Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie - A Mystery Novel
What's included
6 live meetings
4 in-class hoursHomework
1-2 hours per week. Students will be asked to read the novel outside of class time since we will be spending our time in class discussing the novel, debating amongst ourselves, and analyzing the novel, history, and significance of the novel in the modern-day.Class Experience
US Grade 7 - 9
"Just after midnight, the famous Orient Express is stopped in its tracks by a snowdrift. By morning, the millionaire Samuel Edward Ratchett lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. One of his fellow passengers must be the murderer. "Isolated by the storm, detective Hercule Poirot must find the killer among a dozen of the dead man's enemies, before the murderer decides to strike again". - Citation provided below! As we read Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie, students will have the opportunity to read one of her most famous Hercule Poirot novels. Poirot's quirky mustachioed personality is incredibly engaging to students and they will enjoy working through the mystery as we figure out who committed the murder on the train. Our class will be filled with discussions and collaborative activities where students will have the chance to interact with one another and with the text while debating the crime in order to solve the mystery. Posted below is a schedule of the discussion topics and activities we will be going through. While these topics will all be ones that we will cover, the schedule may shift slightly as the class goes on based on student interests and needs. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out! Citation: Christie, Agatha. Murder on the Orient Express. New York, Agatha Christie Limited, 1934.
Learning Goals
- Students will be able to identify the following literary elements: character and character development, genre, plot development and major plot points, symbolism, themes, and more!
- Students will engage in discussions and debates with one another as we explore more than just reading comprehension but also the complex decisions the author makes and its cultural and historical connections to the time period.
Syllabus
Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created CurriculumStandards
Aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS)6 Lessons
over 6 WeeksLesson 1:
Introduction to the Novel
- Welcome and Introductions
- Introduction to the Author
- The Mystery Genre
- Learning How to Sort the Clues
- Solving a Mystery
- Terms of Crimes and Mysteries
40 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
PART I - THE FACTS, Chapters 1 - 5
- Who is Hercule Poirot?
- The Crime
- The Suspects
- The Clues
- Collaborative Activity: Sorting Clues
- Mapping the Train
- The Crime
40 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
PART I - THE FACTS, Chapters 5 - 8
- The Crime (Reread)
- The Suspects
- The Clues
- Collaborative Activity: Suspicions, Evidence, and Allegations
40 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
PART II - THE EVIDENCE, Chapters 1 - 15
- Discussion about the Characters and Revelations
- Identifying Clues in a Casual Conversation
- Identifying Clues in a Testimony
- Collaborative Activity: Sorting Clues
40 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Parental Guidance
While this is not a review for the novel, this link is to the CommonSenseMedia article on Murder on the Orient Express movie. The movie is a pretty good representation of the novel's violence. As it is a murder mystery, our discussions will center around crimes and the violence centered around them. Students are encouraged to reach out about these topics and to ask questions if they have any struggles with both myself and their parents. Please feel free to reach out about if you have any questions or concerns!
- https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/murder-on-the-orient-express
Supply List
Students will be asked to purchase the novel or to get a copy of the novel for class. We will frequently reference the novel as we do our discussion so students are asked to bring their book to class every single day to make sure that they are able to participate and to be successful in our class discussions! Here are some links to locations where you can find copies of the novel! Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Orient-Express-Hercule-Mysteries/dp/0062073494/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1Y6Y6MES7OTW5&dchild=1&keywords=murder+on+the+orient+express+book&qid=1634678046&sr=8-1 Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-on-the-orient-express-agatha-christie/1013985740?ean=9780062073501 Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Murder-on-the-Orient-Express-Audiobook/B00ENJ4J1K?qid=1634677734&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=3VMFCAE4XPS6DA44C9H9
Language of Instruction
English
Teacher expertise and credentials
Colorado Teaching Certificate in Secondary Education
I have taught this novel on Outschool through multiple course options. I have listed these below for you to view if you would like. I also teach several banned books and murder mysteries on Outschool while covering similar books in public schools.
Classes on Outschool where I have covered Fahrenheit 451 specifically:
- Classic Literature (Middle School Version): https://outschool.com/classes/classic-literature-a-novel-study-xkvxQwCz?usid=l0R3fRwf&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link
- Classic Literature (High School Version): https://outschool.com/classes/classic-literature-novel-study-V9NC71b3?usid=l0R3fRwf&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link
Reviews
Live Group Course
$16
weekly or $95 for 6 classes1x per week, 6 weeks
40 min
Completed by 12 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-15
2-6 learners per class