A Christmas Carol, Stave One: Resources for SEN and ESL students

This comprehensive teaching resource focuses on Stave One of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. It includes various engaging activities designed to deepen students’ understanding of character analysis, themes, and narrative elements in the novella. It is suitable for students who struggle with comprehension.

The unit contains -

Summary Activity: Students fill in the gaps in a summary of Stave One, reinforcing key plot points and character introductions. This exercise encourages comprehension and retention of the text.

Character Descriptions: A list of adjectives allows students to identify and select characteristics that apply to Ebenezer Scrooge at the beginning of the story. An extension task requires students to create sentences using these adjectives, promoting vocabulary development and critical thinking.

Letter Writing: In a creative writing exercise, students imagine they are Scrooge and write a letter to their doctor after witnessing the ghostly door knocker. This task enhances empathy and perspective-taking.

Character Reflections: A thought-expressing activity allows students to explore the mind of a charity worker after encountering Scrooge, fostering understanding of social themes in the text.

Diary Entry: Students take on the role of Bob Cratchit and write a diary entry reflecting on his day, providing insights into his character and family dynamics while practicing narrative writing skills.

True/False Comprehension: A set of comprehension questions based on the end of Stave One tests students’ understanding of key events and themes, reinforcing critical reading skills.

Topic Sentences: Students create topic sentences that highlight different portrayals of Scrooge, strengthening their ability to write cohesive paragraphs.

Character Matching: This matching exercise identifies character actions and traits, ensuring students can recognize and articulate key characteristics of Fred, Scrooge, Marley, and Bob Cratchit.

Quotation, Memory Aid: A colour code system to remember key quotations.

This resource is perfect for educators looking to enhance their lessons on A Christmas Carol, providing a variety of activities that cater to different learning styles and promote a deeper understanding of the text.