Solving 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can comprehend the events and ending of 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'.
Key learning points
- Sherlock Holmes reveals James McCarthy’s innocence.
- John Turner is the perpetrator in the death of Charles McCarthy.
- Charles McCarthy is revealed to have manipulated and threatened John Turner his whole life.
- John Turner kills Charles McCarthy because he did not want James McCarthy to marry his daughter.
Keywords
Coroner - A coroner is someone who holds investigations into sudden or suspicious deaths.
Deserts - If you get your deserts, you get what you deserve.
Filial - A filial duty refers to the respect that a son or daughter is expected to give their parent.
Benefactor - A benefactor is someone who gives money to another person.
Common misconception
Students may be confused about Turner's fate at the end of the story.
Explain that no two Sherlock Holmes mysteries are the same. Two perpetrators can face different fates.
Teacher tip
Ask students an exit ticket question about how this ending differs from 'The Speckled Band'.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Who was murdered in 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'?
Q2.Who was arrested for the murder of Charles McCarthy in 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'?
Q3.In 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery', what peculiar thing did Charles say upon his death?
Q4.What is believed to have injured McCarthy's head in 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'?
Q5.In 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery', what is consistent with James McCarthy's narrative?
Q6.What is Holmes' inkling about James McCarthy in 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery', what object did the murderer leave behind at the crime scene at Boscombe Pool?
Q2.What was the murder weapon in 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'?
Q3.Who murdered Charles McCarthy in 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'?
Q4.In 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery', which word describes Charles McCarthy's treatment of Turner whilst alive, according to Turner's narrative?
Q5.What was Turner's motive in the murder of Charles McCarthy in 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'?
Q6.What was Turner's fate at the end of 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'?
To help you plan your 7 English lesson on: Solving 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 English lesson on: Solving 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 English lessons from the Sherlock Holmes: short stories unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.