Science · Stage 5
Challenge: Multi-Step Mysteries
A good mystery never gives up its answer to a single clue — chain the clues together, and watch the truth appear!
✦ Science📘 Stage 5 · S5⏱ ~12 min🧒 Ages 9–10★ Free to start
solve a science mystery by chaining several clues together — using each clue to unlock the next until they all point to one answer.
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Detective Kavi and the Chain of Clues
Kavi pulls out a magnifying glass 🔍. "One clue is never enough — 'the glass is wet outside' could mean a leak, a spill, or the air! A real scientist chains the clues: each new clue crosses out a wrong idea until only the true answer is left. Clue by clue, link by link — let's crack the case together!"
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What your child will learn
1How a scientist chains cluesA mystery is solved link by link, not in one jump. Tap each idea to learn it.
2Chain the clues to the answerRead BOTH clues, chain them together, then predict the answer. Tap to check, then tap Next test for another case!
3One clue vs a chain of cluesThe same wet glass — but one detective stops too soon. Tap each card.
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A peek inside
The mystery of the sweating glass. Clue 1: a glass of iced water left on the table gets wet on the outside. Clue 2: nothing was spilled and the glass has no cracks. Where did the water come from?
Clue 1 says water appeared on the outside. Clue 2 rules out a leak and a spill — so the water did not come from inside the glass. The only source left is the warm air: it holds invisible water vapour, and when that vapour touches the cold glass it cools and turns to liquid. That is condensation.
Try this at home: A cold glass on a hot day is wet outside, with no spill and no crack. Where did the water come from?
Ready to play and learn?
Start the free interactive lesson, or print the handout for screen-free play.
Part of Science · Stage 5 · S5 on KAVI Academy — a secular, whole-child learning platform for ages 5–12.