Case 03 · Documents tell stories

The Family Document Hunt

I can identify a family document, separate observations from guesses, and protect the original.

◷ 45–70 minutes⌁ 15–20 active minutes⌂ Work stays offline
Begin the case

Your assignment

Learn what documents can tell you—and what they cannot—before opening the family archive.

Warm up the detective brain

  • Name a document that records an event.
  • Why might a copy be safer to handle than an original?

No answer box by design. Say it, jot it in the workbook, or keep it in your head. This site does not collect the answer.

Granny reads the paper, not the wish

A fictional 1924 train ticket has a name, route, date, and penciled note.

  1. Observe: the printed route runs from Ogden to Denver.
  2. Observe: “E. Moore” is written on the ticket.
  3. Infer carefully: E. Moore may have used it, but the ticket alone cannot prove who traveled.

Case note: Record what you can see first. Label guesses as inferences and ask what other source could help.

Practice on fictional evidence

Choose the best-supported answer. Feedback explains the evidence; nothing is scored or sent anywhere.

1. A marriage certificate is kept in a fragile family album. What is the safest first action?
2. A school program lists “Sam Lee — violin.” What can the program directly support?
3. Which item should stay off a scavenger-hunt list for a child to find alone?

Take the case off-screen

Complete all workbook activities over time, or choose one doorway for today. The authentic evidence belongs in your family-controlled archive.

Safe scavenger

With an adult, locate several approved document types without exposing private numbers.

Document detective

Complete four reports: type, date, people, visible clues, and confidence.

Archive organizer

Build a ten-item inventory and note where each item is protected.

Workbook activity trail

  • Document Scavenger Hunt
  • Document Detective Report
  • Oldest Document (optional)
  • Family Document Inventory

Is the case ready to file?

Use this as a learner self-check or a short family conversation. Support, dictation, drawing, and the fictional path all count when they preserve the same skill.

  • I identified documents by type and purpose.
  • I separated observations from guesses.
  • I completed four detective reports.
  • I inventoried ten items without exposing sensitive details.

Reflection: What could one document support, and what question did it leave open?

Open portfolio sheet

File this skill, not the curiosity.

For more background, read The Biscuit Tin Dossier. The mission is optional context; your workbook remains the activity guide.