🔴 Murder Mystery — EFL Game

Death at the Drama Club

Opening Night. One victim. Six suspects. One truth.
🎯 B1 English 👥 8–12 Students ⏱ 30 Minutes ✏️ Past Simple & Questions
Session Timer
30:00
🎭 The Crime Scene
It is Friday evening at Westside High School. Tonight is the opening night of the school play — a production of Romeo and Juliet, directed by Mr. James Hart, the drama teacher. At 7:25 PM, five minutes before the curtain is supposed to go up, a student finds Mr. Hart in his office. He is slumped over his desk. He is not breathing. The police arrive. Nobody can leave the building. The investigation begins.

Time of death: approximately 7:05 – 7:10 PM. The cause of death was a blow to the head from a fall. Somebody pushed him.
📖 How to Run This Game
  1. Give each student a Suspect Card (click "Suspects" tab → Print All Cards). If you have fewer than 6 students playing suspects, extra students become detectives only.
  2. Students read their card privately. They have 3 minutes to memorize their alibi and key phrases before the investigation begins.
  3. Give every student a Detective Worksheet (Worksheet tab → Print). All students — including suspects — try to solve the case.
  4. Start the session timer above. Students now move freely and interview each other for 15 minutes.
  5. Suspects answer questions honestly — except they must protect their secret and avoid revealing the hidden information on their card.
  6. After 15 minutes, everyone writes their accusation on the worksheet. Go around the class: each student states who they accuse and why.
  7. Click Reveal and enter the password to show the solution. Debrief as a class.
⏱ Game Timeline
5 min
Setup
Distribute cards. Students read roles silently.
3 min
Pre-teach
Review vocabulary below as a class.
15 min
Investigation
Free movement. Students interview suspects.
5 min
Accusation
Write accusation. Share with the class.
5 min
Reveal + Debrief
Reveal murderer. Language debrief.
📚 Pre-Teach Vocabulary (3 min)
Teacher tip: Write these on the board or go through them quickly before the game. Students don't need to memorize them — they just need to recognize them.
alibi (n)Proof that you were in a different place when the crime happened.
suspect (n)A person who might have committed the crime.
motive (n)A reason for doing something bad.
evidence (n)Information that helps you prove something is true.
witness (n)A person who saw something happen.
investigation (n)A careful search to find out the truth about something.
confront (v)To face someone and say something difficult or accusatory.
suspicious (adj)Making you think that something is wrong or dishonest.
accusation (n)A statement that says someone did something wrong.
confess (v)To admit that you did something wrong or bad.
👥 Suspect Roster
Assign one suspect to each student. If you have extra students, they play as detectives only — no suspect card, just the worksheet.
🌟
Sofia Reyes
Lead Actress
🎭
Emma Walsh
The Understudy
🎬
Daniel Park
Stage Manager
🎵
Mr. Torres
Music Teacher
🎨
Olivia Chen
Set Designer
🧵
Max Butler
Costume Designer
📱 Student view: Each student sees only their own card. They should not show it to other players. Use the buttons below to switch between cards on a shared device, or print all cards at once from the Teacher tab.
🌟
Sofia Reyes
Lead Actress — Playing Juliet
Age 17 · 6th year at Westside High
B1

You are the star of the show. You have worked for months on your role as Juliet. Mr. Hart was your teacher and director. You had a big argument with him this afternoon, but you did not kill him. You are scared and upset.

Your Alibi
"I was in the girls' dressing room from 6:45 PM. I was doing my makeup. Emma was in the room with me. She left for a few minutes around 7:05 PM — she said she needed some air — but I stayed the whole time."
Your Secret (Do NOT Share This)
At 6:30 PM, you had a loud argument with Mr. Hart. He told you that your performance was not good enough. He threatened to replace you with Emma. You were very angry and upset. Other students heard you shouting in the hallway. You are embarrassed and afraid that people will think you killed him because of this.
What You Noticed
About Emma: Emma left the dressing room at around 7:05 PM. She said "I need some air." She was back at about 7:18 PM. When she came back, she looked pale and nervous. Her hands were shaking slightly.

