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Year 6

Writing the second half of a setting description in 'Sherlock Holmes'

I can write the second half of a setting description in 'Sherlock Holmes'.

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Year 6

Writing the second half of a setting description in 'Sherlock Holmes'

I can write the second half of a setting description in 'Sherlock Holmes'.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Writing is most successful when structure, content and vocabulary is planned.
  2. Oral rehearsal is an important step in the writing process.
  3. Fronted adverbials of place, prepositions and precise vocabulary paint the picture for a reader.
  4. Complex sentences can be used to show the connections between ideas.
  5. We can connect linked sentences using a semi-colon.

Keywords

  • Fronted adverbial of place - a sentence starter that tells the reader where something is or happens

  • Preposition - word or words that tell the reader where a noun is

  • Complex sentence - a sentence composed of a main clause and any subordinate clause

  • Semi-colon - a piece of punctuation that can join two closely-related main clauses

Common misconception

Pupils may struggle to convert notes into complete sentences.

Provide lots of time for oral rehearsal at each stage of the lesson and ensure children have access to vocabulary and plans used earlier in the unit.


To help you plan your year 6 english lesson on: Writing the second half of a setting description in 'Sherlock Holmes', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

If pupils are not secure in using complex sentences, refer to our Year 6 Grammar unit 'Using five sentence types'. One slide is left lined so that you can complete shared writing with the class. You may wish to do this for the second paragraph too.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following are complex sentences?
Correct answer: Gas lamps flicker while gangs of ruffians skulk.
Gas lamps flicker in the darkness.
Correct answer: Ruffians skulk in the darkness, waiting for their next victim.
Ruffians wait for their next victim.
Q2.
Which sentences start with a fronted adverbial?
Correct answer: On one street, there is havoc.
There is havoc everywhere.
Correct answer: In the air, the stench of human waste is suffocating.
The stench of human waste hangs in the air.
Q3.
What features can be seen in the following sentence? 'On each corner, gas lamps flicker as ruffians wait in the shadows.'
non-finite (-ing) subordinate clause
Correct answer: fronted adverbial of place
Correct answer: historical context
Correct answer: adverbial subordinate clause
Q4.
What features can be seen in the following sentence? 'Below, the river snakes, winding through the vast metropolis.'
Correct answer: non-finite (-ing) subordinate clause
adverbial subordinate clause
Correct answer: preposition phrase
Correct answer: fronted adverbial of place
Q5.
What type of complex sentence has been used to combine the following two ideas? 'On one side, dilapidated slums sit, overflowing with misery.'
a relative complex sentence
an adverbial complex sentence
Correct answer: a non-finite complex sentence
Q6.
Which sentences contain a preposition phrase?
Correct answer: The river glides through the city.
Correct answer: Imposing buildings tower over serene streets.
Correct answer: Impenetrable smog hangs over the city.
Imposing buildings line serene streets.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What language feature is seen in the following sentence? 'As the gas lamp flickers, a light escapes from the house.'
Correct answer: complex sentence
fronted adverbial of place
semi-colon
rhetorical question
Q2.
Which of these is a purpose of a semi-colon?
It joins a main clause and a subordinate clause.
Correct answer: It joins two linked sentences.
It separates a fronted adverbial from the rest of a sentence.
Q3.
After which word could the semi-colon be placed in the following sentence? 'The room is full of antiques on an ornate desk sits a pile of books.'
full
desk
Correct answer: antiques
pile
Q4.
Which of these sentences could be joined by a semi-colon?
Correct answer: Watson sits by the fire in a plush armchair.
The nauseating stench of human waste rises from the sewer.
The river winds through the chaotic city.
Correct answer: Holmes places his violin on a table and takes a seat.
Q5.
What features are seen in the following sentence? 'Inside, Holmes sits with a sigh; by the fire, Watson takes a sip of his drink.'
Correct answer: fronted adverbials of place
Correct answer: semi-colon
historical context
complex sentence
Q6.
Which of these passages could include a semi-colon?
Correct answer: On the wall a clock was ticking the scent of the fire filled the room.
On the wall a clock was ticking loudly.
On the wall there was an antique clock that was ticking quietly.