To return to the story,
use the "back" button on your web browser.

For Teachers

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? You, the reader, show up to help study Africanized bees in the Amazon - only to discover the project's director unconscious on the floor. What's going on? Was it an accident or skullduggery?

FORMAT: "River of Venom" has three parts to it. The story begins with Episode One, continues in Episode Two, and wraps up in the Conclusion. Both episodes present clues and culminate in a mystery question that the reader tries to answer correctly.

INTERACTIVITY: The story responds to each reader's choices, presenting research material and rewarding correct answers as appropriate.

LENGTH: It takes an average reader about 40 minutes to get to the "solve-it" page of each episode, and 30 minutes or so to read the Conclusion.

LEARNING MATERIAL: Facts about the science subjects are integrated into the clue-finding activity for each Episode.

THEMES: Episode One emphasis: medical science and human health. Episode Two: Deductive reasoning.

HOW DO TEACHERS USE THIS MYSTERY?
Science mysteries such as River of Venom integrate science learning within an exciting narrative. They have wide appeal and are thus well-suited to be a class activity. Typically a teacher will have students read and discuss the first Episode during a class period, and allow students to continue the story on their own.

ADVANCED STUDENTS
Many teachers use the science mysteries to engage advanced students, especially those who may normally shun science.

DOWNLOAD AND USE OFFLINE.
Teachers and parents can download the mystery, so it can be used offline: go to our download page. NOTE: the email response optional feature will not work if used offline.

TEACHER FEEDBACK
To read teacher comments about the science mysteries, visit www.sciencemystery.com. Send your feedback here.

OTHER SCIENCE MYSTERIES
To see the other science mysteries available at Access Excellence, visit the Mystery Spot:
www.accessexcellence.org/AE/mspot

Produced by Genentech. Copyright 1997. All rights reserved.
Update funded by the National Health Museum 2004.

To return to "River of Venom,"
use the "back" command on your web browser.