Welcome students with excitement. Show a detective hat or magnifying glass prop. Explain that today they are Word Detectives investigating how words work.

Read the mission aloud. Emphasize each bullet as a goal. Encourage students to keep these in mind throughout.

Explain metalinguistic awareness in simple terms: thinking about words like a detective. Stress why it helps with reading and writing.

Pass out the [Word Detective Badge Printouts](#word-detective-badge-printouts). Define “metalinguistic awareness” and connect it to the detective theme.

Demonstrate how to use the organizer. Model breaking down the word “cat” on the board. Encourage students to listen carefully.

Show a sample card and model sorting into prefix, root, suffix. Then let students work in pairs. Circulate to prompt discussion.

Shuffle cards and hand them out randomly. Remind students to speak quietly and move safely to find partners.

Facilitate a quick whole-group discussion. Record student reflections on the board. Collect recording sheets.

Praise their detective work and encourage them to keep playing with words at home or in class.