Silver Blaze (Or The Dog Who Didn't Bark!)

Ages 5–8 · 16 minutes · English, Stories

Giddy up! This mystery is a real barn burner! Champion racehorse Silver Blaze is missing, and Sherlock needs your help to crack the case!

Giddy up! This mystery is a real barn burner! Champion racehorse Silver Blaze is missing, and Sherlock needs your help to crack the case! No horsin' around!

Part of

Standards alignment

Common Core State Standards

SL.1.2 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
D4.1.K-2 — Individually and with others, students use writing, visualizing, and speaking to… Construct an argument with reasons.
RL.1.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
RL.1.3 — Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
Asking questions, making observations, and gathering information are helpful in thinking about problems.

Alabama

ELA21.2.30a — State and confirm predictions about a text.
ELA21.2.30c — Draw conclusions based on the text.
ELA21.1.27 — Make predictions using information found within a literary text.
ELA21.1.23a — Describe the characters and settings, using illustrations and textual evidence from a story.

Alaska

RL.1.1 — Ask and answer questions about a literary text using key details from the text.
SL.1.2 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
RL.1.3 — Describe characters, settings, major events, and problem-solution in a story, play, or poem, using key details.
RL.1.7 — Use illustrations and details in a story read or read aloud to describe its characters, events, setting, or problem-solution.
Distinguish between explanations that account for all gathered evidence and those that do not.

Arizona

1.RL.1 — Ask and answer questions such as who, what, where, why, when, and how about key details in a text.
1.RL.3 — Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
1.SL.2 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
2.SP4.2 — Select which reasons might be more likely than others to explain an event or development.

Arkansas

1.RC.2.RF — Answer questions about key details in a text.
1.RC.5.RF — Use background knowledge and details, including illustrations, charts, and graphs, to make predictions and inferences about what happens in a text.
1.RC.10.RL — Explain how visual images support a text by clarifying story elements (settings, characters, and events).
1.RC.6.RF — Demonstrate comprehension of age and grade-appropriate texts by speaking or writing.
1.RC.3.RF — Retell (orally or in writing) a text read aloud, including main idea and key details to demonstrate understanding of the central message or topic.

California

Asking questions, making observations, and gathering information are helpful in thinking about problems.
RL.1.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
RL.1.10.b — Confirm predictions about what will happen next in a text.
Distinguish between explanations that account for all gathered evidence and those that do not.

Colorado

RWC20-GR.1-S.2-GLE.1-EO.a.iv — Make predictions about what will happen in the text and explain whether they were confirmed or not and why, providing evidence from the text.
RWC20-GR.2-S.2-GLE.1-EO.a.iv — Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.

Connecticut

Distinguish between explanations that account for all gathered evidence and those that do not.
Asking questions, making observations, and gathering information are helpful in thinking about problems.
RL.1.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
INQ.K–2.11 — Construct explanations using correct sequence and relevant information.

Delaware

RL.1.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
Asking questions, making observations, and gathering information are helpful in thinking about problems.
Distinguish between explanations that account for all gathered evidence and those that do not.
RL.1.3 — Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.

Florida

ELA.1.R.1.1 — Identify and describe the main story elements in a story.
ELA.1.R.3.2 — Retell a text in oral or written form to enhance comprehension. • Use main story elements at the beginning, middle, and end for a literary text. • Use topic and important details for an informational text.
SC.K2.CS-CS.2.2 (Discontinued after 2024-2025) — Solve age-appropriate problems (e.g., puzzles and logical thinking programs) with or without technology (i.e., computational thinking).

Hawaii

Distinguish between explanations that account for all gathered evidence and those that do not.
Asking questions, making observations, and gathering information are helpful in thinking about problems.
Ask and/or identify questions that can be answered by an investigation.
SS.3-5.3.2 — Identify specific evidence that supports the claims

Idaho

1.ODC.OC.2 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
1.RC.TE.3 — Ask and answer questions about key details in texts heard or read.
3.RC.TE.3 — Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of grade-level texts, referring explicitly to textual evidence as the basis for the answers.
Engaging in Argument from Evidence
1.RC.L.5b — Describe the connection between characters, settings, and major events in stories heard, using key details.

