Sherlock Holmes Rules

7/29/2019 Sherlock Holmes Rules

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Elementary My Dear

Watson

Organizing your Unit Plans and

Analyzing Primary Sources with theWorlds Greatest Detectives:

Your Students!

Anthony Fitzpatrick


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221B Baker Street & Your Classroom

Introducing himself toa would be client inThe Adventure of the

Blue Carbuncle, SirArthur Conan Doylesfamous super sleuthSherlock Holmes

famously declared,Here is my lens. Youknow my methods.


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221B Baker Street & your classroom

One of the best known literarycharacters of all time, SherlockHolmes was indeed theWorlds Greatest Detective.Unlike the superheroes oftoday who owe their enormousstrength or intellect tomysterious super powers,

Holmes acknowledged thatmost of his powers of sleuthinggrew out of the art ofobservation and deduction.


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221B Baker Street & your classroom

But just what exactlywere those methods?

More importantly how

can we apply them inour classrooms to makeour students historicaldetectives on the trail of

the past through thereading andinterpretation of varioustypes of evidence?


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Holmes Rules # 1

In solving a problem of this sort,the grand thing is to be able toreason backwards. That is avery useful accomplishment,

and a very easy one, but peopledo not practice it much. In theeveryday affairs of life it is moreuseful to reason forward, andso the other comes to be

neglected. There are fifty whocan reason synthetically for onewho can reason analytically.

A Study in Scarlet


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Applying Holmes Rule #1

Begin with the endin mind.

By the end of the

year what contentand skills shouldmy students

master? What are the

logical steps to skillmastery?

Once that isestablished createa calendar of

content with skillsets weaved in. EOY skill

document based

questions how doyou build it tosuccess by the endof the year?


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Can we reason backwards in away that is more lesson based? Absolutely!

Let examine someof the questions weask.

Is there a way wecan problematizethe content in ourquestioningtechniques?


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Applying Holmes Rules # 1

Begin with the end in mindby problematizing thecontent. Instead of askingstudents to Discuss thehistoric election of 1800 and

its consequences for theUnited States. Why notbegin with a problem? Whydid J ohn Adams lose theelection of 1800? What

social, political, andeconomic developmentsover the course of hispresidency helped to costhim the White House?


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Holmes Rules # 2

It is a capital mistaketo theorize before onehas data. Insensibly

one begins to twistfacts to suit theories,instead of theories tosuit facts.

A Scandal in Bohemia


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Applying Holmes Rule # 2

Make use of primaryand secondary sourcesto enhance yourinstruction. With youroutcome in mind, planand create excitingunits that flow fromstudent interpretationsof these types ofsources. WhichPrimary Sources aremost important to yourclassroom?


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Holmes Rules # 3

Crime is common. Logic israre. Therefore it is uponthe logic rather than uponthe crime that you should

dwell.

The Adventure of theCopper Beeches

Approach the use of

primary sources in a logicalfashion applying the samefilters each time in order tobe able to compare andcontrast and draw

conclusions.


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Use teaching methodsthat will provide yourstudents with a familiarlens to view history.Over the course of the

past year, you wereexposed to severalteaching methods from.Using methods can allowstudents to review

content in a logical waylooking for importantcontent and connectionson the path to becomingindependent thinkersand learners.


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Holmes Rules # 4

We balanceprobabilities andchoose the most likely.

It is the scientific useof the imagination.

The Hound of theBaskervilles


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Remember to be creative!Sources of information comefrom many places. Whether is itthe thesis of a textbook yearning

to be proven, or a memorialsitting silently by the town hallwaiting to be seen. Dont rely on

simple text. Make history comealive through heroes, music, art,

memorials, mysteries andproblems.

Which methods and resourcesfrom the grant experience can

you use?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/EugeneDebs.gifhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/EugeneDebs.gif


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Holmes Rules # 5

Always look at thehands first, Watson.

Then cuffs, trouser-

knees, and boots.

The Adventure of theCreeping Man


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First, in terms of primary sourceanalysis remember to use thosestrategies!

Second remember that you havethe power to place the entire worldat your students fingertips by

integrating technology into yourinstruction. How have you been

doing that so far? Are youincorporating collaborative learningthrough technology into yourteaching?


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Holmes Rules # 6

Circumstantial evidence isa very tricky thing. It mayseem to point very straightto one thing, but if you shiftyour own point of view alittle, you may find itpointing in an equallyuncompromising manner tosomething entirely

different.

The Boscombe ValleyMystery


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The interpretation of evidenceand opening your students upto the process of historicalinvestigation by selecting

primary sources that supportmultiple interpretations is therichness that we can add toour classrooms. Recognizing

Point of View, Bias, historicalcircumstance can enliven yourstudents experience. Haveyou been using this in your

instruction? If so how?


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Holmes Rules # 7

There is nothingmore stimulatingthan a case whereeverything goesagainst you.

The Hound of theBaskervilles

Always make it apoint to challengeyour students withsources.


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Sometimes the best unitsare the ones we have towork a little harder todevelop. Be sure to usethe research and lesson

writing techniques youhave acquired to infuseyour lessons with new lifeand vitality. Delve intoareas of hidden, forgotten

or problematic history. Inshort: challenge yourselfand the rewards will beeven greater for yourstudent detectives.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/1909New-wine.JPG


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Fun AdditionsElementary Eagles

Elementary teachersconsider making yourstudents library badges

for the library whenconducting interviewswith librarians orinterrogating sources

such as reading primarysources or viewinghistorical cartoons orphotographs.


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Middle School Markers

Use historical markers and considerunleashing your middle school detectiveson a campaign to make historical markers

for the classes and other rooms in yourschool.


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Set them out in the world!

Whether in thephysical or virtualworld have your

students go out insearch of historicalmysteries.

We are no longer

limited to time andspace!


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In a nutshell

What is the content, conceptsand skills your students shouldmaster?Problematize the content.Determine which content andsources will engage yourstudents based on yourstandards.Decide on a logical strategy toapproach the analysis.Reconsider the sources arethere any other type of mediayou could employ?

Integrate collaborationand technology into theanalysis and finalproduct.

Have students examinepoint of view/ bias andemploy critical thinking.

Add extension to thelesson by infusing

research, writing andother skills to promote adynamite finishedproduct.


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Brainstorming Time

What concepts arecentral to yourstandards?

What documents orsources/ images etc.can we infuse intoyour classroom?

How can we includecollaboration and 21stcentury skills?


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Thank You!

Questions? Comments?

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mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

Sherlock Holmes Rules

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