Bah Humbug! Bringing a Christmas Carol to Life Through Drama
Our class embarks on an engaging exploration of Charles Dickens' classic, A Christmas Carol. This unit immerses students in the rich historical context of Victorian London and provides a hands-on experience through a table read with music.
Miss Sue MA MLIS
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(8)
What's included
8 live meetings
6 hrs 40 mins in-class hoursMastery Evaluation
1 hour per week. Happy to certify that this class will fulfill missing assignments toward English Language Arts credit.Grading
The table reading.Class Experience
Intermediate Level
Get $20 off my class "Bah Humbug! Bringing a Christmas Carol to Life Through Drama" with coupon code SUEMAF2ZRN20 until Nov 17, 2024. Get started at https://outschool.com/classes/bah-humbug-bringing-a-christmas-carol-to-life-through-drama-WAD7B4Hl and enter the coupon code at checkout. Literary Analysis: We examine the themes of redemption, compassion, and social justice as presented in the novella, and study figurative devices. Historical Understanding: We contextualize the story within the societal conditions of Victorian London. Performance Skills: I help develop confidence and expression through the students' participation in the table reading. Published in 1843, A Christmas Carol offers a vivid portrayal of Victorian England—a time marked by significant social and economic changes. The Industrial Revolution led to rapid urbanization, resulting in overcrowded cities and widespread poverty. Through this novella, Dickens sought to shed light on the hardships the poor faced and advocate for social reform. We will reflect on the relevance of Dickens' message in today's society which also shows extreme disparity in wealth and social standing. Literary devices will be pointed out and explained, such as allegory, alliteration, allusions, foreshadowing, imagery, irony, mood, personification and tone, all of will provide confidence in appreciating them in other reading for school. The unexpected genre of the novella will be discussed. The class is structured by reading and discussing the novella, then table reading with expression, sounds, and music. This collaborative activity involves reading the script aloud if willing, with each student taking on different roles. It's an excellent opportunity to enhance reading skills, foster teamwork, and deepen text comprehension. As a veteran drama teacher I am very involved in modeling and encouraging the table reading.
Learning Goals
Develop a character through voice modulation, facial expression, and pacing to express the emotional depth of the characters.Historical Understanding: Contextualize the story within the societal conditions of Victorian London.
Syllabus
8 Lessons
over 8 WeeksLesson 1:
Historical Background of a Christmas Carol
Come to class having read Stave 1.
Lesson Focus:
The lesson will use mentor texts to learn how the Industrial Revolution affected Charles Dickens.
Discussion on how Dickens sets the tone of the story by contrasting wealth and poverty in Victorian London.
Literary Background. What are the many genres present? 50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Stave 1 Marley's Ghost
Lesson Focus:
Introduction to Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly and selfish character.
Analyze Marley's ghost and his message of warning, focusing on the consequences of a life lived without compassion. 50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Stave 2 The First of the Three Spirits
Lesson Focus:
Introduction to the Ghost of Christmas Past, who takes Scrooge on a journey through his own history.
Explore themes of lost innocence, regret, and how past choices shape one's future.
Discussion of how Scrooge’s childhood and early adulthood experiences influenced his present behavior.
The themes of transformation, relationships, and time and memory are explored. 50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Stave 3 The Second of the Three Spirits
Lesson Focus:
Study the Ghost of Christmas Present and the emphasis on the joy and warmth of the holiday season, despite poverty.
Analyze the Cratchit family and their significance in teaching lessons about gratitude and family love.
Discuss how Scrooge begins to see the impact of his actions on others. 50 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Supply List
The student will need a copy of A Christmas Carol. It is available from Project Gutenberg, or at your school or local library. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/46/46-h/46-h.htm#link8 The script for the table reading will be sent as an attachment.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined May, 2024
5.0
8reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Washington Teaching Certificate in Secondary Education
3 Degrees
Master's Degree in Information Technology from University of Washington
Master's Degree in Theatre Arts from University of Washington
Bachelor's Degree in Education from University of Washington
BA Drama and Education
MA Theatre Arts
MLIS Masters in Library and Information
I have a certificate from Hillsdale College for completion of the course on A Christmas Carol, and have taught the novella and directed readers theater live and virtual performances many time. A certified K-12 teacher, I have 30+years of directing plays and musicals, teaching ELA, and managing school libraries. I'm new on Outschool and only have a couple of reviews. Below are some testimonials from parents and students from my tutoring company, Threshold Tutoring.
Testimonials
Excellent tutor! So thankful for how Sue educates and the breadth of material she covers. Above and beyond!! Parent of 5th grade girl at Cincinnati Country Day creative writing and drama.
Fabulous, thoughtful, insightful tutor! Same parent of 8th grade brother at Cincinnati Country Day receiving enrichment ELA tutoring focusing on literature and academic writing.
Sue, thank you so much for your time and for sharing your expertise with our team and students! I appreciate your dedication towards finding the strengths and motivations for each of our students. Teacher at the Seattle Children's Hospital School.
Ms. Sue is a very helpful tutor. She helped me pull up my grades. When we started a year ago I was below average. Now I am advanced. My reading scores went up. I have more confidence. She helped me become a better writer. It was fun to read play scripts with Roderick. She also taught me better coping skills. I don’t burst out crying now. I don’t always think I’m gonna fail stuff anymore. Without her I don’t think I would have made it to where I am now. I’m ready for middle school. Most definitely ask if Ms. Sue can help your kid.
5th grader from Washington D.C. (note: This student’s scores on “The Reading Inventory” given by her school 8/31/22 and 1/18/23 went from Lexile 788 to 1162; Percentile Rank 47 to 95; NCE (normal curve equivalent) 48 to 85; and Stanine 5 to 8.
*****
Reviews
Live Group Course
$10
weekly or $80 for 8 classes1x per week, 8 weeks
50 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 10-15
5-12 learners per class
