What Happened to Amelia Earhart? | Historical Detective Inquiry Worksheets

What Happened to Amelia Earhart? is an interactive historical investigation that invites students to become historical detectives and examine one of the most famous unsolved mysteries of the 20th century.

Students analyze real historical evidence surrounding Amelia Earhart’s final flight, including her travel timeline, radio transmissions, weather conditions, aircraft limitations, and competing theories about her disappearance. Through guided questions and a final detective report, learners evaluate evidence and form their own conclusions.

This inquiry-based resource is ideal for homeschool, U.S. history, aviation history, or enrichment learning for upper elementary and middle school students.

What’s Included

Historical Detective case file: The Case of the Disappearing Flight

Background overview of Amelia Earhart’s 1937 round-the-world journey

Detailed flight timeline with discussion prompts

World map activity to plot Earhart’s flight path

Clues from history, including:

• • Final radio transmissions

  • Civilian distress reports

  • Weather conditions during the final flight

  • Aircraft details and limitations of the Lockheed Electra 10E

  • Navigation and radio equipment challenges

Investigation of major theories, including:

• • Crash-and-sink theory

  • Gardner Island (Nikumaroro) hypothesis

  • Japanese capture theory

Detective’s Deductions pages with guided critical thinking questions

Final Detective’s Report, where students:

• • Summarize the case

  • Identify key evidence

  • Evaluate competing theories

  • Explain missing information

Present a final conclusion

Encourages historical reasoning, evidence analysis, and critical thinking

Total pages: 9

How to Use

Use this resource as a focused inquiry within a history unit, a stand-alone investigation, or a multi-day project. Students can work independently or discuss findings before completing their final detective report.

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