New
New
Year 6

Exploring vocabulary for a setting description in 'Sherlock Holmes'

I can explore vocabulary that relates to Victorian London and suggest ways of including it in setting descriptions.

New
New
Year 6

Exploring vocabulary for a setting description in 'Sherlock Holmes'

I can explore vocabulary that relates to Victorian London and suggest ways of including it in setting descriptions.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Writing is most successful when it is planned.
  2. Vocabulary can be planned to precisely match a setting.
  3. We can mention items from the appropriate time period in order to show the historical context of a setting.
  4. We can use fronted adverbials and preposition phrases to show where items are in a setting.

Keywords

  • Setting description - a detailed description of the location where a narrative is set

  • Historical context - the events, lifestyle and living conditions that existed at a particular time in history

  • Fronted adverbial - a sentence starter followed by a comma

  • Preposition phrase - a phrase composed of a preposition and a noun phrase that follows it

Common misconception

Pupils may believe that all fronted adverbials of place are preposition phrases.

Some are ('In the distance,'), but others are not ('Everywhere,'). A preposition phrase contains a preposition followed by a noun phrase and preposition phrases can often be placed at the start of a sentence to make a fronted adverbial of place.

Gather vocabulary from this lesson in an appropriate place to support future planning and writing.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which genre are the 'Sherlock Holmes' books?
adventure
historical fiction
Correct answer: detective fiction
horror
Q2.
Match the genres to their conventions.
Correct Answer:myth,a moral; gods and mortals; set in the distant past

a moral; gods and mortals; set in the distant past

Correct Answer:adventure,a journey; a hero; action and threats

a journey; a hero; action and threats

Correct Answer:fantasy,magic; alternate worlds; impossible situations

magic; alternate worlds; impossible situations

Q3.
Which is the correct definition of a 'perpetrator'?
the person who investigates who committed a crime
someone who may have committed the crime
Correct answer: the person who committed the crime
someone who helped commit the crime
Q4.
Which is the best description of the detective fiction character convention 'the bumbling official'?
has a unique mind and can see connections others miss
is loyal to the detective but more down-to-earth
is as intelligent and cunning as the detective
Correct answer: is supposed to solve the crime but doesn't
Q5.
Which plot point from 'The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle' fits with the plot convention 'the red herring'?
Peterson arrives with the jewel
Correct answer: Mr Baker is in possession of the goose that contains the gem
Holmes and Watson realise that the man at the market is Ryder
We learn the story of how Horner was arrested on Ryder's evidence
Q6.
Which of these plot conventions are most likely to occur at the start of the story?
Correct answer: the suspects
Correct answer: the investigation
the 'aha!' moment
the big reveal

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these would be anachronistic in a setting description of Victorian England?
a gas lamp
a bicycle
Correct answer: an aeroplane
an omnibus
Q2.
Which of the following would be good to include in a setting description of Victorian London in order to show the historical context?
Correct answer: smog
roads
Correct answer: cobbled streets
Correct answer: pickpockets
Q3.
Match each piece of historical vocabulary to its definition.
Correct Answer:omnibus,a form of transport pulled by a horse

a form of transport pulled by a horse

Correct Answer:smog,thick smoke that fills the sky

thick smoke that fills the sky

Correct Answer:urchins,street children

street children

Correct Answer:penny farthing,a kind of bicycle

a kind of bicycle

Correct Answer:cobbles,stones lining a street

stones lining a street

Q4.
Match these vocabulary words that relate to Victorian London to their definitions.
Correct Answer:serene,calm and peaceful

calm and peaceful

Correct Answer:imposing,grand, impressive; towering over you

grand, impressive; towering over you

Correct Answer:impenetrable,impossible to see through

impossible to see through

Correct Answer:skulk,stay hidden in order to attack

stay hidden in order to attack

Q5.
Match these words that relate to Victorian London to their definitions.
Correct Answer:havoc,confusion and chaos

confusion and chaos

Correct Answer:dilapidated,in a state of ruin

in a state of ruin

Correct Answer:nauseating,disgusting; making you feel sick

disgusting; making you feel sick

Correct Answer:stench,a strong and unpleasant smell

a strong and unpleasant smell

Q6.
Which of the following are fronted adverbials of place?
Just then,
Correct answer: On one side of the city,
Correct answer: On every pavement,
Correct answer: In the murky sky,