A Christmas Carol: Bob Cratchit for SEN and ESL Students

This GCSE, English Literature Unit explores Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol. It is differentiated for students with additional needs such as dyslexia.

The resource pack begins with several activities designed to introduce students to Bob Cratchit’s key traits through vocabulary and spelling exercises. The first task is Colour-Coding Syllables, where students break down words like “hard-working,” “cheerful,” and “compassionate” by assigning different colors to each syllable. For example, the word “optimistic” is split into syllables: op-ti-mis-tic, and each syllable is color-coded. This visual exercise not only helps with spelling but also allows students to see the structure of words in a memorable way. Additionally, the Vowel Highlighting activity encourages students to identify and colour the vowels in each word, providing further reinforcement of spelling patterns. The Missing Vowel Task adds a challenge by removing vowels from the words, requiring students to fill in the blanks and recall the correct spelling.

The pack also includes a Vocabulary in Context section, which helps students better understand Bob Cratchit’s role and traits within the story. The multiple-choice questions focus on the definitions and context of words related to Cratchit’s character, such as “hard-working,” “optimistic,” and “compassionate.” For example, students are asked to choose which word best describes Bob’s reaction to his meager Christmas feast, with “grateful” being the correct answer. In the Quotation Analysis section, students analyze key moments from the text, such as Bob’s hopeful statement, “God bless us, every one,” and identify which qualities are revealed by these quotes, such as his family-oriented nature and selflessness.

Finally, in the Character Analysis and Creative Writing section, students are encouraged to describe Bob Cratchit’s character in a paragraph using at least five vocabulary words from the list, like “caring” and “dedicated.” A creative writing challenge asks students to imagine Bob facing a moral dilemma at work, allowing them to incorporate the vocabulary in a new context. This section fosters both analytical and creative skills, asking students to explore Bob’s character traits through writing exercises, like a diary entry or debate preparation.

Through these various activities, the resource pack provides a comprehensive approach to exploring Bob Cratchit’s character while enhancing spelling, vocabulary, and writing skills.