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Week 1 · Nature Detectives · Little Explorer (ages 5–7)

The Mystery of the Missing Ducklings

Role: Investigator

Briefing

Five ducklings disappeared overnight from the pond. The mother duck is alone. Park staff don't know what happened. Your job, Investigator: find clues, identify the suspect, and design a way to keep the rest of the ducklings safe.

Evidence File

  • EX-015 ducklings went to sleep with their mother by the pond Tuesday night.
  • EX-02Wednesday morning, only the mother was there.
  • EX-03There are tracks in the mud near the water. They are NOT bird tracks.
  • EX-04A neighbor heard splashing around 2 a.m. but didn't get up to look.
  • EX-05There is no fence around this side of the pond.

Weekly Milestones

  1. Day 1
    Read the briefing. Walk the 'pond' (any water you have, or a drawing) and look for clues.
  2. Day 2
    Match the tracks to a possible predator using the included track guide.
  3. Day 3
    Sketch a simple shelter or fence that could protect the remaining ducklings.
  4. Day 4
    Present your findings to a family member — name the suspect, show the plan.
  5. Day 5
    Build a model of your shelter from cardboard, sticks, or LEGOs.

Your Deliverable — Little Explorer

Ages 5–7

A drawn 'case file' page: suspect, sketch of tracks, and a labeled drawing of your shelter idea.

Other tracks tackle this same case at their own depth — see the catalog.

Rubric

Evidence

Uses at least 3 specific clues from the file.

Identification

Names a real, plausible predator native to the area.

Protection plan

Plan addresses both the threat AND the ducks' need to access the water.

Presentation

Can explain the plan out loud in under 2 minutes.

Badge

Investigator — Bronze

  • ✓Completed case file with sketch.
  • ✓Named the predator with one sentence explaining why.
  • ✓Presented findings to a family member.

Notes for the Parent / Mentor

For Little Explorers, the 'pond' can be the bathtub, a puddle, or a drawing. The point is the cycle: clue → guess → solution. Resist solving it for them. The wrong answer that they reason out loud is more valuable than the right answer you hand them.