Teachers' Resources

Archie & Mary Mystery

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The story of Archie and Mary has been designed as a "Thinking Skills Mystery". For those unfamiliar with Thinking Skills strategies read the Mystery section first.

Download Making Mysteries V1.1 for PC (1.6Mb Zip file) Designed by D Johnston of Hexham Middle school *Please note download could take up to 30 minutes on 56k modem

Click here for Interactive Archie & Mary Mystery Info (822kb) Designed by D Johnston & the children of Hexham Middle school *This file requires the Flash 4 plugin
**Please note download could take up to 15 minutes on 56k modem

For the Archie & Mary clue slips Click Here & save to disk (22kb Word.doc)

To use the Thinking Skills Mystery in the classroom:
Download the 'Archie and Mary Mystery Info' to view the interactive part of the mystery. Print off and cut out the clue slips beforehand.
Read the story up to the point before the couple were arrested and discuss the points raised.
Divide the pupils into groups & hand out the slips. Ask the pupils to sort the slips to help them answer the following question.

If you were the Warden, what would you do - should you hang Archie and Mary or not?

Pupils use the information on the slips to justify their decision and explain the different factors that might influence the Warden’s decision. Pupils can also gather additional material by looking at the Background Information. They should be given time to explain how they came to their decision and how they worked as a group.

Then read the final section.

The class can debate the issue in a wider context such as, looking for modern paralells - marriages across border lines/different societies/religious groups. Romeo and Juliet etc.