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Cross-check evidence

Ages 8–10 · Est. 35–50 minutes · 2–6 players

Museum Shadow Case

A frame was moved during a projection test; the first room note describes the rehearsal, not the later move. Work together to locate the puppet frame.

6 clues, gradual hints and a complete paper finish. Choose a reader, a recorder and a checker, then work through the mission together.

See every player clue ↓

Museum Shadow Case: Use the projection notes and frame register to follow the completed record. Match printed keys, then report the requested field. A planned or cancelled entry cannot prove a move.

Your mission

Work together to locate the puppet frame.

Welcome to the shadow puppet museum. A frame was moved during a projection test; the first room note describes the rehearsal, not the later move. Your team has the original records on the table. First recover five pieces of information, then use the final plan to locate the puppet frame. Keep every result beside its badge so another teammate can check your reasoning.

How your team will think

Join records, check source status and explain why a near match fails.

Keep the badge results beside the candidate sheet. For each candidate, point to the evidence that supports or rejects it; the final choice must pass every printed check.

Set up in one room

  1. Print the six player sheets and two record sheets for each team. Keep answers and hints with the host.
  2. Lay out Projection notes, Event cards, the remaining clue sheets and the final plan. All task records are printed inside the sheets; no extra prop is needed.
  3. After each clue, pass roles one seat clockwise. With two players, combine Reader with Recorder and Checker with Builder. With five or six, add a second checker and a source finder; everyone explains one decision.

Bring to the table

  • One complete player set and record set per team
  • One pencil per child
  • One adult host with the answer and hint pages

Print and sorting checklist · Plan the player roles

Ages and durations are design estimates. Choose the pace and reading support that suit your group.

Look before you print

See all 6 player clues

These are the actual figures and instructions from the player pack. Read the final page’s rule along with the earlier clues.

Clue 1 of 6

Record

Use the projection notes and frame register to follow the completed record. Match printed keys, then report the requested field. A planned or cancelled entry cannot prove a move.

Museum Shadow Case: Use the projection notes and frame register to follow the completed record. Match printed keys, then report the requested field. A planned or cancelled entry cannot prove a move.
Read this clue in text

Projection notes item: Screen | tag: PINE | status: cancelled item: Box | tag: WAVE | status: checked item: Bay | tag: STAR | status: checked Frame register tag: STAR | bay: NORTH tag: PINE | bay: EAST tag: WAVE | bay: WEST Cross-check Match A.tag to B.tag. A.status is checked. A.item is not Box. Report B.bay.

Clue 2 of 6

Order

Arrange the four event cards using every witness note. "Immediately before" means there is no event between them. Report the requested position after the whole order has been checked.

Museum Shadow Case: Arrange the four event cards using every witness note. "Immediately before" means there is no event between them. Report the requested position after the whole order has been checked.
Read this clue in text

Event cards A: Fit puppet B: Hang screen C: Test shadow D: Place lamp E: Roll screen Witness notes B is immediately before D. D is before A. A is immediately before C. C is before E. Report the event ID in position 5.

Clue 3 of 6

Signal

Each signal means one different word. Use the training examples to recover the legend. Words marked "any order" may be swapped; compare shared signals across cards. Decode the received message from left to right. The desk uses this message when handling a missing puppet frame.

Museum Shadow Case: Each signal means one different word. Use the training examples to recover the legend. Words marked "any order" may be swapped; compare shared signals across cards. Decode the received message from left to right. The desk uses this message when handling a missing puppet frame.
Read this clue in text

Unlabelled legend Signals: DOT, BAR, ARC. Words: OPEN, CHECK, REST. Each signal has one word; each word is used once. Training messages DOT+BAR means OPEN+REST (any order) BAR+ARC means OPEN+CHECK (any order) DOT+ARC means REST+CHECK (any order) Received message DOT > BAR Report decoded words in order, with hyphens.

Clue 4 of 6

Kit

Pack a kit that supplies all three needs. One card may cover two needs, but its weight is counted once. Choose the lightest complete kit within the carrier limit. Report its card letters alphabetically.

Museum Shadow Case: Pack a kit that supplies all three needs. One card may cover two needs, but its weight is counted once. Choose the lightest complete kit within the carrier limit. Report its card letters alphabetically.
Read this clue in text

Supply cards A: weight 3; gives tie+light B: weight 2; gives mark C: weight 2; gives tie D: weight 4; gives light+mark E: weight 4; gives tie+light+mark Packing order Capacity 7; must cover tie, light, mark. Use the lightest complete kit. Each card once. Write chosen card IDs alphabetically, with hyphens.

Clue 5 of 6

Habitat

A rehearsal sketch records the frame top, feet and screen. Compare the silhouette cards and identify the frame that fits the whole sketch.

Museum Shadow Case: A rehearsal sketch records the frame top, feet and screen. Compare the silhouette cards and identify the frame that fits the whole sketch.
Read this clue in text

Frame silhouettes MOON: top=arch; feet=two; screen=mesh TOWER: top=flat; feet=two; screen=cloth TREE: top=arch; feet=three; screen=cloth BOAT: top=arch; feet=two; screen=cloth Required features top must be arch. feet must be two. screen must not be mesh. Report the one matching card ID.

Clue 6 of 6

Final

Use each recorded result in the evidence key to learn one feature. Compare all five features with the location plan. Report the one location ID supported by every source, then explain why a nearby alternative fails.

Museum Shadow Case: Use each recorded result in the evidence key to learn one feature. Compare all five features with the location plan. Report the one location ID supported by every source, then explain why a nearby alternative fails.
Read this clue in text

Location plan BAY-I: leaf / south / stone / lower / square BAY-J: leaf / south / wood / upper / round BAY-K: ring / south / stone / upper / square BAY-L: leaf / north / wood / upper / square BAY-A: leaf / north / wood / upper / round BAY-B: ring / south / wood / lower / square BAY-C: leaf / north / stone / upper / round BAY-D: ring / south / stone / lower / round BAY-E: ring / north / wood / upper / round BAY-F: ring / south / stone / lower / square BAY-G: leaf / north / wood / lower / round BAY-H: ring / north / stone / lower / square Column order and evidence key Stamp (Record): NORTH=leaf; EAST=ring Door (Order): A=south; E=north Surface (Signal): REST-OPEN=wood; OPEN-CHECK=stone Level (Kit): A-B=lower; E=upper Seal (Habitat): BOAT=round; MOON=square

Start after: Record, Order, Signal, Kit, Habitat

A different kind of mystery next

Keep the habit of sharing evidence and try a new reasoning task.