by Audrey Miller
Inspired by CBC’s Murdoch Mysteries, the project transforms the turn-of-the-century world of Detective William Murdoch into inquiry-based lessons for modern learners in Grades 5 through 9. Drawing on themes from the show — such as science, history, innovation, and social issues — each unit is designed to spark curiosity and build key competencies across multiple subjects.
“I was attending a Murdoch Mysteries fan event when someone mentioned using the series in her classroom,” recalls Kendra Grant, the project’s creator, who is also an educator, author, and instructional designer. “It sparked a ‘Murdoch moment’ for me — I wondered, how could we use this rich, imaginative world to bring Canadian history to life for students?”
That spark became Murdoch in the Classroom, developed by teachers for teachers in collaboration with Shaftesbury (producers of Murdoch Mysteries), LeFace Entertainment, CBC, Shaw Rocket Fund, and Curio.
The program consists of five cross-curricular lessons plus an introduction unit, all rooted in the Murdoch Mysteries universe. Each lesson blends History/Social Studies, Language Arts, Media Literacy, The Arts, and STEM, while emphasizing transferable skills such as communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity.
Lesson titles include:
Each lesson will come with teacher-ready materials, printable worksheets, assessments, and short video clips featuring cast and crew from the show.
Development of the series is led by a team of experienced teachers and instructional designers. Lessons are reviewed by partner schools and educators to ensure alignment with provincial curricula and classroom realities. A pilot phase, now underway, is gathering real-time feedback to fine-tune the materials ahead of the 2026 release.
The initiative also owes its momentum to key collaborators, including marketing executive Rebecca Herr of LeFace Entertainment, who helped move the project from fan idea to educational resource by coordinating partnerships and guiding development outreach.
Educators teaching Grades 5–9 are now invited to pilot one or more lessons this fall 2025. Pilot teachers will receive early access to materials, optional webinar support, and a chance to shape a national resource celebrating Canadian storytelling and innovation in education.
“We’re currently looking for 10 to 15 more classrooms to join the pilot,” says the project lead. “It’s a limited opportunity to be part of something that connects pop culture with deep learning — and it helps us present results to CBC and our funders this January.”
For this pilot phase, interested educators are encouraged to register through the website murdochintheclassroom.com and can also join through their Curio subscription.
Once finalized, Murdoch in the Classroom will be available for free online. Teachers will be able to:
Updates and access details will be posted on the upcoming Murdoch in the Classroom website and shared via school board channels and social media.
For over 19 seasons, Murdoch Mysteries has entertained viewers with its clever plots and historical characters. Now, through this innovative educational project, the series is poised to inspire a new generation of Canadian learners — encouraging them to think critically, ask questions, and see history through a new lens.
Photo: Kendra Grant with Daniel Maslany, who plays Detective Llewellyn Watts.
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