A Christmas Carol
Ready to banish the ‘Bah Humbug’ from your school this Christmas? Charles Dickens’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ offers a captivating way to explore themes of generosity, compassion, and second chances. This classic tale follows Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly old man whose life takes an unexpected turn when he’s visited by three spirits on Christmas Eve. Through their guidance, Scrooge confronts his past, present, and potential future, leading to a powerful transformation that reminds us it’s never too late to change.
A Christmas Carol Summary
A mean-spirited, miserly old man named Ebenezer Scrooge is alone and lonely after his long time work partner, Jacob Marley passed away. On Christmas Eve Marley, now a ghost pays Scrooge a visit to warn him to turn his life around before it’s too late. When Scrooge goes to bed that night and the next two nights he is visited by 3 spirits, the spirits of the past, present and future. Each take him on an adventure and allow him to see a part of himself that he needs to change. The story ends with Scrooge awaking on Christmas morning and realizing he has been given a second chance.
There are so many takes on this classic book. You can read any version but here are a few that I found and liked that are read aloud on YouTube.
If you don’t mind reading from your phone or tablet, you can read the entire classic book here.
If you are someone that likes to have book in hand, of course you can grab it from your library- or let the post office fairy deliver it to your front door. I have included some of the recent movies made as well.
What age level is The Christmas Carol Printable Lessons for?
Due to the reading level of this story and the level of analysis expected from students, these lessons would be best suited for upper elementary students or students in junior high.
Story Maps and Character Analysis for A Christmas Carol
After you have either read the short or full version of the Christmas Carol have your student fill out the Graphic Organizer for the story and dig into describing the five characters in the story. This graphic organizer helps students identify the key elements of the story: characters, setting, problem, events, and solution. This activity strengthens reading comprehension skills, encourages active reading, and helps students visualize the plot structure.
Related Post: The Nutcracker a Mini Unit Study
It is always good for your student to think about how characters change throughout the story. This Venn diagram will have them thinking about how scrooge changes from the beginning of the story to the end. Students will delve into the personalities of five key characters (Scrooge, Marley, Ghost of Christmas Past, Ghost of Christmas Present, and Tiny Tim). They’ll describe each character’s traits, motivations, and relationships.
Then have your student take on a writing assignment by asking them to write about what Christmas with Scrooge will look like in a year.
Grab your printables below!
Keep the fun Going with these 12 Grab and Go Lessons Here
Angela is the Homeschool Encourager for the Overwhelmed & Under-Caffeinated and the Chaos-to-Confidence Specialist behind Schooling with Grace. With a no-fluff approach, a dash of humor, and a whole lot of heart, she helps homeschool moms cut through the chaos, ditch unrealistic expectations, and teach with confidence.