The Too-Helpful Robot: ESL Partner Speaking Mystery (B1–B2)

BOLT, the Institute's robot, takes every instruction literally. The Director's portrait is now orange and at the bottom of the fish tank. Five people gave BOLT instructions this morning. Who is responsible?

HOW IT WORKS

This is a partner speaking mystery for pairs. Student A has every instruction BOLT heard (who, when, where and the exact words). Student B has BOLT's rulebook and a list of the rooms. Neither sheet solves the mystery alone: A doesn't know what the words make BOLT do, and B doesn't know who said what. Students keep their sheets secret, ask and answer questions in their own words, compare what they find out and work through the instructions in order, apply BOLT's rules and find the people responsible. The answer is fixed and fully explained in the answer key.

LEVEL AND LANGUAGE

Written for English learners at CEFR B1–B2, grades 5–8. Language focus: reporting instructions (Dr Pike told BOLT to …) and rules (If BOLT hears …, it … BOLT only obeys if …).

PREP AND TIMING

Print page 2 for each Student A and page 3 for each Student B. Keep pages 1 and 4 for yourself. No cutting and no extra materials. About 25 minutes.

THE INSTITUTE OF UNLIKELY SCIENCE

One of five mysteries set in the same very strange research institute. No science knowledge is needed: the science is silly, the thinking is real.

WHAT'S INCLUDED (1 PDF, 4 pages, full colour)

• Page 1: Teacher notes (level, timing, language focus, steps, an early-finisher idea and support/challenge tips)
• Page 2: Student A sheet
• Page 3: Student B sheet
• Page 4: Answer key with the reasoning (teacher only)

LICENCE

Purchase grants the purchasing teacher permission to use this resource in their own teaching and to print copies for their own students.

You may not resell, redistribute, share the digital file with other teachers, or upload it to publicly accessible websites. Each teacher who wishes to use the resource must purchase their own copy.