Alibi

Three "suspects" create a shared alibi for an imaginary crime while the rest of the class prepares interrogation questions to find inconsistencies.

Procedure

1. Announce that a crime was committed the previous evening between 6 and 7 o'clock. Choose three students as suspects.
2. Send the three suspects out of the room (or out of earshot) to devise their alibi. They must know exact details of what they did and where they went, must claim to have been together the whole time, and cannot say "I don't remember."
3. While suspects prepare (5-10 minutes), split the rest of the class into three interrogation groups. Each group prepares questions and decides who will ask them.
4. Bring suspects back. One goes to each group for about five minutes of questioning, then groups swap suspects. All three groups question all three suspects separately. Keep suspects out of earshot of each other.
5. Any difference between suspects' stories is proof of guilt. Groups gather evidence orally and the class votes on who is guilty.
6. If time remains, the class can decide on a suitable punishment.

Tips

• Provides meaningful practice of past simple and past continuous in both question and statement form.
• Draw students' attention to these forms before or after the activity.
• In a virtual environment, use breakout rooms for suspects to plan and for interrogation rounds.