APIEClass activity: Larch Hill Inquiry Log
Accident inquiries and investigations
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🚠 Larch Hill Inquiry Log
Accident Inquiries & Investigation Findings Practice
Rules of the Game
- 1 Divide the class into teams of 3 or 4 and hand out the log cards and findings sheet.
- 2 Explain the grammar tag system: DUTY (should / ought to have been), CERTAIN (must have been), AVOIDABLE (could have been), BELIEF (is believed to have been).
- 3 Guide teams to rewrite the 6 evidence lines as passive findings, then write 1 original finding of their own.
- 4 Have teams swap sheets for peer scoring using the Teacher Key models.
- 5 Tally points and announce the Chief Investigation Team!
- 1 Examine the 6 evidence lines from the Larch Hill cable car incident log.
- 2 Match each log tag to its passive structure rule.
- 3 Write 1 passive finding per line on your sheet, plus 1 new finding of your own creation.
- 4 Include target Unit vocabulary words to score bonus points for your team.
- 5 Swap logs with another team to mark their work and calculate total scores.
Timed Plan (20 Minutes Total)
Step 1
Hand out the cards and set up teams.
Step 2
Read the Larch Hill incident log lines.
Step 3
Write 6 findings + 1 team original.
Step 4
Swap log sheets and peer-check answers.
Step 5
Tally final scores and bonus points.
Step 6
Announce winning team of investigators.
Tags & Incident Log
Grammar Tag System Rulebook
Incident Brief: Larch Hill cable car inquiry (invented case; nobody hurt; the cabin stopped for six hours mid-air).
A brake cable with over 10% wear must be replaced. On 3 March it had 14%. It stayed in use.
Structure tag: DUTY
The alarm bell never rang, and its plug lay on the floor.
Structure tag: CERTAIN
The spare motor worked when tested. Nobody started it during the six hours.
Structure tag: AVOIDABLE
Witnesses heard a bang before the first jolt. Experts think a pulley broke.
Structure tag: BELIEF
The operator must tell the manager about every warning light. Two flashed. The manager knew nothing.
Structure tag: DUTY
The night operator's initials are beside both warning lights in the log.
Structure tag: CERTAIN
Team Findings Sheet
Write one passive finding per log line according to its structure tag, then add one original passive finding of your own choice.
Scoring Rules & Evaluation
Correct Structure Match
1 point for choosing and correctly using the structure matching the tag name.
Accurate Passive Form
1 point for a grammatically accurate passive construction (past participle + auxiliaries).
Unit Word Bonus
1 bonus point per correctly used target Unit word in your passive findings.
Sentence Starters
Use these 6 prompts to kickstart your formal inquiry sentences combining target grammar and unit vocabulary:
"The safety lapse in maintenance should have been..."
"The wreckage findings must have been..."
"The collision disaster could have been..."
"The flight recorder evidence is believed to have been..."
"The chief investigator ought to have been..."
"The inquest results must have been..."
Teacher Key Models
Official Answer Models (Lines 1 to 6)
- 1 Line 1: The brake cable should have been replaced.
- 2 Line 2: The alarm bell must have been unplugged.
- 3 Line 3: The spare motor could have been started.
- 4 Line 4: The jolt is believed to have been caused by a broken pulley.
- 5 Line 5: The manager ought to have been told.
- 6 Line 6: The warning lights must have been seen by the night operator.
Mistake to Hear & Correct:
Watch out for missing auxiliary verb "have" - e.g. hearing "must been" instead of "must have been". Prompt students to include "have" in all perfect modal passives!
Activity Variations
Guided Support
Provide modal verb formulas directly on the whiteboard (e.g. modal + have been + V3) for extra group support.
Standard Activity
Execute standard activity rules as described: cards, tag rules, findings sheet, and peer scoring.
Vocabulary Challenge
Require teams to incorporate at least TWO Unit vocabulary words into every single passive finding sentence.
For Early Finishers
Write a 3-sentence formal summary report combining all findings for the official inquiry board.
Closing Discussion Questions
Liability Determination
Which evidence line was most critical in determining liability for the Larch Hill incident?
Register & Tone
How do passive modals help investigators maintain an objective, professional tone in official findings?
Preventive Action
What further maintenance protocols ought to have been implemented to prevent future lapses?
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