Who Killed the Princes in the Tower? | History Mystery Investigation Unit

Your students are about to become investigators — and they won't realize how hard they're working.

What really happened to the Princes in the Tower? This History Mystery Investigation Unit transforms middle schoolers into analysts, investigators, and historians as they evaluate competing theories, analyze evidence, and defend their conclusions.

If your students struggle to move beyond basic answers, this resource gives them the structure they need to think, write, and explain with confidence. Built for 7th and 8th grade classrooms and homeschool families. No prep required.

🧠 Why This Resource Works

Most students can find answers — but struggle to explain their reasoning, compare multiple ideas, and evaluate evidence. This unit was designed to fix that.

Students don't just read — they investigate. Using a structured case file system, they:

• Track Facts, Claims, and Evidence
• Compare competing historical theories
• Analyze missing information and gaps in the record
• Defend their thinking using proven writing frameworks

This is real test-prep thinking AND real-world skill building.

🕵️ This Is NOT a Worksheet

This is a multi-day investigation experience. Students engage with CLASSIFIED case files, competing theories, and structured analysis sections on every single page.

Every page includes built-in thinking supports:

• Notes — capture key information
• Facts — identify what is proven
• Claims — recognize what is argued
• Evidence — evaluate what supports each theory

These supports help ADHD learners stay focused, struggling readers stay organized, and all students build deeper understanding.

📘 What's Included (26 Student Pages)

3 High-Interest Case Files

• Richard III Theory
• Henry VII Theory
• Survival Theory

20 Rigorous Multiple Choice Questions

• Evaluating arguments across multiple texts
• No predictable answer patterns — students must think

Student Self-Check Checklist — encourages independence and improves writing quality before submission

Student Reflection Page — builds metacognition and ownership of learning

✍️ Writing System Included — Not Just Prompts

Students don't guess how to write. They follow a proven system:

• PROVE™ Method — Evaluating Arguments
• TREES™ — Short Response Writing
• THREE TREES GROW™ — Full Essay Writing

Full Essay Rubric included — 25 points total with clear expectations for every section and a step-by-step structure students can follow independently.

⏱️ Built to Save Teacher Time

• 30-Second Grading Method
• Quick score conversion chart
• Clear "What to Look For" checklists
• Step-by-step lesson guidance
• Differentiation and ADHD support strategies
• Implementation suggestions included

No prep. No confusion. Just teach.

🎯 Skills Covered

• Evaluating Arguments — RI.7.8 / RI.8.8
• Comparing Multiple Texts
• Evidence-Based Reasoning
• Writing with Structure and Clarity

⏳ Perfect For

• Middle School ELA — Grades 7 and 8
• Test prep review
• Homeschool learning
• Sub plans
• Multi-day lessons or mini-units

🔥 The Outcome

By the end of this unit, students will think like investigators, evaluate evidence critically, and defend their ideas with confidence.

That's the goal. This resource delivers it.

Grade Level: 7th–8th Grade  |  Format: Printable PDF  |  Student Pages: 26  |  Writing System: Included

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