Illinois

RL.1.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
RL.1.3 — Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
SS.K-2.IS.7 — Using various viewpoints, students will engage in reflective conversations to draw conclusions on inquiry findings and create action steps.
ARG-P2 — Distinguish between explanations that account for all gathered evidence and those that do not.

Indiana

1.RC.4 — Make and confirm predictions about what will happen next in a story.
1.RC.1 — Ask and answer questions about the main idea and key details to clarify and confirm understanding of a text. (E)
2.RC.3 — Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and how characters affect the plot.

Iowa

RL.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details using evidence from the text.
Distinguish between explanations that account for all gathered evidence and those that do not.
SS.2.4 — Construct responses to compelling questions using reasoning, examples, and relevant details

Kansas

RL.1.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
RL.1.3 — Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
Distinguish between explanations that account for all gathered evidence and those that do not.
RL.2.3 — Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.

Kentucky

Asking questions, making observations, and gathering information are helpful in thinking about problems.
RL.1.7 — Use a story’s illustrations and details to describe its characters, setting and events.
Distinguish between explanations that account for all gathered evidence and those that do not.

Louisiana

SL.1.2 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
CCRA.R.1 — Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
RL.1.3 — Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
RL.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.

Maine

SL.2.1.a — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
Distinguish between explanations that account for all gathered evidence and those that do not.
R.4.2.a — Ask and answer questions about who, what, when, where, how and why.
R.6.1.a — Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, including details about who, what, when, where, and how.

Maryland

RL.1.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
RL.1.3 — Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.

Massachusetts

RL.1.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
RL.K.1 — With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
CCR.R.8 — Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, including the validity of the reasoning as well as the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence.

Michigan

Individually and collaboratively, students use evidence to develop claims in response to compelling questions.
P3.3 — Construct an argument and justify a decision supported with evidence.
P2.4 — Know how to find relevant evidence from a variety of sources.

Minnesota

2.1.4.1 — Ask and answer questions including who, what, where, when, why and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text; recount the
1.1.4.1 — Ask and answer questions including who, what and where to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text; retell key details.
2.1.4.3 — Identify characters, setting, conflict, resolution and events in literary text.

Mississippi

RL.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
SL.1.2 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
CCRA.R.1 — Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
SL.2.2 — Recount or describe key ideas or details from a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
SL.2.1 — Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 2 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.

Missouri

1.R.2.B — Read, infer, and draw conclusions to:
2.R.2.B — Read, infer, and draw conclusions to:
Asking questions, making observations, and gathering information are helpful in thinking about problems.
Distinguish between explanations that account for all gathered evidence and those that do not.
2.R.2.A.a — describe the setting, problems, solutions, sequence of events (plot), and big idea or moral lesson

Montana

RL.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
SL.1.2 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
CCRA.R.1 — Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
SL.2.2 — Recount or describe key ideas or details from a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.

Nebraska

LA.1.RP.6 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a literary text.
Asking questions, making observations, and gathering information are helpful in thinking about problems.
Distinguish between explanations that account for all gathered evidence and those that do not.
Ask and/or identify questions that can be answered by an investigation.

Nevada

RL.1.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
Distinguish between explanations that account for all gathered evidence and those that do not.
Asking questions, making observations, and gathering information are helpful in thinking about problems.
RL.1.3 — Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
SS.1.6 — With prompting and support, participate in a structured academic discussion using evidence and reasoning.

New Hampshire

SL.1.2 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
Asking questions, making observations, and gathering information are helpful in thinking about problems.
RL.1.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
Distinguish between explanations that account for all gathered evidence and those that do not.

New Jersey

SL.1.2 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
Asking questions, making observations, and gathering information are helpful in thinking about problems.
RL.1.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
Distinguish between explanations that account for all gathered evidence and those that do not.

New Mexico

RL.1.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
Distinguish between explanations that account for all gathered evidence and those that do not.
Asking questions, making observations, and gathering information are helpful in thinking about problems.
RL.1.3 — Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.

