A coroner is someone who holds investigations into sudden or suspicious deaths.

If you get your deserts, you get what you deserve.

A filial duty refers to the respect that a son or daughter is expected to give their parent.

A benefactor is someone who gives money to another person.

Solving 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'

English

Making predictions about Sherlock Holmes

Analysing Helen Stoner’s presentation in ‘The Speckled Band’

Making predictions about ‘The Speckled Band’ mystery

Analysing atmosphere and character in ‘The Speckled Band’

Investigating Julia’s death in ‘The Speckled Band’

Analysing Dr. Roylott in ‘The Speckled Band’

Writing an argument about Dr. Roylott from ‘The Speckled Band’

Creating newspaper headlines and subheadings

Writing the opening of an article on ‘The Speckled Band’ case

‘The Speckled Band’ case: writing a newspaper article body

'The Speckled Band' case: concluding newspaper articles

Using rhetorical devices in newspaper articles

Reading about Stoke Moran and analysing atmosphere in ‘The Speckled Band’

Reading and summarising the conclusion of ‘The Speckled Band’ mystery

Planning a newspaper article about the solved  case of ‘The Speckled Band’

Writing your own newspaper article about Sherlock Holmes

Reading 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'

Comparing the victims in ‘The Speckled Band’ and ‘The Boscombe Valley Mystery’

Analysing John Turner from ‘The Boscombe Valley Mystery’

Comparing ‘The Speckled Band’ and ‘The Boscombe Valley Mystery’

‘The Speckled Band’ and ‘The Boscombe Valley Mystery’: a written comparison

in 'Sherlock Holmes: Short Stories', pupils practise using analytical writing sentence structures, to formulate their arguments. In 'Myths and Legends Re-Told', pupils develop these skills further, applying them to a range of pre- 20th Century texts. 

in 'When the Sky Falls' pupils read fiction texts for fluency and comprehension. In 'Sherlock Holmes: Short Stories' pupils start to analyse the language choices of an author.

In this unit, pupils read and explore two famous Sherlock Holmes stories. They start by reading and analysing 'The Speckled Band' before using it as inspiration to write a newspaper article. They then read and analyse 'The Boscombe Valley Murder' before writing a comparison of the two stories.

Sherlock Holmes: short stories

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction or discussion of violence or fighting, including threats of violence or the aftermath of violence.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

In 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery', what object did the murderer leave behind at the crime scene at Boscombe Pool?

What was the murder weapon in 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'?

Who murdered Charles McCarthy in 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'?

In 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery', which word describes Charles McCarthy's treatment of Turner whilst alive, according to Turner's narrative?

He resented Charles for taking his property and money.

He did not want his daughter, Alice, to marry Charles McCarthy's son.

Charles had hurt his brother back in Australia.

What was Turner's motive in the murder of Charles McCarthy in 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'?

Holmes kept his secret and Turner passed away 7 months later.

Holmes told the court of Turner's crime and Turner was sent to jail.

Turner ran away and no one knows of his fate.

What was Turner's fate at the end of 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'?

Who was murdered in 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'?

Who was arrested for the murder of Charles McCarthy in 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'?

In 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery', what peculiar thing did Charles say upon his death?

What is believed to have injured McCarthy's head in 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'?

James McCarthy was not following his father. 

James McCarthy was following his father. 

In 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery', what is consistent with James McCarthy's narrative?

What is Holmes' inkling about James McCarthy in 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'?

Solving 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'

Lesson outcome

Content guidance