Build Background
Ask students to tell what they know about mysteries. Invite them to share any mystery stories they have read or heard. 

Discuss poetry's rhymes and rhythms. Read the title, Reading Mysteries. Explain to students that the second and fourth lines on each page of the book contain ending words that rhyme. Write the word clue on the board. Invite students to identify words that rhyme with clue. Write these words on the board. Remind students that not all ending sounds of rhyming words are spelled the same. (For example, clue and shoe rhyme but have ending sounds that are spelled differently.) 

Explain that rhyming poetry follows a beat that is based on syllables. Have students practice clapping the syllables in each word on the board. Ask volunteers to come to the board and put a slash mark between syllables in each word. If necessary, remind students of the rules for dividing words into syllables (VCV: between the consonant and vowel; VCCV: between the two consonants; compound words: between the two words). 

Preview the Poem
Show students the front and back covers of the book. Discuss the pictures. Turn to the title page. Discuss the picture and the information on the page (title of book, author's name, illustrator's name). Ask students to explain what this poem might be about based on the pictures and what they already know about mysteries. Explain to students that thinking about what they already know about the topic will help them understand and enjoy the book. 

Remind students that in this poem, the second and fourth lines end with rhyming words. Read page 4 and ask students to tell you the two rhyming words at the ends of the lines (lie and why). 

During Reading
Have students listen as you read the poem. Tell them to clap or raise their hand whenever they hear the second word of a rhyming pair. Read the book expressively and emphasize the words that rhyme in each pair of sentences.  

Use think-aloud strategies to remind students to use what they already know about mystery stories to help make sense of the poem. React to parts of the poem with facial expressions and gestures. Allow students to stop and ask questions during reading, especially if they do not understand something. 

Ask students to identify the author's purpose for writing the poem (to inform readers about the characteristics of a mystery in an entertaining way). Invite students to share what they know about mystery stories after reading this book. 

After Reading
Reader Response
Ask students what they thought of the poem. Have volunteers summarize the poem or describe their favorite part. 

Comprehension
Ask specific questions that allow students to demonstrate their understanding of the poem.

• What kinds of clues did the detectives in the story notice?
• Why do you think detectives look at every detail?
• When reading a mystery, why is it important to keep track of all the clues?