Year 7 · English · beta

Sherlock Holmes: short stories

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.

This is an attributed Oak National Academy lesson sequence, not a completed or academically approved DASKEREL course. Supporting transcripts may depend on video, images, practical equipment or teacher explanation. Follow each lesson’s supervision guidance. For religious education and RSHE, follow the school’s syllabus, policy and safeguarding procedures.

Prior knowledge

  • Pupils can use reading skills to decode texts
  • Pupils can use evidence from a text to support their argument
  • Pupils can expand explanations, to show a clear understanding of a text
  • Pupils can identify different word classes in a text
  • Pupils have a range of adjectives they can use to describe atmosphere
  • Pupils can use the phrase 'the reader' to provide personal responses to a text
  • Pupils can use single paragraph outlines to plan their writing
  • Pupils can understand the conventions of a newspaper
  • Pupils can use capital letters, apostrophes, commas and full stops
  • Pupils can use compound and complex sentences, to vary their writing

Source curriculum references

  • Read increasingly challenging pre-1914 English Fiction independently
  • Understanding increasingly challenging texts through making inferences
  • Understanding increasingly challenging texts through knowing purpose, audience and context of writing
  • Read critically through knowing how writers methods present meaning
  • Read critically through exploring the effect of setting, plot and characterisation
  • Organising writing
  • Supporting ideas and arguments with factual detail
  • Using rhetorical devices in writing
  • Planning for a particular purpose
  • Extending and applying KS1 and KS2 grammar knowledge

Oak source metadata. DASKEREL has not independently verified school-level coverage.

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