Earth Day Mystery: The Case of the Vanishing Veggies

Description

Are you ready to solve the mystery? Email us your answers and win a prize at our April 26 Spring Family Fun Fair at Las Vegas Mini Grand Prix! The answer is on page 48 of Vegas Family Insider!

Download the kit and get 16 pages of detective notes, agent badges, wanted posters, clue folders and a Mastery of Mystery for solving the Earth Day Mystery!

It was Earth Day at Greenleaf Elementary School, and the whole school had been working on a beautiful garden project for weeks. The students planted carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, and more in the school garden as part of their Earth Day celebration. Everyone was excited to see the first harvest during the Earth Day Fair.

But when the class went outside to check the garden… half the vegetables were missing! The tomato vines were empty, the carrot tops were pulled out, and there were mysterious muddy prints all around. Who—or what—took the veggies?

It’s up to your Earth Day Detectives to solve the mystery and protect the garden before more plants disappear!

Clues:

1. The Garden Beds: Some of the carrots were yanked out messily, and tomato vines were snapped. A small trail of leaves leads away from the garden.

2. The Muddy Prints: There are paw-shaped prints in the dirt. Are they from a dog? A raccoon? Or something else?

3. The Missing Glove: One gardening glove is lying near the compost bin. The other is nowhere to be found.

4. The Compost Clue: Inside the compost bin is a chewed-up carrot and a note that says:
   “Sorry! I was hungry and curious. Can I help replant?”

5. The Recycled Bottle Trail: A few painted plastic bottles (used as plant markers) are found scattered behind the shed.

Suspects:

• Riley the Recycler: Loves nature and is always making bird feeders and bottle planters from recycled materials. Says she saw something rustling near the shed last night.

• Max the Maintenance Kid: Was helping clean up after school. He says he didn’t touch the garden—but admits he left the gate open by mistake.

• Mr. Hoots the Owl Club Mascot: A clever (and nosy) barn owl that lives nearby. Could Mr. Hoots have knocked something over in the night?

• Buddy the Class Pet Rabbit: Escaped from his pen once before. Could Buddy have made a veggie snack run?

How to Solve the Mystery:

1. Investigate the Scene: Examine the garden area, shed, compost bin, and tracks. Compare paw prints to animals you know.

2. Interview the Suspects: Ask each person where they were during garden patrol. Who had the last gardening shift?

3. Connect the Clues: What does the note mean? Who would have written it? And how would they know how to compost properly?

The Solution:

Go to page 48 of Vegas Family Insider for the solution!