Description
Can your students solve the case?
In The Last Ride, students step into the role of investigators to uncover the truth behind a mysterious death along a quiet coastal trail. A young nurse disappears while on a solo beach vacation. Her belongings are found in one place—but her body washes ashore kilometers away. The evidence doesn’t match. Was it suicide? An accident? Or something much darker?
This resource blends forensic reasoning with emotional depth, encouraging students to go beyond surface reading and analyze behavior, bias, and motive—just like real detectives.
What’s Included:
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Full Case Overview (narrative format)
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EVIDENCE FILES:
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Verbal Testimonies
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Surveillance & Physical Evidence
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Autopsy & Tidal Reports
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10 Analysis Questions
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BONUS Critical Thinking Prompt
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BONUS Detective Report Task
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Vocabulary List
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Discussion Prompt with writing lines
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Teacher Guide + Answer Key
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Case Background Summary (for teacher use only)
Why Teachers Love It:
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Real-world style mystery that sparks deep thinking
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Flexible for group work, individual analysis, or writing assessment
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Aligns with Common Core ELA standards
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Ready to print or assign digitally
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Great for forensic units, ELA enrichment, or cross-curricular projects
Standards Alignment:
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RI.9-10.1 | RI.9-10.3 | RI.9-10.8
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W.9-10.1 | W.9-10.9
Conclusion
The Last Ride isn’t just a worksheet—it’s a complete critical thinking experience. By analyzing physical evidence, challenging misleading clues, and interpreting emotional testimony, students will sharpen their reasoning skills while staying fully engaged.
Whether used in a forensic-themed unit, as a high-interest ELA supplement, or as a stand-alone mystery activity, this resource empowers students to read closely, write with purpose, and think like detectives.
Ready to bring the case to your classroom?
