Spy Academy trains to think critically
Riddles, puzzles, and logic…oh my! Spy Academy with Amanda Scanlon has involved cracking codes, solving mysteries, and thinking like a detective. By week two, campers were creating their own mystery with three regular clues and one red herring which is often a mechanism used to mislead the viewers. It could be a character who seems evil or suspicious or an object that appears to be very important but turns out to confuse or guide the detectives in the wrong direction.
Caroline T. finished in record time with her mystery about a young girl who went missing. When asked what she has enjoyed about class, she said the puzzles from the previous week were a lot of fun. She explained how students went to various stations and tried to figure out the answers.
The final day will involve students reviewing each other’s mysteries and trying to solve their stories or situations. Students worked on the main mystery, the suspect, the motive, the clues, the red herring, and the final reveal. They discussed elements in a strong mystery system, including a clear problem, a setting, suspects with motives and opportunities, clues and evidence, possible explanations, and a logical solution.
Like a true spy, they are strengthening their critical thinking skills as they look at how systems, patterns, and evidence help to solve complex problems.