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Year 7

Investigating Julia’s death in ‘The Speckled Band’

I can make a plausible explanation for Julia Stoner's death based on relevant evidence from 'The Adventure of the Speckled Band'.

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Year 7

Investigating Julia’s death in ‘The Speckled Band’

I can make a plausible explanation for Julia Stoner's death based on relevant evidence from 'The Adventure of the Speckled Band'.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. It is likely that Julia Stoner’s death has a sinister explanation to it
  2. Doctor Roylott is a suspect in the death of Julia Stoner as he has a clear motive
  3. There are several pieces of evidence to consider in the case
  4. Holmes must weigh up the evidence to make a plausible explanation about what happened to Julia Stoner

Keywords

  • Sinister - If something is sinister, it is evil or harmful.

  • Plausible - A plausible explanation for something is a likely or fair reason for something.

  • Suspect - A suspect is a person thought to be guilty of a crime.

  • Motive - A motive is a reason for doing something.

  • Guilty - A guilty person is a person that is responsible for a wrongdoing.

Common misconception

Each piece of evidence can be looked at in isolation when thinking about the crime.

Question your students' explanations to help them acknowledge where they have failed to consider certain pieces of evidence.


To help you plan your year 7 english lesson on: Investigating Julia’s death in ‘The Speckled Band’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Students can perform their arguments aloud at the end of the lesson as if they are Sherlock Holmes.
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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
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Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

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Licence

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.
In the story 'The Speckled Band', what did Helen hear on the night Julia died?
A trumpet.
A cheetah's hiss.
Correct answer: A whistle and metallic sound.
Q2.
What did Roylott do on the night Julia died in the story 'The Speckled Band'?
Stayed out of the house.
Correct answer: Went up to his bedroom early.
Locked Julia in her room.
Q3.
After hearing about Dr. Roylott's past behaviour from Helen Stoner, which word best describes Roylott?
Correct answer: Violent
Meticulous
Intelligent
Q4.
In the story 'The Speckled Band', what will happen to the money that Julia and Helen's mother bequeathed to Roylott if the two girls marry?
It will have to be saved for the girls' children.
Roylott can use it for himself since their husbands will provide income.
Correct answer: Roylott would no longer have access to a sum of the money.
Q5.
In the story 'The Speckled Band', what pets did Roylott keep?
Mice.
Cats and dogs.
Correct answer: A cheetah and baboon.
Q6.
In 'The Speckled Band' , which character has a motive for killing Julia Stoner?
Helen Stoner.
Julia's husband-to-be.
Correct answer: Dr. Roylott.
John Watson.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What does sinister mean?
The person guilty for a crime.
The reason someone commits a crime.
Correct answer: Evil or harmful.
Q2.
In 'The Speckled Band', what sound was heard by both Julia and Helen Stoner?
A howl of wind.
Correct answer: A low whistle.
The doctor's secret phone call.
Q3.
What will Sherlock do after meeting Helen Stoner and learning about the death of her sister in 'The Speckled Band'?
Get breakfast with Helen to ask her more questions.
Consult the police report of Julia's death.
Correct answer: Visit Stoke Moran.
Q4.
In 'The Speckled Band', why does Sherlock Holmes want to go to Stoke Moran?
To confront Roylott.
Correct answer: To look over the bedrooms.
To question the band of people that live on the estate.
Q5.
Thinking about the story 'The Speckled Band', what concrete evidence do we have to suggest Helen is in danger?
Correct answer: She also heard the whistle noise that Julia reported hearing before she died.
She was not liked by Dr. Roylott all of her life.
Her sister told her that she would be the next target of the speckled band.
Q6.
What is Dr. Roylott's possible motive for wanting to kill both the Stoner daughters in the story 'The Speckled Band'?
He wants the house to himself.
Correct answer: He may be in vulnerable financial situation if the girls marry.
The girls have chosen to marry men who are friends with his enemy.

Additional material

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