Last night, OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) held a free open house event for teachers to let them preview their new Sherlock Holmes exhibit. I was in total geek heaven. I was obsessed with Holmes and read all his books in grade 8. I can still quote him. here’s my favorite: “When you have eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”
The exhibit begins with an introduction to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, his medical training and the doctors and literature that inspired him to create Sherlock Holmes. And then the sleuthing begins.
The next room introduces you to the world of Victorian England and detective work at the time. All of this builds background knowledge that you can apply at the next stage. A crime has been committed and you use technology of the time to solve it. Along the way you have a detectives notebook where you can record cues and other information by way of passport punches and rubbings.
As fun as this was, I think it is a little beyond many of the 4th graders I teach. It was a room full of adults having a great time. My sister & her family (husband & 15-year-old daughter) are coming for Christmas and I think I have found a fun way for us to pass part of the holiday.
So go get your deerstalker cap. The game’s afoot!
