Bring your students' time calculation skills to life with the exciting Duration Mystery: Interpreting Timetables Activity! In this whole-class mystery challenge, students will use their understanding of determining duration to solve clues and uncover who will be awarded the Happy Camper award at Grainview School Camp.

This interactive activity encourages teamwork, critical thinking, and the practical application of time concepts in a fun, mystery-themed format. The flexible structure allows students to work at their own pace, moving between stations to gather information, interpret timetables, and eliminate suspects.

Simply print each student a copy of the two-page investigation document (double-sided, flipped on the short edge, and folded in half). Print a few copies of each clue page and distribute them around the classroom to create stations. Students can solve the clues in any order, gradually narrowing down who won the award. Once they believe they have solved the mystery, they check with you to confirm their answer!

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Interpret timetables and calculate durations
• ✅ Apply time concepts to real-world scenarios
• ✅ Develop critical thinking and deductive reasoning skills
• ✅ Practise collaboration and communication during a shared task
• ✅ Engage in meaningful, hands-on learning through an interactive mystery

What’s Included:

• Two-page student investigation document (print double-sided and fold)
• Clue pages for station set-up
• Instructions for teachers on how to run the activity
• Answer guide to support checking students' conclusions

Materials Needed:

• Printed copies of the student investigation document (one per student)
• Printed and distributed clue station pages
• Pencils or markers for note taking and working out
• Optional: clipboards to support ease of movement between stations

How to Use:

1. Print and prepare the student investigation documents and clue station pages.
2. Set up the clue stations around the classroom, ensuring multiple copies of each clue if needed.
3. Explain the mystery challenge to the class and outline expectations for collaborative behaviour.
4. Allow students to work at their own pace, moving between stations to solve clues and eliminate suspects.
5. When students believe they have found the winner, have them check with you to confirm their solution.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use during maths units focused on interpreting timetables and calculating duration
• 💡 Provide as a culminating activity to consolidate time and measurement learning
• 💡 Facilitate as a whole-class collaborative challenge or in small groups
• 💡 Replay the activity with groups swapping clue orders to reinforce learning and deepen understanding

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Encourage students to work collaboratively and discuss their reasoning as they progress through the stations
• 💛 Maintain the excitement of the mystery by managing when students can check their answer with you
• 💛 Print extra copies of clue pages to ensure smooth flow, especially when larger groups are participating

Duration Mystery: Interpreting Timetables Activity brings time calculation skills to life through an exciting classroom mystery - helping students develop accuracy, reasoning, and confidence with timetables and duration!