In an engaging classroom experience, eighth graders on Team 8B at Mahopac Middle School stepped into the role of detectives to solve the murder of Mr. Boddy, played by Assistant Principal Anthony Muia. The captivating historical mystery took students on a trip into the Progressive Era, where they uncovered a trove of clues and interrogated a cast of colorful characters to solve a crime that challenged their knowledge of history, critical thinking and detective skills.
In this immersive, hands-on project, the students were given the daunting task of solving the murder mystery at a crime scene filled with evidence directly related to the Progressive Age. The clues, ranging from rusty nails in sausages to Tammany Hall politicians, forced students to piece together a complicated puzzle of historical facts. The suspects included a wide array of characters, from muckraking journalists to suffragists, Pinkerton detectives, and even figures tied to the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.
As students worked to decipher witness statements and investigate physical evidence, they delved into the era’s major social, political and economic movements. Key topics, such as the role of muckrakers in exposing corruption, the fight for women’s suffrage, labor rights and the plight of immigrants at Ellis Island, served as vital clues in solving the crime.
“This was a really fun assignment,” student Sam Banchs said. “I liked interviewing the suspects and figuring out who had the most to gain from the murder. It really made me think, and it wasn’t as straightforward as most school projects where they give you all the answers. You had to dig deep and use what you know about history to piece everything together.”
The hands-on project not only challenged students’ knowledge of historical events, but it also required them to develop research skills, evaluate conflicting testimonies, and think critically about the connections between history and crime solving. The students were encouraged to view the mystery from multiple angles, drawing on their knowledge of history to sort out the truth.
The success of the project was made possible by the efforts of the 8B faculty team, including the teachers who fully embraced their roles as suspects, bringing the historical characters to life in a way that made the experience educational and entertaining.
“This project was a creative way to engage students with history and demonstrate the relevance of the Progressive Era,” eighth grade history teacher David Gordon said. “The students really rose to the challenge, and I’m proud of how they collaborated together to solve the crime using their understanding of history.”
