Students will create art detective avatars for themselves. They will work together to solve clues about heists and forgeries throughout history.

1. pencils

2. paper

3. colored pencils and/or markers

4. UV flashlights

5. UV markers

6. magnifying glasses

7. red cellophane or red transparent tiles

8. envelopes

9. scissors

authentic, avatar, heist, fake, forgery

Complete the escape room as a whole class. Project the clues onto a screen at the front of the classroom. Brainstorm and solve the answers to clues together.

1. Download the Teacher Detective Report, the Student Detective Report, the Clue Preparation document, and the Detective Notebooks. Screen the content in the Student Detective Report before sharing it with the class.

2. Divide the class into teams of 4-5. Print enough Student Detective Reports for each group.

3. Use the Clue Preparation document to prepare the clues in the Detective Reports before the second session. Place each group’s clues in an envelope or a box. These will serve as the Detective Kits. Print a copy of the Detective Notebook for each student. Choose which version of the Solved Clues in the Detective Notebooks is appropriate for your students. One version includes some letters for extra help.

4. Please note: This lesson and related materials are meant as a starting point. Please feel free to adapt the lesson and clues based on available time and resources. This should be a fun and creative experience for you and your class!

1. Use the March/April 2023 issue of Scholastic Art to review the definitions of authentic, heist, fake, and forgery with students.

2. Distribute one copy of the Detective Notebook to each student. Explain that each student will become an art detective for the next few classes to solve real art heists and forgeries from history. Discuss how students will work together with teammates to solve clues in an escape-room-style scavenger hunt.

3. Have students envision themselves as art detectives. Ask: What clothing, facial expressions, tools, or other details do you associate with detectives? Each student should use the medium of their choice to make an art detective avatar in their Detective Notebooks.

1. If you haven’t already, see the Clue Preparation document to prepare the Day 2 clues.

2. Distribute one Detective Kit per team. Explain that the kits contain clues about heists and forgeries. It is the students’ job as art detectives to collaborate with their teammates to solve the mysteries.

3. Students should work together to solve the Day 2 clues and fill in the answers on the last page of their Detective Notebooks. Remind students that they should be stealthy so they don’t accidentally uncover clues for other teams.

1. If you haven’t already, see the Clue Preparation document to prepare the Day 3 clues.

2. Teams should work together to solve the clues for Day 3.

3. When students have finished, use the Teacher Detective Report to check answers.

4. Invite students to discuss any challenges and/or successful moments they experienced while solving the clues with their classmates. Encourage members of each group to report what they learned about heists and forgeries along the way.

1. Did student create an art detective avatar?

2. Did student collaborate with classmates to solve clues about heists and forgeries?

Prepared by: Cassondra Smith & Stacey Cramer Maple Grove Primary School Battle Ground, WA

Download the full lesson plan here.