7 Detective Activities to Solve Riddles like Sherlock Holmes

Free Detective Style Activities

Have you ever wanted to be a detective? Now, you can with 7 detective activities.

Like Sherlock Holmes, you get clues and solve challenging puzzles.

And the best part? You practice English. And it’s tons of fun.

Like all our worksheets, they’re free to use for any purpose.

1. Detective Clues

Divide the class into groups of four, with one secretary and three detectives per team. 

Detectives find clues, memorizing them in English. They report back to their secretary, who writes down each clue.

Once all clues are collected, the team works together to solve the puzzle. This activity combines memory skills, teamwork, and English practice in an exciting treasure hunt format.

2. Einstein’s Riddle

Get ready for an Einstein’s Logic challenge. This brain-teaser was supposedly created by a young Albert Einstein.

Using a set of clues, students must determine the nationality, pet, drink, color, and hobby of each homeowner in a neighborhood. 

This will test your students’ deductive reasoning skills. Can your students solve Einstein’s riddle?

3. Spot the Difference

Two pictures look identical side by side. But they’re not. The students’ mission is to find 10 subtle differences between the scenes. 

This activity sharpens observation skills while encouraging students to use English to describe what they see.

Can your students find all 10 differences? It’s a fun way to practice vocabulary related to objects, colors, and positions.

4. What’s in the Box?

This activity is called “What’s in the Box?” The teacher brings a mystery box to class containing a secret object.

Students must figure out what’s inside by asking yes or no questions. They can inquire about the object’s size, shape, color, or function.

The challenge is to guess correctly using only these limited questions. If a student guesses right, they might win a prize.

5. Teacher Quiz

I like to kick off the class with this Scavenger Hunt! Hide clues around the classroom before students arrive.

Divide the class into small teams and give them a list of items to find. Each item corresponds to a hidden clue.

Students must locate the clues, solve them, and match answers correctly. It’s a perfect ice-breaker that combines fun with learning in your first ESL class.

6. Talking Bingo

Everyone stands up with their own Bingo worksheet. Students mingle, asking each other questions from their sheets.

If someone answers “yes,” the asker marks that square. The goal is to complete a line on the Bingo card.

The first player to get a line shouts “Bingo!” Show your worksheet to the teacher and you win.

7. World Monuments

Explore world monuments with a connect-the-dots puzzle. Students will link dots to reveal famous landmarks within country outlines.

Once completed, challenge students to name both the monument and its country.

This activity combines geography knowledge with fine motor skills practice. Best of all, you can learn about global landmarks and their locations.

Free Detective Activities

We’ve revealed 7 of the best detective activities where you either find clues or solve a challenging riddle.

They have worked wonders for our classes. Hopefully, they’ll be challenging for your students too.

Have you ever tried detective-style games in your class? Please let us know what has worked and what hasn’t in the comment section below.