20 free levels
English · Story Woods
Reading Detective
Read the case file, crack the question, and prove it with evidence.
- Grades
- 3–8
- Levels
- 48 in 2 tracks
- Free
- 20 levels
- Session
- 6–15 minutes
What it is
Every case is an original story or article. Read it, answer a question the text never answers out loud, then go back and select the sentence or sentences that prove you're right. Grades 6–8 get longer, more demanding passages about motives, themes and unstated conclusions.
What children learn
Builds inference and evidence: drawing conclusions from clues in literary and informational texts, then citing the specific sentences that support them. Passages are read independently; the Read button speaks only the question, and any use of it is recorded as read-aloud support in reports.
What it teaches
- Cite text evidence
- Make inferences
How to play
Choose an answer, then tap sentences in the passage to select them as evidence and press Check. Keyboard: Tab to the answer choices; in the passage, arrow keys move sentence by sentence and Space or Enter selects. Text follows your spacious-reading setting.
Plays with: Touch Mouse Keyboard
Accessibility
- Read-aloud on request
- Fully playable with a keyboard
- Calm mode with reduced motion
- No timers or time pressure
- Never relies on color alone
- Quiet mode turns off sound effects
Level maps
Tracks and levels
Each track is made for a grade range. Start anywhere that fits — you don't have to play the younger tracks first. As a guest, your stars are saved on this device.
Case Files
Stories and articles with one clear clue, then two.
3–5
24 levels · 10 free
Case Files
Stories and articles with one clear clue, then two. · 3–5
- 1 Case Notebook 1 ☆☆☆
- 2 Case Notebook 2 ☆☆☆
- 3 Case Notebook 3 ☆☆☆
- 4 Case Notebook 4 ☆☆☆
- 5 Case Notebook 5 ☆☆☆
- 6 Case Notebook Challenge ☆☆☆
- 7 Clue Board 1 ☆☆☆
- 8 Clue Board 2 ☆☆☆
- 9 Clue Board 3 ☆☆☆
- 10 Clue Board 4 ☆☆☆
- 11 Clue Board 5 Plan level
- 12 Clue Board Challenge Plan level
- 13 Magnifier 1 Plan level
- 14 Magnifier 2 Plan level
- 15 Magnifier 3 Plan level
- 16 Magnifier 4 Plan level
- 17 Magnifier 5 Plan level
- 18 Magnifier Challenge Plan level
- 19 Case Closed 1 Plan level
- 20 Case Closed 2 Plan level
- 21 Case Closed 3 Plan level
- 22 Case Closed 4 Plan level
- 23 Case Closed 5 Plan level
- 24 Case Closed Challenge Plan level
Levels after 10 are part of a PlayOwl plan. Free levels, saving and basic reports stay free.
Deep Cases
Longer texts on motives, themes and unstated conclusions.
6–8
24 levels · 10 free
Deep Cases
Longer texts on motives, themes and unstated conclusions. · 6–8
- 1 Field Notes 1 ☆☆☆
- 2 Field Notes 2 ☆☆☆
- 3 Field Notes 3 ☆☆☆
- 4 Field Notes 4 ☆☆☆
- 5 Field Notes 5 ☆☆☆
- 6 Field Notes Challenge ☆☆☆
- 7 Cross-Examination 1 ☆☆☆
- 8 Cross-Examination 2 ☆☆☆
- 9 Cross-Examination 3 ☆☆☆
- 10 Cross-Examination 4 ☆☆☆
- 11 Cross-Examination 5 Plan level
- 12 Cross-Examination Challenge Plan level
- 13 Archive Room 1 Plan level
- 14 Archive Room 2 Plan level
- 15 Archive Room 3 Plan level
- 16 Archive Room 4 Plan level
- 17 Archive Room 5 Plan level
- 18 Archive Room Challenge Plan level
- 19 Cold Case 1 Plan level
- 20 Cold Case 2 Plan level
- 21 Cold Case 3 Plan level
- 22 Cold Case 4 Plan level
- 23 Cold Case 5 Plan level
- 24 Cold Case Challenge Plan level
Levels after 10 are part of a PlayOwl plan. Free levels, saving and basic reports stay free.
Off screen
Print & play
Paper activities that go with this game.
Busy beavers
English · 2–3 · Reading · 1 page
The lighthouse keeper's map
English · 3–5 · Reading · 1 page
When the Sahara was green: stretch
English · 4–5 · Reading · 2 pages
Text structures word search
English · Grade 5 · Puzzle · 1 page
The last ride of the morning: warm-up
English · Grade 6 · Reading · 2 pages
Plant the empty lot: a student's argument: stretch
English · 7–8 · Reading · 2 pages
The morning the Moon came to our courtyard: warm-up
English · Grade 7 · Reading · 2 pages
Argument vocabulary and evaluating claims comic strip: 6 panels
English · Grade 8 · Worksheet · 1 page
Media literacy comic strip: 5 panels
English · Grade 8 · Worksheet · 1 page
The day the sky disobeyed: warm-up
English · Grade 8 · Reading · 2 pages
The Great Moon Hoax of 1835: stretch
English · Grade 8 · Reading · 3 pages
Keep exploring
Part of these collections
Guide for grown-ups
- How to improve reading comprehension: strategies that work for kidsA guide for parents and teachers · 7 min read
Reading games by grade
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