Use these templates and resources to complete the mystery from Springfield school on waterfalls

1. Date: Time:
Class:
Lesson Title: Waterfall Mystery
Key Question: How did Donny Daredevil Die?
Learning Objectives:
All must be able to
Describe the features of a waterfall and give examples of waterfalls around the world
Most should be able to the above and…
Explain how a waterfall forms and link this to the reason why Donny died!
Some could be able to all the above and…
Link time scale into the process of erosion to solve the mystery
Resources:
Power Point presentation
Three sets of information
1. How waterfalls form - animations
2. Newspaper reports
3. Police crime scene reports
Key Words:
Erosion
Waterfall
Niagara
Plunge Pool
Teacher Activity
Provide Title and Key Question
Via Powerpoint – visuals of wa terfalls.
Starter Activity
Prompt discussion of pupil knowledge of
famous waterfalls -
Introduce Mystery – via PowerPoint, body
washed up on bank of Niagara river
Organise into working groups – 3 or 4. If
large class two separate rotations of 3
groups
Main Task
Pupils complete carousel of activities, 15
minutes on each to complete tasks to
solve mystery.
Teacher can act role of an eyewitness or
Donny’s assistant to provide a 4th
activity
Plenary
Discuss answers to the key questions
Time
5 mins
5 mins
45 mins
5 mins
Pupil Activity
Set up title, date and key question
Provide examples of prior
knowledge
Pupils research the provided
documents to build up clues as to
how and why Donny Died – linking
to knowledge of how waterfalls
form.
Pupils present their theories as to
how Donny Died
Learning Support:
Strong literacy component reinforcing the learning and application of key words through a variety
of exercises, the main focus this time is visual imagery and use of analogies to reinforce the
learning of key concepts
Links to further learning:
Features of rivers, meanders, applying knowledge of erosion and deposition processes

2. Niagara Mystery
The body of a man has been found on the river bank near to Niagara Falls.
Was his death an accident or was it murder?
You are to investigate the circumstances that led to this man’s death.
You will need to explore the Geography of the Niagara Falls.
You will need to read through the witness statements of those who saw and new about
this man.
You will need to look closely at the scene of the crime.
You will need to read newspaper articles about the events.
Finally you will have to write a report of all you have found out.
Who is this man?
How did he die?
Why did he die?
What sequence of events led to his death?
Was foul play involved?
Donny Daring the Daredevil from Denver
Found dead on the shore of Niagara River, the only clues are some broken pieces of
wood.
Boasted that he could survive a trip over Niagara Falls in barrel. He spent two years
carefully studying and measuring the falls, working out the best and safest point to go
over.
Hospital report – Died from injuries sustained, multiple broken bones including a
fractured skull
Did not die from a lack of air
Did not drown before going over the falls
Niagara Falls Fact File –
Maps, height, volume of water….
The Stunt – Newspaper Report
Donny Daredevil Dies Doing Dangerous Deed
Was there foul play or did he just get it wrong?
Yesterday the body of Donny Daredevil was found on the banks of the River Niagara,
this follows Saturday’s long awaited stunt when Donny boasted that he would survive
going over Niagara Falls in a sealed Barrel.
All was going well after Donny was sealed into his Barrel and began floating down the
rapids towards the falls, the huge crowd that had gathered cheered expectantly as he
approached the edge. Then he went over and disappeared into the mist and we waited
and waited but he never appeared. 5 mins, 10 mins, 30 minutes an hour went by, the

