The Sign of Four - Holmes and Watson

In this engaging and informative lesson, students make clear and insightful interpretations of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson – the chief protagonists in Arthur Conan Doyle’s 'The Sign of Four.' In particular, students learn about their key characteristics, mannerisms, appearance, and interactions of others – and relate these to ideas of societal expectations of the time.

The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which students learn through:
- Inferring and deducing what the novel may be about, from clues in the title;
- Reading and understanding chapters 1 and 2, and demonstrating understanding through answers to comprehension questions;
- Establishing the key character traits of Holmes and Watson, including their appearance, mannerisms and personality, using precise and relevant textual evidence;
- Analysing how each character is presented in the opening two chapters;
- Peer assessing each other's learning attempts.

Included is:
- Whole Lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive;
- Paper Copies of Chapters 1 and 2;
- Holmes Character Profile (and PDF);
- Watson Character Profile (and PDF);
- Essay Template;
- Detailed Lesson Plan

There are also opportunities for group learning, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. These resources were originally taught to GCSE students, but with subtle adaptations they have also been used with both younger and older (up to A Level) students.

All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.