About Daniel: You saw Daniel looking at you through the window of the lighting booth at around 6:40 PM. He smiled at you — he is very friendly with you.
🗣 Your Key Phrases (Use these during the game!)
  • "Yes, we had an argument, but I didn't touch him. I went straight to the dressing room."
  • "Emma was with me... well, most of the time. She left for a few minutes."
  • "I was scared. I thought he was going to take my role. But I didn't kill him!"
🎭
Emma Walsh
The Understudy — Also plays a Nurse
Age 17 · 4th year at Westside High
B1

You are the understudy. You learned the role of Juliet perfectly. You believed Mr. Hart was going to give the role to you. Then, at the last minute, he chose Sofia again. You are the murderer. You must not let anyone discover the truth.

Your Alibi (THIS IS A LIE)
"I was in the girls' dressing room with Sofia the whole time. I never left. We were together from 6:45 PM until we heard the news about Mr. Hart."

⚠ This is your false alibi. Sofia will say you left the room. Be ready to explain this.
The Truth (NEVER Share This)
At 7:05 PM, you left the dressing room and went to Mr. Hart's office. You wanted to talk to him one more time about the role of Juliet. He told you again that Sofia would play Juliet. You were furious. You shouted at him. In anger, you pushed him. He fell and hit his head on the corner of his desk. You panicked. You ran out of his office, leaving your silver pen on the floor. You walked quickly back to the dressing room.
What You Know (Things You Can Share)
About Sofia: You know that Sofia argued with Mr. Hart at 6:30 PM. Other students heard them shouting. You think the police will suspect Sofia before they suspect you.

About Max: Max borrowed money from Mr. Hart last month. You heard Max talking about it quietly with a friend. This makes Max look suspicious.
🗣 Your Key Phrases (Use these — stay calm!)
  • "I was in the dressing room with Sofia the whole evening. I never left."
  • "Maybe Sofia is confused — it was a very stressful night. She had a big argument with Mr. Hart."
  • "I'm very upset. Mr. Hart was a wonderful teacher. I can't believe this happened."
🎬
Daniel Park
Stage Manager
Age 18 · Final year at Westside High
B1

You organized everything for tonight's performance. You were in the lighting booth for most of the evening. You have a secret — you were expelled from your last school for theft. Nobody knows this here, and you are terrified that Mr. Hart was going to tell people. But you did not kill him.

Your Alibi
"I was in the lighting booth from 6:30 PM. I was checking the spotlights with the technical team. There were two other students there with me. I could see the stage and the hallway below through the window."
Your Secret (Do NOT Share This)
At your previous school, you were expelled for stealing money from other students. Nobody at Westside High knows this. Mr. Hart discovered this fact two weeks ago from your old school records. He told you that he was considering telling the principal. You were scared and angry, but you did not hurt him.
What You Noticed
Very important: Through the window of the lighting booth, at around 7:05 PM, you saw Emma Walsh walking quickly from the direction of the girls' dressing room toward Mr. Hart's office. At the time, you thought it was strange because the performance was about to start.

About Sofia: Earlier in the afternoon, you heard Sofia and Mr. Hart having a very loud argument in the hallway. Sofia was crying.
🗣 Your Key Phrases
  • "I was in the lighting booth all evening. Two other students can confirm this."
  • "I saw Emma walking toward Mr. Hart's office at around 7:05. I didn't think much of it at the time."
  • "Sofia and Mr. Hart had a terrible argument this afternoon. Everyone heard it."
🎵
Mr. Torres
Music Teacher & Piano Accompanist
Age 42 · Music teacher for 8 years
B1

You play the piano for the school play. You and Mr. Hart had a disagreement last week about the music for the performance. You thought his choices were bad. You did not like Mr. Hart, but you did not kill him.

Your Alibi
"I was in the music room from 6:00 PM to 7:15 PM. I was practising the opening music on the piano. You can hear the piano from the hallway — several students walked past and heard me playing."
Your Secret (Do NOT Share This)
Last week, you had a serious argument with Mr. Hart about the music for Romeo and Juliet. He rejected all of your music choices and called your taste "completely wrong." You were furious and humiliated in front of the students. You told a colleague, "I could kill that man." Of course, you did not mean it literally. But now you are scared that someone heard you say this.
What You Noticed
Important: At around 7:05 PM, while you were in the music room, you heard raised voices coming from the direction of Mr. Hart's office. You heard a woman's voice — it sounded angry. You could not hear the exact words. You thought it was just pre-show nerves and continued playing the piano.