3. All was going well after Donny was sealed into his Barrel and began floating down the
rapids towards the falls, the huge crowd that had gathered cheered expectantly as he
approached the edge. Then he went over and disappeared into the mist and we waited
and waited but he never appeared. 5 mins, 10 mins, 30 minutes an hour went by, the
crowds became nervous, then upset, then resigned Donny to his fate. By the evening
the shocked crowd had gone home thinking about the tragedy they had come to
witness.
Donny had planned this stunt for two years, carefully studying the Niagara Falls,
measuring every detail leaving nothing to chance. So was this a stunt too far or was
there foul play that led to Donny’s death?
Donny’s rival…
Donny’s assistant Peter Potter who was responsible for sealing Donny into the Barrel
denies that the Barrel could be tampered with or and that equipment failure was an
unlikely cause of this tragedy. It should be noted that Peter is rumoured to be the sole
beneficiary of Donny’s life insurance policy which is worth over £1million.
Donny Daring the Daredevil from Denver
Crime scene investigation
A search of Peter’s laboratory revealed some interesting evidence
Satellite images have shown a section of the Horseshoe Falls have collapsed and the
waterfall has moved back an extra 2 metres. This has increased the amount of rock
debris at the bottom of the falls. This happened two weeks ago but these pictures had
a note attached in Peter’s handwriting:
This rock fall has scuppered two years of planning, we can not pull out now, we will be
made bankrupt, and the loss of television money and ticket sales will be too much.
Must not tell Donny about this, the stunt must go ahead!!
The barrel used by Donny was made of antique wood and use to contain whisky

4. Niagara Police Crime scene investigation
Date: Sunday 15th
June
Location: Lab 12b University of Niagara
Reason: Death of Donny Daredevil – Suspicious Circumstances
Under Investigation: Peter Potter – Donny’s Assistant
A search of Peter’s laboratory revealed some interesting evidence:
1. Satellit e im ages of Niagar a Falls
2. Bank Statement s
3. Hand writt en notes and Peter’s diary ent ries
Satellit e im ages have shown a secti on of t he Horseshoe Falls have
collapsed and the waterfall has moved back and extra 2 metres. This
has increased th e amount of rock debr is at the bott om of the falls.
This happened tw o weeks ago but these pictures had a note a tt ached
in Peter’s handwriting and some diary ent ries:

5. 3rd January
Plans are looking good for the Niagara Falls stunt
this June, the police have agreed to let the stunt take
place and we have a lot of interest from television
companies. We will become world famous and rich.
4th March
The stunt barrel arrived last week, looks good and so
it should it cost enough. Took it for a dummy run over
the Niagara falls. From the launch sites the currents
took the barrel down the predicted path and over the
falls. We put a dummy inside and made sure it was the
correct weight. Big success the barrel survived the
falls with no major damage.
20th April
Have requested satellite pictures from Nasa, these will
tell us if the waterfalls suffer any rock falls, which is
part of the natural development of waterfalls. We
have studied the falls carefully for two years, a rock
fall now would be a disaster we can not afford.
10th June
This rock fall has scuppered two years of planning, we
can not pull out now, we will be made bankrupt, and

6. Central Bank of Niagara
Statement of funds for Donny Daredevil
May
Payment Amount Balance
Opening Balance
Pizza
Rent
Local Tax
Supermarket
Petrol Station
Insurance
Motorbike Loan
Gas Company
Electric Company
Telephone
Company
DVD Shop
Closing Balance
$20.00
$300.00
$50.00
$100.00
$30.00
$40.00
$100.00
$40.00
$35.00
$25.00
$30.00
$500.00
$480.00
$180.00
$130.00
$30.00
$0.00
-$40.00 OD
-$140.00 OD
-$180.00 OD
-$215.00 OD
-$240.00 OD
-$270.00 OD
-$270.00 OD

7. Central Bank of Niagara
Statement of funds for Donny Daredevil
June
Payment Amount Balance
Opening Balance
Stunt Barrel
Company
Rent
Local Tax
Supermarket
Petrol Station
Stuntman Suit
Company
Motorbike Loan
Gas Company
Electric Company
Telephone
Company
Closing Balance
$1000.00
$300.00
$50.00
$180.00
$50.00
$350.00
$100.00
$40.00
$35.00
$25.00
-$270.00
-$1270.00
-$1570.00
-$1620.00
-$1800.00
-$1850.00
-$2200.00 OD
-$2300.00 OD
-$2340.00 OD
-$2375.00 OD
-$2400.00 OD
-$2400.00 OD
Warning, you are now overdrawn and beyond your credit limit. You
must place funds into your account immediately

