 2 Truths and a Lie games about topics they're studying in school. This reinforces learning while practicing critical thinking.

💻 Website Evaluation: Together, visit different websites about the same topic and compare how they look, who wrote them, and whether they seem trustworthy. Use Dot's checklist!

🏠 Real-World Application: When your child encounters confusing information online, refer back to Dot's detective tools and work through the evaluation process together.

📊 Pre/Post Reading Assessment: Ask your child the discussion questions before AND after reading to measure growth in critical thinking awareness.

Key Learning Objectives:

• ✅ Develop age-appropriate critical thinking skills

• ✅ Build confidence in questioning and analysis

• ✅ Learn basic internet safety and media literacy

• ✅ Practice collaborative problem-solving

• ✅ Understand the social responsibility of sharing information

• ✅ Apply detective thinking across life domains

Common Core Connections:

• Reading (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL): Analyzing text for accuracy and reliability, comparing sources

• Speaking/Listening (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL): Collaborative discussion and presentation skills

• Critical Thinking: Evaluating evidence and drawing logical conclusions

• Digital Citizenship: Responsible use of technology and information

21st Century Skills Developed:

• Information Literacy: Accessing, evaluating, and using information effectively

• Critical Thinking: Analyzing and evaluating reasoning and evidence

• Communication: Articulating thoughts clearly and listening to others

• Collaboration: Working together to solve problems and share knowledge

Assessment Rubric for Educators:

• Beginning: Can identify obviously false information with help

• Developing: Uses detective tools with guidance to evaluate simple claims

• Proficient: Independently applies critical thinking strategies to new information

• Advanced: Teaches others and transfers skills to multiple contexts

Next in the Detective Academy Series: "Dot's Research Adventure" - Coming Soon!