About Max: You know that Max borrowed £50 from Mr. Hart last month. You heard them discussing it.
🗣 Your Key Phrases
  • "I was in the music room the entire evening. I was at the piano from six o'clock."
  • "I heard raised voices near Mr. Hart's office — a woman's voice — at around seven o'clock."
  • "Yes, we had a disagreement last week. But that was about music, not murder."
🎨
Olivia Chen
Set Designer
Age 16 · 5th year at Westside High
B1

You designed the sets for the play. Last week, Mr. Hart rejected your entire design and humiliated you in front of the other students. You hated Mr. Hart, but you did not kill him. You have an alibi and you saw something very important.

Your Alibi
"I was on the main stage from 6:45 PM. I was making final adjustments to the scenery. At least four other students saw me there. I was on the stage the whole time until we heard the terrible news."
Your Secret (Do NOT Share This)
Last week, Mr. Hart called your set design "amateur and embarrassing" in front of twelve students. You cried. You told your friend privately that you wished Mr. Hart would just disappear. You are now afraid that your friend will tell the police about this comment, and that you will become a suspect.
What You Noticed
Very important: At around 7:14 PM, you looked up from the stage and saw Emma Walsh walking very quickly from the direction of Mr. Hart's office. She was walking toward the girls' dressing room. Her face was pale and she looked frightened. You thought it was strange because the show was about to start.

About Sofia: You saw Sofia and Mr. Hart arguing in the hallway at 6:30 PM. Sofia was very upset and her voice was loud.
🗣 Your Key Phrases
  • "I was on the stage from 6:45. Many people saw me there."
  • "I saw Emma coming from Mr. Hart's office at about 7:14 PM. She looked very pale and frightened."
  • "Yes, Mr. Hart and I had problems. But I had nothing to do with his death."
🧵
Max Butler
Costume Designer
Age 17 · 6th year at Westside High
B1

You made all the costumes for the play. You borrowed money from Mr. Hart and never paid it back. You have a solid alibi, but you also found something important at the crime scene — a pen that you put in your pocket.

Your Alibi
"I was in the costume room with three other students from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. We were doing final costume fittings for the actors. Three students can confirm I was there the whole time."
Your Secret (Do NOT Share This)
Two months ago, you borrowed £50 from Mr. Hart. He asked you to pay it back last week, but you don't have the money. He threatened to tell your parents. You were stressed about this money situation. If the police discover this, they might think you had a motive. Also — and this is critical — at 7:10 PM you walked past Mr. Hart's office door and found a silver pen on the floor. It has the name "E. Walsh" engraved on it. You picked it up and put it in your pocket. You don't know why you did this. You still have it.
What You Noticed
The pen: At 7:10 PM, you walked past Mr. Hart's office door (on your way to get more pins from the storage room). You found a silver pen on the floor just outside the office. The pen has "E. Walsh" engraved on it — you recognized it as Emma Walsh's. You put it in your pocket. You don't know why.

If the detectives ask you to empty your pockets or ask if you found anything, you must admit you have the pen.
🗣 Your Key Phrases
  • "I was in the costume room the whole evening. Three students were with me."
  • "OK, I borrowed money from Mr. Hart. But that doesn't mean I killed him!"
  • "Actually... I did find something near his office. A silver pen. It says 'E. Walsh' on it."

