Unit Summary
In this unit, students will explore the life of Charles Dickens, and get to know the main characters in A Christmas Carol by completing a webercise activity where they will find this information on various websites provided for them. Then, students will read the novel. After students finish reading the novel they will prepare to write their character analysis essay on Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformation by completing an essay outline in class. This essay outline will aid them in writing their final essay about Scrooge’s transformation. In addition to learning about the dynamic character of Scrooge, students will also be learning about the six main themes that run throughout the novel and how they are relevant to real-life events and experiences. Lastly, students will be given a final test where they will be tested on basic reading comprehension and analysis of the main themes.
California State Standards Covered in This Unit
C.S.S. Reading 3.2 Identify events that advance the plot and determine how each event explains past or present action(s) or foreshadows future action(s).
C.S.S. Reading 3.3 Analyze characterization as delineated through a character's thoughts, words, speech, patterns, and actions; the narrator's description; and the thoughts, words, actions, of other characters.
C.S.S. Reading 3.4 Identify and analyze recurring themes across works (e.g. the value of bravery, loyalty, and friendship; the effects of lonliness)
C.S.S. Writing 1.0 Students write clear, coherent, and focused essays. The writing exhibits student's awareness of the audience and purpose. Essays contain formal introductions, supporting evidence, and conclusions. Students progress through the stages of the writing process as needed.
C.S.S. Writing 1.2 Support all statements and claims with anecdotes, descriptions, facts and statistics, and specific examples.
C.S.S. Reading 3.3 Analyze characterization as delineated through a character's thoughts, words, speech, patterns, and actions; the narrator's description; and the thoughts, words, actions, of other characters.
C.S.S. Reading 3.4 Identify and analyze recurring themes across works (e.g. the value of bravery, loyalty, and friendship; the effects of lonliness)
C.S.S. Writing 1.0 Students write clear, coherent, and focused essays. The writing exhibits student's awareness of the audience and purpose. Essays contain formal introductions, supporting evidence, and conclusions. Students progress through the stages of the writing process as needed.
C.S.S. Writing 1.2 Support all statements and claims with anecdotes, descriptions, facts and statistics, and specific examples.
Student Learning Objectives
- Students will be able to understand the major events in Charles Dickens' life and familiarize themselves with the main characters in A Christmas Carol by completing a partially individual and partially collaborative Webercise activity.
- Students will be able to organize and compile evidence and ideas for their essay by filling out an outline before beginning to write their essays.
- Students will be able to demonstrate their understanding and analyze Ebenezer Scrooge's transformation by completing a five-paragraph essay where students include a thesis statement, and use evidence from the novel to explain Scrooge's transformation.
- Students will be able to identify the 6 main themes in A Christmas Carol and how they are relevant to real-life by completing an entry-level and formative assessment where students will answer prompts about the 6 main themes.
- Students will be able to organize and compile evidence and ideas for their essay by filling out an outline before beginning to write their essays.
- Students will be able to demonstrate their understanding and analyze Ebenezer Scrooge's transformation by completing a five-paragraph essay where students include a thesis statement, and use evidence from the novel to explain Scrooge's transformation.
- Students will be able to identify the 6 main themes in A Christmas Carol and how they are relevant to real-life by completing an entry-level and formative assessment where students will answer prompts about the 6 main themes.
Big Ideas: There are 6 main themes in A Christmas Carol
Theme 1: Each person in society has a responsibility to help the poor and uneducated.
Theme 2: The individual can do much to relieve human suffering.
Theme 3: Happiness comes mainly from caring about others and being cared for.
Theme 4: Having great wealth makes people selfish and uncaring.
Theme 5: Kindness and generosity usually triumph over selfishness.
Theme 6: A person can change through self-knowledge.
Theme 2: The individual can do much to relieve human suffering.
Theme 3: Happiness comes mainly from caring about others and being cared for.
Theme 4: Having great wealth makes people selfish and uncaring.
Theme 5: Kindness and generosity usually triumph over selfishness.
Theme 6: A person can change through self-knowledge.
Unit Resources
FLASHCARDS: http://quizlet.com/42770157/a-christmas-carol-flash-cards/
ESSAY RUBRIC: http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php?screen=ShowRubric&rubric_id=2439507&
PREZI PRESENTATION FOR ESSAY OUTLINE: http://prezi.com/xu7eqeeezwqq/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share
WEBERCISE WEBSITES:
http://www.biography.com/people/charles-dickens-9274087?page=1#awesm=~oE5QQvsx8fTX5b
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/famouspeople/charles_dickens/
http://www.theguardian.com/books/interactive/2011/sep/22/charles-dickens-interactive-wallchart
http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Category:A_Christmas_Carol_characters
GRAPHIC ORGANIZER WEBSITES:
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-24379018
http://business.time.com/2011/08/12/study-the-rich-really-are-more-selfish/
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20314021,00.html
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304692804577281413725296538
ESSAY RUBRIC: http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php?screen=ShowRubric&rubric_id=2439507&
PREZI PRESENTATION FOR ESSAY OUTLINE: http://prezi.com/xu7eqeeezwqq/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share
WEBERCISE WEBSITES:
http://www.biography.com/people/charles-dickens-9274087?page=1#awesm=~oE5QQvsx8fTX5b
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/famouspeople/charles_dickens/
http://www.theguardian.com/books/interactive/2011/sep/22/charles-dickens-interactive-wallchart
http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Category:A_Christmas_Carol_characters
GRAPHIC ORGANIZER WEBSITES:
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-24379018
http://business.time.com/2011/08/12/study-the-rich-really-are-more-selfish/
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20314021,00.html
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304692804577281413725296538