The Mystery of the Missing Backpack

Level: A2 (Elementary)

Content Objective: Students will understand how Sam and Ana solve the mystery of a missing backpack by asking questions and following clues.

Language Objective: Students will practice using the past continuous alongside the simple past to describe interrupted actions (e.g., “I was cleaning the tables when I found a backpack.”).

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1. Reading Section

Sam couldn’t find his backpack after lunch. He looked in the classroom, but it was not there. He asked his friend Ana for help.

“Where were you when you left your backpack?” asked Ana.

“I was sitting in the cafeteria when the bell rang. I put my backpack under the table,” said Sam.

They walked to the cafeteria together. While they were looking under the tables, they saw Mr. Rivera, the school janitor.

“Excuse me,” said Ana. “Did you see a blue backpack here?”

“I was cleaning the tables when I found a backpack,” said Mr. Rivera. “I put it in the Lost and Found box in the office.”

Sam and Ana ran to the office. The secretary was working at her desk when they arrived. She opened the Lost and Found box, and there was Sam’s backpack!

“Thank you so much!” said Sam. “I was so worried.”

“Next time,” said Ana, laughing, “don’t leave your things on the floor while you are eating!”

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2. Vocabulary Section

Word / Phrase	Meaning	Example
backpack	a bag you carry on your back to hold books and things	Sam couldn’t find his backpack after lunch.
cafeteria	a place at school where students eat lunch	I was sitting in the cafeteria when the bell rang.
janitor	a person who cleans and takes care of a building	They saw Mr. Rivera, the school janitor.
Lost and Found	a place where people keep items that other people lost	I put it in the Lost and Found box.
secretary	a person who works in an office and helps with paperwork	The secretary was working at her desk.
worried	feeling nervous that something bad happened	I was so worried.
ring (rang)	to make a sound, like a bell	I was sitting in the cafeteria when the bell rang.
arrive	to get to a place	The secretary was working when they arrived.

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3. Example Sentences (Target Grammar in Use)

• I was sitting in the cafeteria when the bell rang.
• While they were looking under the tables, they saw Mr. Rivera.
• I was cleaning the tables when I found a backpack.
• The secretary was working at her desk when they arrived.

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4. Grammar Section

Past Continuous + Simple Past (Interrupted Actions)

We use the past continuous (was/were + verb-ing) for a longer action that was already happening in the past. We use the simple past for the shorter action that interrupts it.

Subject	Form	Example
I / He / She / It	was + verb-ing	I was cleaning the tables.
You / We / They	were + verb-ing	They were looking under the tables.

Pattern: past continuous + when + simple past → I was sitting in the cafeteria when the bell rang.

Quick Tip: Use “while” to introduce the longer, ongoing action, and “when” to introduce the shorter action that interrupts it.

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5. Comprehension Questions

A. True or False

1. Sam lost his book after lunch.
2. Sam left his backpack under a table in the cafeteria.
3. Mr. Rivera found the backpack while he was sleeping.
4. The secretary found the backpack in the Lost and Found box.

B. Short Answer

5. What was Sam doing when the bell rang?
6. What was Mr. Rivera doing when he found the backpack?
7. Where did Mr. Rivera put the backpack?
8. How did Sam feel when he couldn’t find his backpack?

C. Fill in the Blank

9. Sam ______ (sit) in the cafeteria when the bell ______ (ring).
10. Mr. Rivera ______ (clean) the tables when he ______ (find) the backpack.
11. The secretary ______ (work) at her desk when Sam and Ana ______ (arrive).
12. While they ______ (look) under the tables, they ______ (see) Mr. Rivera.

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