The Case of the Missing Pumpkin Pie

In the fall, one of my favorite activities is a scavenger hunt I created called FSI: The Case of the Missing Pumpkin Pie. FSI stands for Fall Season Investigators, and it has become a tradition that my students look forward to each year. It is part mystery, part riddle, and part academic challenge, all rolled into one.

Preparing the scene

The first thing you should know about me is that I always keep a classroom supply of fedora hats from Oriental Trading and a class set of ceramic coffee cups I can usually find at Walmart for 50 cents each. These may not sound like much, but in my classroom, they are priceless tools for problem-solving. Every student puts on a fedora and takes a sip from their “coffee,” and suddenly the classroom is transformed into a full-blown detective agency. Fifth graders who might groan at a worksheet suddenly sit straighter, tilt their hats, and take on the role of investigators with great seriousness. The props make all the difference.

Each fall, these props get put to use solving the Case of the Missing Pumpkin Pie. This activity can stay contained inside the classroom, or, if I really want to make it exciting, it stretches throughout the building. If I keep it in the classroom, I simply hide clues in drawers, under books, or taped to the underside of chairs. But when it stretches into the building, that is when the magic happens.

To prepare for the full building version, I do some work the night before. I place carefully written clues into envelopes and ask different staff members to participate. Secretaries, cafeteria workers, the gym teacher, and even the principal have all played along. When they agree, I hand them an envelope and explain that a group of students will come the next day and ask, “Excuse me, do you have a clue about the Case of the Missing Pumpkin Pie?” The adults almost always play it up, and my students are thrilled to be part of an investigation that reaches beyond the walls of our classroom.

The case

The next day, when the students arrive, the unmistakable sound of the Dragnet theme song blares from my speakers. That is their signal. They leap into action, grabbing their fedoras and filling their coffee mugs with water. By this time of year, they know exactly what this means: A case has just landed on their desks. They sit at attention, waiting for me to announce the details.

I deliver the case like a police chief briefing his squad: “Detectives, we have a crisis. The school staff is preparing for the big harvest feast, and the highlight of the meal is a giant pumpkin pie. Last night, under the cover of darkness, someone stole it. Without that pie, the feast is ruined. Your mission is to track down the thief and save dessert.”

The tension in the room is real. They know they must solve this mystery before the feast begins. I divide them into groups of three, which gives me about eight detective teams. Each group receives a riddle that leads them to a staff member holding a clue. For instance, if the secretary is the one with the envelope, the riddle might read as follows:

“I answer phones and smile all day,
I help with notes that come your way.
If you need the next big clue,
come find me, I’ll help you through.”

The groups tip their hats low, sip their “coffee,” and set off with purpose. I wander the hallways like the chief of detectives, making sure no team gets lost or confused. They have a time limit, which makes the mission even more urgent. One by one, they return with envelopes, proudly waving them like prized evidence.

The clues

Once all the teams are back, we gather to open the clues together. Each clue is tied to an academic subject, which keeps the fun grounded in learning.

Clue one: The first one is the math clue: “The suspect rolled a cart with 36 boxes. Each shelf on the cart held nine boxes. How many shelves were stacked with boxes?”

The students work out the problem quickly and proudly declare that the cart had four shelves. The detail doesn’t seem important yet, but it is one piece of the puzzle.

Clue two: The reading clue is longer, written like a mystery passage: “Late one evening, a faint sound echoed through the empty school halls. A witness reported hearing footsteps that were slow and steady, the kind made by heavy boots. Along with the steps came the sound of metal jingling. The noise grew louder near the cafeteria doors before fading down the hallway toward the storage closets. A strong smell of cleaning spray filled the air, and the floor glistened as though it had been freshly mopped. Just outside the cafeteria, a small trail of pie crumbs ended suddenly at a locked door. Whoever the suspect was, they clearly had keys, sturdy shoes, and access to places that most people cannot enter.”

I then ask the question: “Based on the passage, what can you conclude about the type of person who might have taken the pie?” The students lean in, whispering, before confidently answering that it must be someone like the custodian.

Clue three: The science clue deepens the case: “Investigators noticed a strong smell near the cafeteria. When baking soda was sprinkled on the spot, nothing happened. But when vinegar was poured, there was a fizzing reaction. Does that mean the liquid was acidic or a base? Who would be using that type of chemical?”

The detectives quickly deduce that it must be a cleaning chemical, which fits with what they already know.

Clue four: The social studies clue pushes them to use a map of the school: “On the school map, the suspect was last seen north of the cafeteria and east of the gym. Which room does that describe?”

The students trace the map with their fingers and, with great excitement, announce the custodian’s closet.

The reveal

With all eight clues in hand, the evidence points in one direction. The detectives sit on the edge of their seats, ready for the dramatic reveal. I call the custodian into the classroom. He is in on the plan, and to the students’ delight, he enters carrying a tray of miniature pumpkin pies.

The class erupts in cheers. Hats are thrown into the air. Coffee cups are raised in celebration. Case closed, mystery solved, pie saved, and detectives rewarded with dessert.

What started with 50-cent coffee cups and cheap fedoras has turned into one of the most memorable lessons of the year. Every student gets to experience the thrill of solving a mystery, the satisfaction of teamwork, and the joy of earning a sweet reward. For me, it is the perfect blend of learning and laughter, which is exactly what teaching should be.