8. Planned route of Donny Daredevil
Edge of Waterfall
No reports of
rock falls in
the waterfall
All going to plan, route
looks the safest possible.
Water levels are high and
plunge pool deep enough
Satellite Image of Niagara FallsSatellite Image 15th
May
Update requested
from NASA

9. New boulders spotted at
bottom of waterfall.
Waterfall has retreated
2 metres
This rock fall is in the
main path that Donny
Dare Devil intends.
Recommended Action
1. Change planned
cour se
2. Cancel St unt
Planned r oute of Donny Dar edevil
New Boulders
at b ottom of
falls
New Edge of Water fall.
2 met r es of r ock have
collapsed into plunge pool at
botto m of wate r fall
Satellite Image of Niagara Falls
Satellite Image 10th
June
Update requested
from NASA

10. Niagara Times
Thursday 16th
June $1.50
Donny Daredevil Dies Doing
Dangerous Deed
The body of Donny Daredevil was
found washed up on the banks of
the Niagara River yesterday, 24
hours after his stunt to ride the
Niagara Waterfalls in a barrel went
terribly wrong. The stunt, which
was two years in the planning, drew
huge crowds to watch the spectacle
and with live television coverage
the audience was in the millions.
All was going well after Donny was
sealed into his Barrel and began
and did not reappear. The crowds
waited and waited but he never
appeared. After an hour went by
the crowds became nervous, then
upset, then resigned Donny to his
fate. By the evening the shocked
crowd had gone home thinking
about the tragedy they had come to
witness.

11. Was it an accident or was
it murder?
Donny had planned this stunt for
two years, carefully studying the
Niagara Falls, measuring every
detail, leaving nothing to chance. So
was this a stunt too far or was there
foul play that led to Donny’s death?
Rumour has i t that Donny had
insured his life for $10million and
that his assistant Peter Potter is the
sole beneficiary in Donny’s will.
The police have interviewed Peter
and searched his laboratory as part
of their investigation. Donny was
famous for his meticulous planning,
he would examine every detail,
nothing was left to chance, this
makes this tragedy all the more
mysterious.
Next to Donny’s body were several
pieces of wood from his barrel,
scientists are examining the wood
to see if it was tampered with.
Video cameras show Donny’s arch
rival Dangerous Dave from Detroit
acting suspiciously around the stunt
barrel an hour before the stunt, he
is to be interviewed by the police.
Did Donny drown before he went
over the Niagara Falls? Did he
suffocate from a lack of air? We
await the hospital reports on the
causes of death

12. Secrets Discovered
PrivateDetectiveAgency
Name________________________
Investigation into the death of Donny Daredevil
You have been given the task of finding out the events that
led to the death of Donny Daredevil.
Section 1.
Newspaper Reports:
Read the newspaper reports carefully, note down any
information that may help you find out how and why Donny
Daredevil died in the box below.

13. Secrets Discovered
PrivateDetectiveAgency
Section 2
Police Reports:
You have been given access to the police reports
investigating Donny’s death. In the space below note down
any information that will help you explain the events that led
to his death.

14. Secrets Discovered
PrivateDetectiveAgency
Section 3
Investigating the Niagara Waterfall
It is important to understand how waterfalls work as this
may provide a clue as to how Donny died. Study the
information carefully, add notes and a labelled diagram in
the space below.

15. Secrets Discovered
PrivateDetectiveAgency
Section 4
Interview with Donny’s assistant Peter Potter
Think of at least 3 questions to ask Peter that will help you
solve this investigation. Write these in the spaces below.
Listen carefully to the answers and write the key points.
Question 1
________________________________________________________
Answer/Notes
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________
Question 2
________________________________________________________
Answer/Notes
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________
Question 3
________________________________________________________
Answer/Notes
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________