Operation Teapot Tempest is a Choose Your Own Adventure learning experience designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of Digital Forensics and Crime Scene Investigation.
Set in the fictional city of Cyberly, students join the BYTE Detective Agency to investigate the curious case of the broken kettles. Across the city, every kettle has mysteriously stopped working, bringing tea-making to a halt. At the very same moment, a new shop — Mysterious Brews Tea Shop — opens its doors, with fully functioning hot water. Is this a coincidence, or something more?
As the investigation unfolds, students gradually uncover what has happened in Cyberly. They examine evidence, discuss possible explanations, and decide how the investigation should proceed – including a simulated crime scene investigation. Along the way, they experience how real investigators gather information, test ideas, and adapt their approach as new details emerge.
The emphasis of this activity is not on identifying the “correct” suspect. Instead, the goal is for students to develop and practise logical reasoning, evidence evaluation, and structured decision-making. There are nine different endings to the adventure, with each decision you make guiding you to an alternate conclusion.
You can access the activity here: https://outreach.craftyfoxforensics.com/ott-school/
Learning Objectives
Technical Skills Introduced
- Crime Scene Investigation
- Evidence collection
- Observation and documentation
- Covert investigation techniques
- Open Source Intelligence (OSINT)
- Using publicly available information to support an investigation
- External Surveillance
- Understanding what investigators observe before entering a crime scene
Core Skills Developed
- Critical thinking
- Attention to detail
- Decision-making
- Persistence and resilience
Running the Activity
Technical Requirements
- Recommended browsers: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, or Safari
- A stable internet connection
- Desktop or laptop devices for full interactivity
Group Setup
- Recommended: one or two students per computer
If working in pairs, consider assigning roles:
- Lead Detective
- Controls the device
- Reads instructions and evidence aloud
- Leads discussion of possible choices
- Evidence Specialist
- Records clues and key information
- Organises evidence for later review
This role structure encourages collaboration and mirrors real investigative teamwork.
You are able to self-host this project if you prefer on your own VLE – For more details please read here.
Time Requirement
The activity takes approximately 30 to 60 minutes to complete.
(Allow additional time for discussion before and after the scenario.)
Accessibility
This Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA) activity is designed to be simple to run and easy for pupils to follow. It can be used with minimal preparation and works well in both whole-class and small-group settings.
The experience includes background music and sound effects, but these are gentle, carefully levelled, and never sudden or loud. For pupils with noise sensitivity, the activity can be played entirely without sound. All spoken content is fully subtitled, allowing pupils to follow by reading, listening, or using both.
The visuals are created from static images presented in a video format. This creates an immersive experience while keeping visual sensory load low, making it suitable for pupils who may find fast-moving or highly animated content overwhelming.
All main characters and organisations are introduced at the beginning. If an individual would benefit from knowing all the characters and organisations in advance, they are detailed here. This option is recommended only for accessibility purposes, such as for pupils who benefit from knowing all participants early, and should not be used as the default mode.
Colour is not used as a gameplay mechanic, so colour vision differences will not affect participation.
Pupils can engage with the activity by listening, reading subtitles, or both, making it accessible for a wide range of learning needs. Some elements include slightly more technical concepts. While not all pupils may fully understand these, they are included intentionally so that more advanced learners can encounter new ideas and feel appropriately challenged.
Teaching Notes
- Encourage students to justify their decisions using evidence, not guesses.
- Remind students that making an incorrect choice is part of the learning process.
- Use a short debrief at the end to discuss:
- What evidence mattered most
- How decisions changed as new information appeared
- How real investigators avoid jumping to conclusions
- We have created some extra activities to go alongside the Choose Your Own Adventure to extend the session. You can find them here.
This activity is designed to build confident, careful thinkers who can analyse information, question assumptions, and reason logically under uncertainty.
Glossary
These are the key terms your students will need to understand before completing the activity. The more technical terms are introduced in the activity, however it may be beneficial to discuss beforehand:
Anti-Forensics
Ways someone might try to hide, change, or remove evidence so it is harder to find.
Clue
A small piece of information that helps solve a mystery.
Covert
Done in secret so others do not notice.
Crime Scene
The place where something important happened and where evidence can be found.
Data
Information stored on a computer, such as words, pictures, or numbers.
Detective
A person who looks for clues and tries to solve a mystery.
Digital Forensics
Using computers and technology to find and understand digital evidence.
Evidence
Anything that helps show what really happened.
Forensics
Using science and careful study to help solve a crime or mystery.
Hazard
Something that could cause harm or danger if you are not careful.
Investigator
A person who carefully looks for facts and checks evidence.
Logs
Records that show what a computer or system has done.
Suspect
A person who might be involved in what happened.