Ages 8–10 · Est. 30–45 minutes · 2–6 players

Pocket Detective Club

Find which shelf holds the misplaced badge box.

Six clues, three hint levels each, and a paper-only finish. No locks, apps or cutting required.

Pocket Detective Club: Print desk: Compare the two records at matching numbered positions. Count different pairs once each; ignore box outlines.

Your mission

Six shelves have badge-box records. One box was put on the wrong shelf. Compare the prints, match the clerks and repair the moving log; all five pieces of evidence identify its shelf. Collect five named badge digits and use the final sheet. Every clue is on the table; ask the host for one hint at a time.

Set up in one room

Print one player pack and two record sheets per team. Keep the host answers and all three hint levels with the adult.
Keep every clue as a full sheet at one table. Put the final sheet face down until all five results are recorded. Nothing needs cutting, folding or hiding.
Give each child a pencil. Choose a reader, recorder and checker, and swap jobs after each clue. Use one team for 2–4 children or two teams for 5–6.

Materials

6 player sheets and 2 prop sheets per team
One pencil per child
One adult host with the answer and hint pages

Designed ages and estimated time have not yet been calibrated in a live child playtest.

See all six player clues

These are the actual figures from the printable player pack.

1. Print

Print desk: Compare the two records at matching numbered positions. Count different pairs once each; ignore box outlines.

Read this clue in text

Strip A: cross, hexagon, triangle, square, circle, star, diamond, heart. Strip B: cross, square, triangle, square, diamond, star, cross, hexagon. Compare the same numbered position.

2. Clerk

Clerk desk: Each person has ONE different item. Use all four NOT rules. Find Ivy's item and copy its digit.

Read this clue in text

Key digit 9 Tag digit 2 Note digit 5 People: Ivy, Rob, Ada Ivy does NOT have Note. Rob does NOT have Key. Rob does NOT have Tag. Ada does NOT have Key. Find Ivy's item. Each item is used once.

3. Address

Address desk: Read the letter at each coordinate, in order. Letter = column; number = row. Convert the complete word using the printed table.

Pocket Detective Club: Address desk: Read the letter at each coordinate, in order. Letter = column; number = row. Convert the complete word using the printed table.

Read this clue in text

Columns: A, B, C, D. Rows: 1, 2, 3. 1 S T C Z 2 V E B A 3 A D G K CASE = 3 VASE = 6 BOOK = 9 READ COORDINATES IN ORDER: C1 > D2 > A1 > B2

4. Moving

Moving desk: A return entry lost its amount. Use the opening and closing stock to find the missing return. Apply DONE entries; ignore the CANCELLED plan.

Pocket Detective Club: Moving desk: A return entry lost its amount. Use the opening and closing stock to find the missing return. Apply DONE entries; ignore the CANCELLED plan.

Read this clue in text

Opening stock: 12. Closing stock: 21. Received: +4 DONE Planned: +7 CANCELLED Issued: -1 DONE Returned: ? DONE Missing return = ? units. Ignore cancelled plans.

5. Weight

Weight desk: Every parcel has the same whole-number weight. Remove loose units, find ONE parcel and check the second rule.

Read this clue in text

4 parcels + 1 loose units = 37 units 2 parcels + 3 loose units = 21 units One parcel = ? units. Whole numbers 1–9. All parcels have equal weight.

6. Final

Compare each record with ALL five badge results. Find the one record matching every column. Copy its complete code, including the first zero.

Read this clue in text

C1=Print / C2=Clerk / C3=Address C4=Moving / C5=Weight Shelf A: 01407 C1=5 C2=9 C3=3 C4=6 C5=9 Shelf B: 01417 C1=4 C2=0 C3=3 C4=6 C5=9 Shelf C: 01427 C1=4 C2=9 C3=3 C4=6 C5=9 Shelf D: 01437 C1=4 C2=9 C3=4 C4=6 C5=9 Shelf E: 01447 C1=4 C2=9 C3=3 C4=7 C5=9 Shelf F: 01457 C1=4 C2=9 C3=3 C4=6 C5=0