New York

Asking questions, making observations, and gathering information are helpful in thinking about problems.
Distinguish between explanations that account for all gathered evidence and those that do not.
Analyze why some evidence is relevant to a scientific question and some is not.

North Carolina

RL.1.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
SL.1.2 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
RL.1.3 — Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
RL.2.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
RL.2.3 — Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.

North Dakota

Asking questions, making observations, and gathering information are helpful in thinking about problems.
2.R.8a — Describe characters' feelings or traits during or after listening to a story.
1.R.8a — Identify characters' feelings or traits in a story, poem,or nursery rhyme during or after a shared reading or other text-listening experience.

Ohio

RL.1.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
SL.1.2 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented in various media and other formats (e.g., orally).
CCRA.R.1 — Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
SL.1.1 — Participate in collaborative conversations about grade 1 topics and texts with diverse partners in small and larger groups.
RL.1.3 — Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.

Oklahoma

1.3.R.5 — Students will begin to use details from a text to draw conclusions and make predictions.
Distinguish between explanations that account for all gathered evidence and those that do not.
Asking questions, making observations, and gathering information are helpful in thinking about problems.

Oregon

1.RL.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
1.SL.2 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
1.RL.3 — Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
2.RL.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
2.RL.3 — Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges, including identifying the characters' feelings, the plot or problem, and how it is resolved.

Pennsylvania

CC.1.5.K.B — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
CC.1.3.1.B — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
CC.1.3.1.C — Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
Asking questions, making observations, and gathering information are helpful in thinking about problems.

Rhode Island

Distinguish between explanations that account for all gathered evidence and those that do not.
Asking questions, making observations, and gathering information are helpful in thinking about problems.
RL.1.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
RL.K.1 — With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
RL.1.3 — Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.

South Carolina

ELA.1.AOR.2.1 — Retell a story using main story elements and identify a lesson in a literary text.
ELA.2.AOR.1.1 — Describe the main story elements and sequence the important events.

South Dakota

Distinguish between explanations that account for all gathered evidence and those that do not.
1.RL.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
2.RL.3 — Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.

Tennessee

1.SL.CC.2 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
1.RL.KID.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
2.RL.KID.1 — Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
Engaging in argument from evidence to identify strengths and weaknesses in a line of reasoning, to identify best explanations, to resolve problems, and to identify best solutions.

Texas

2.6F — make inferences and use evidence to support understanding;
1.8B — describe the main character(s) and the reason(s) for their actions;

Utah

2.SL.2 — Speak clearly and audibly while asking and answering questions about a topic and key details.
K.2.1.c — Identify examples of individual honesty and responsibility.

Vermont

SL.1.2 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
D4.1.K-2 — Individually and with others, students use writing, visualizing, and speaking to… Construct an argument with reasons.
RL.1.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
Distinguish between explanations that account for all gathered evidence and those that do not.

Virginia

1.RL.1.C — Ask and answer literal (who, what, when, where) or inferential (how, why) questions about what is read.
1.RL.1.D — Generate predictions about story characters and events using the text.
2.RL.1.B — Identify a story’s central conflict using events from the plot as evidence.
2.RL.1.D — Generate predictions about story characters and events using the text.

Washington

RL.1.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
Asking questions, making observations, and gathering information are helpful in thinking about problems.
Distinguish between explanations that account for all gathered evidence and those that do not.

Washington, D.C.

SL.1.2 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
CCRA.R.1 — Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
RL.1.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
RL.1.3 — Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.

West Virginia

ELA.2.1 — Ask and answer key ideas such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in literary text

Wisconsin

ELA.1.SL.2 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
SS.Inq3.a.e — With prompting and support, state a claim to answer a question that the class is considering.
SS.Inq3.c.e — Explain how evidence supports a claim for a class inquiry.
SS.Inq4.a.e — Communicate conclusions.

Wyoming

Asking questions, making observations, and gathering information are helpful in thinking about problems
RL.1.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
Distinguish between explanations that account for all gathered evidence and those that do not.