Detective Worksheet

Fill this in as you investigate. Keep your notes secret!
🔍 Investigation Grid
How to use: Interview each suspect. Write their alibi, any suspicious information, and whether you think they could be the murderer.
Suspect Where were they? (Alibi) Suspicious information Possible motive? Guilty? ✓/✗
🌟 Sofia Reyes
🎭 Emma Walsh
🎬 Daniel Park
🎵 Mr. Torres
🎨 Olivia Chen
🧵 Max Butler
❓ Question Starters (Use these during interviews!)
"Where were you when Mr. Hart died?"
"What did you do between 7:00 and 7:30 PM?"
"Did you see anything unusual this evening?"
"Can you explain why you argued with Mr. Hart?"
"Who did you see near Mr. Hart's office?"
"I find it suspicious that you said ___. Can you explain?"
"Did you know that ___? How do you explain that?"
"Is it true that you had a problem with Mr. Hart?"
🧠 Deduction Sentence Frames
Use these frames to write your conclusions. Fill in the blanks with names and reasons.
It must have been                  because                         .
It couldn't have been               because                         .
She/He might have                                    .
I think               is innocent because                 .
The evidence shows that                                 .
She/He lied about                                        .
📝 My Investigation Notes
Write your notes here during the investigation...
🔴 Final Accusation Form
I accuse:
Evidence 1 — What did this person do?
Evidence 2 — Why is their alibi wrong?
Evidence 3 — What is their motive?
My conclusion:
🔒

The Solution is Locked

Enter the password to reveal the murderer.
Only use this after all accusations are made.

Teacher hint
The password is: CURTAIN
⚠ The Murderer Is...
🎭
Emma Walsh
The Understudy
Emma Walsh killed Mr. Hart by accident. At 7:05 PM, she left the girls' dressing room without telling Sofia where she was going. She went to Mr. Hart's office to argue about the role of Juliet — a role she believed was hers. Mr. Hart refused to change his decision. Emma lost control of her anger. She pushed him. He fell and hit his head on the corner of his desk. Emma panicked and ran from the office, dropping her silver pen on the floor. She returned to the dressing room at 7:18 PM, pale and frightened. She told nobody what happened.
🔑 The Evidence — Step by Step
  • 1
    Sofia's testimony: Sofia confirmed that Emma left the dressing room at about 7:05 PM and returned at 7:18 PM — a gap of 13 minutes. Emma's alibi ("I was in the dressing room the whole time") was a lie.
  • 2
    Daniel's testimony: From the lighting booth, Daniel saw Emma walking toward Mr. Hart's office at around 7:05 PM. This places her at the scene at the time of death.
  • 3
    Mr. Torres's testimony: From the music room, Mr. Torres heard a woman's angry voice near Mr. Hart's office at around 7:05 PM. Emma was the woman who was arguing with Mr. Hart.
  • 4
    Olivia's testimony: Olivia saw Emma walking very quickly from the direction of Mr. Hart's office at around 7:14 PM. Her face was pale. She looked frightened. This confirms Emma was at the scene.
  • 5
    The pen: Max found a silver pen near Mr. Hart's office door at 7:10 PM. The pen has "E. Walsh" engraved on it — Emma's pen. She dropped it when she ran from the office.
✏️ Language Debrief — Grammar in Context
Teacher: Read these examples aloud and discuss. Ask students to identify the grammar structure in each sentence.
"Where were you when Mr. Hart died?"
Structure: past simple question (Where + was/were + subject?)
"Emma left the dressing room at 7:05 PM and returned at 7:18 PM."
Structure: past simple narration (subject + verb + time phrase)
"Did you see anything unusual that evening?"
Structure: past simple yes/no question (Did + subject + infinitive?)
"It couldn't have been Sofia because she never left the dressing room."
Structure: modal deduction (couldn't have been) + past simple evidence
"It must have been Emma — her pen was found at the scene."
Structure: modal deduction (must have been) + passive voice evidence
💬 Post-Game Discussion
5-minute class discussion. Use these questions to extend the lesson after the reveal.
Q1.Emma pushed Mr. Hart in anger — she didn't plan to kill him. Is she still guilty of murder? What do you think?
Q2.Who do you think behaved most suspiciously during the investigation? Did anyone almost trick you?
Q3.Max found Emma's pen but put it in his pocket. Did he do the right thing? What should he have done?
Q4.Think about your own investigation. What was the most important question you asked? What information helped you the most?
Q5.If you were a detective in real life, what questions would you ask differently next time?
🎭
— The curtain falls. The truth is revealed. —