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What the Dickens? Study of a Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

In this 3-week course, students will read and discuss A Christmas Carol while completing various activities.
Ms. Chelsea M. Ed. | ELA, Paranormal, & True Crime
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:
(115)
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What's included

6 live meetings
5 hrs 30 mins in-class hours

Class Experience

My grandmother used to say "What the Dickens?!" I thought it was just a hilarious phrase like many others she had- "Oh foot," "turkey," "yonder," and not to "treat" on someone among them. Then I was introduced to Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities and it all made sense. I remember trying so hard to understand his writing; It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...

Charles Dickens has a specific way of writing. His word choice, plots, and characters are often referred to as Dickensian. In this unit, we will focus on vocabulary and decoding, as well as mood, plot, setting, theme, and character development. I will provide a brief synopsis of the story, a list of who is who, and a list of vocabulary words to reference while we read. 

Students do not have to participate in discussions, but are encouraged too. Remember, introversion is a super power, not a weakness!! There will be a final project in the form of a one-pager, due on the last day. For this project, students take what was learned and transform it into art. Criteria are provided and they can be as creative as they like! 

I have provided the syllabus below. Note, I may need to modify it based on student needs once class begins. If we do not finish reading a stave (chapter) in class, it will need to be read prior to the next class meeting. 


WEEK 1
Tuesday: A little background
We will discuss Dickens' style and the time period A Christmas Carol was written. We will consider what makes a person happy and begin reading Stave (chapter) 1, if time permits.

Thursday: Dark Humor?
We will finish reading Stave 1, start our reading log, and discuss Dickens' dark humor. 


WEEK 2
Tuesday: Why Christmas?
We will read Stave 2 and discuss the importance of Christmas as the setting. We will work on our reading log as a class. 

Thursday: Diction and description
We will read Stave 3 and focus on Dickens' vivid descriptions and word choice.  We will work on our reading log as a class. 


WEEK 3
Tuesday: Character Development
We will read Stave 4 and discuss Scrooge's character development. We will work on our reading log as a class. 

Thursday: Presentation and Closing
We will read Stave 5, discuss the impact of the novel, and present our projects. 


**Students are more than welcome to view any version of the movie prior to beginning this unit. Studies show watching a closely followed movie version of a written text aids in comprehension during reading. The 1999 version follows the book very closely. 


***Lexile level of 900.
Learning Goals
Students will be able to identify tone and mood, describe character development, and understand how the setting affects the plot. Students will also be able to display comprehension of A Christmas Carol by completing an art project.
learning goal

Other Details

Parental Guidance
Some students may find the book frightening. Parental guidance is suggested.
Supply List
I will present my screen while we are reading, so a copy of A Christmas Carol is not necessary but may be beneficial. There are rewritten copies in more modern language. I will be using the original version. It is public domain and readily available to read for free online.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
4.9
115reviews
Star Educator
Popular
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Teacher expertise and credentials
Texas Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
Master's Degree in Education from University of Texas of the Permian Basin
Howdy! I am Ms. Chelsea!

I love reading and writing. There is an escape in books that cannot be found anywhere else. I am a traveler. I have visited Hogwarts, Narnia, Neverland, The Hundred Acre Wood, and many other places, without leaving my house. My other hobbies include baking, swimming, and researching true crime.

You'll see a sign in my classroom that reads " Teachers who love teaching, teach students to love learning."  A love of teaching translates to a love of learning, and we are all lifetime learners, whether we know it or not. Education is not one size fits all and must be adapted to the individual learner, which I strive to do. In order to best facilitate learners, I keep my classes small. Most are limited to 6-8 learners. Keeping classes small helps to ensure all learners can participate, feel comfortable, and are able to learn and receive the attention they need. 

I have an associate's degree in criminal justice and 2 years of upper-level criminal justice course work at university prior to changing my major. This knowledge was put to use during my years spent as a Child Protective Services Investigator, where I learned many, many lessons no school or degree program can prepare one for. I also gained a lot of knowledge of criminal and family law.

I received a bachelor's degree in Maritime Studies from Texas A&M with minors in anthropology and English. I also have a master's degree in Professional Education from the University of Texas.

I am certified to teach grades  7-12 (middle and high school level) English/Language Arts in the state of Texas. In addition to my degree in education, I have 5 years of teaching and tutoring experience. This includes language arts, science, social studies/history, math, college entrance exam prep, essay writing, and the college admissions process. Through participation in AVID, I have helped countless students in their academic journeys and collegiate paths, though they are the ones that put in most of the work. 

I hope to meet your learner soon!

******REFUND POLICY*****

I have a limited refund policy because this allows me the most flexibility in creating my own refund policies.

I hold families to the same standard I am held to. If I am given 24 hours notice of an absence and a refund is requested, I will issue one after the class meets. However, if this is a common request for a full class, then I will ask that grownups pause their subscription for the class and rejoin the following week so other learners have the option to join. 

Additionally, I will issue one (1) refund per every three month period at the request of the learner and/or their grownups without any notice given. If there are extenuating circumstances, and you communicate this with me, then we can work something out.

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Live Group Class
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$24

weekly or $72 for 6 classes
2x per week, 3 weeks
55 min

Completed by 2 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 10-14
2-5 learners per class

This class is no longer offered
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