Charles Dickens and 'A Christmas Carol' Unit KS3/4

Welcome to my four-week unit that explores the heart of Victorian England through the timeless classic, “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. The series of lessons provide an immersive exploration of the social, economic, and cultural landscape of 19th-century Britain, using key extracts from the novella to encourage students to reflect on the vivid characters and rich narrative of Dickens’ masterpiece. Lessons comprise of close reading, critical analysis, and engaging discussions to unravel the layers of Victorian society, examining themes of poverty, inequality, redemption, and the spirit of Christmas. From the bustling streets of London to the haunting specters of the past, present, and future, students will not only gain a deeper understanding of the historical context of the novel but also develop valuable insights into the human condition that resonate across time.

I designed this unit for GCSE Year 9. Though, I believe it can be adapted to help support younger and older years.

These lessons:

• Provide definitions of key vocabulary
• Include stretch and challenge
• Include model paragraphs to help improve writing styles
• Use a multi-modal approach, to bring the learning experience to life!
• Include a fiction and non-fiction focus
• Encourage students to practise imaginative writing

The Unit Breakdown:
Lesson 1: Victorian Britain
Lesson 2: Penny Dreadful
Lesson 3: Dickens’ Life
Lesson 4: A Gothic Opening
Lesson 5: Analysis
Lesson 6: Feedback
Lesson 7: Stave 1 - Thomas Malthus
Lesson 8: Stave 1 - Rich and Poor
Lesson 9: Stave 1 - Sin and Repentance
Lesson 10: Stave 1 - Ghosts
Lesson 11: Foreshadowing
Lesson 12: Stave 2 - Flashback
Lesson 13: Stave 2 - Symbolism
Lesson 14: Stave 2 - Childhood
Lesson 15: Stave 2 - The Charity Revolution
Lesson 16: Stave 3 - The Ghost of Christmas Present
Lesson 18: Stave 3 - Poverty
Lesson 19: How to make a living seeling dog poo
Lesson 20: Stave 4 - Creative Writing
Lesson 21: Stave 4 - Newspaper Report
Lesson 22: Feedback Lesson
Lesson 23: Assessment Feedback Lesson
Lesson 24: Embedding quotes
Lesson 25: Essay writing
Lesson 26: Stave 5
Extra lesson: Mock
Extra resources: writing strips, Charles Dickens Experts

I hope that you enjoy my resource :)