A Christmas Carol

5 Points:

1. Complete a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting Scrooge at the beginning of the story with Scrooge at the end of the story. List at least seven contrasting things on each side.

10 Points each:

1. Create a quality, colored illustration of one important scene – describe on the back why this scene is important in the novel.
2. Create vocabulary flash cards for all vocabulary words from the novel. Each card must contain the entry word, the part of speech, and an original sentence using the word.
3. Rewrite the lyrics to a song or the lines to a poem making it about the novel. See “The Carol after Edgar Allan Poe” for an example.

20 Points each:

1. Imagine that the three spirits of Christmas paid you a visit. Describe and/or draw what each spirit would show you (characters, places, and events). Sum up your experiences by writing about how this visit might help you be more philanthropic – or giving.
2. Make a set of 4 “Character Cards” (similar to baseball cards – but larger…use a half sheet of paper or card stock - I have some, ask me) about any 4 of the characters from the novel. On the front, draw a picture, write the name, and write whether the character is static or dynamic. On the back, give a physical description of the character, list 5 – 10 facts about the character, at least 3 important quotes by the character from the novel, and describe why this character is important in the novel.
3. Write a sequel to the story, describing how Scrooge lives out his everyday life and how he celebrates Christmas ten years after his experience with the spirits. Must be at least 4 typewritten pages (1.5 spacing, 12 point, non-script font, 1 inch margins). This can also be written as a skit and acted out with other classmates for 5 extra points. (25 points if performed as a skit as well).

25 Points each:

1. Create a Victorian house – template on card stock and colored pencils, markers, scissors, and glue sticks provided. Do research on life in Victorian London. Write a report (1.5 spacing, 12 point, non-script font, 1 inch margins – minimum of one full page) about life for the lower classes, the middle classes, and the upper classes during the Victorian Era.
2. Research life in Victorian London and create a 3-panel brochure in Microsoft Publisher. The purpose of this brochure is to inform others about this time period. Use your own words! In one of the sections, compare and contrast life in Victorian London with life in your hometown today. You may work with a partner.

30 Points each:

1. Create a board game based on the novel. You may use the templates provided or create your own. You must include the board, player pieces, and instructions for playing the game. You must include a minimum of 40 question cards – 20 questions must be multiple choice with at least 4 choices, The remaining 20 cards must consist of at least 10 question/answer cards – not true/false or yes/no questions. The remaining 10 may be true/false questions. You may work with a partner.
2. Pretend you are a reporter from a London newspaper and interview Scrooge after the events in the novel take place. You may use MS Publisher or Word to lay out your article like a page in a newspaper. In your article, answer the following questions:
   • Mr. Scrooge, you were once known as a “squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner!” How would you describe yourself now? What would you say caused this change?
   • What was most important to you in the past? What is important to you now?
   • What is your deepest regret about the past? Why is that such a cause of regret?
   • Since you have changed, which deed are you proudest of and why?
   • How has becoming a philanthropist affected the way you feel about others? How has it changed you?
   • What advice would you give others based on your own experiences?
   • How would you like to be remembered? In fact, how would you like your epitaph to read?
3. Create a video summary of the novel using Windows Movie Maker – use only the images and sound clips provided in class, or sound clips from http://freeplaymusic.com. Here is an additional link for images (scroll down to see the images). Use titles and transitions. Example provided on Student Work page. Your video summary should be no more than 5 minutes in length. You may work with a partner.

Optional Projects (extra credit - 5 points added to final project grade)

• Participate in the caring and sharing opportunities that your school offers to students at this time of year (canned food drive, toys for tots, etc.)
• Participate in the caring and sharing opportunities that your community offers. You may get some ideas by visiting www.suffolk.com and clicking on Community and then Community Organizations.
• Involve your family in a community related philanthropy project.

For any of these projects, write a one-and-a-half to two-page essay (typewritten, 1.5 spacing, 12 point, non-script font, 1 inch margins) about your experience and include answers to the following questions:

• Who did you help?
• What did you do?
• Where did you go?
• When did you do the philanthropic activity?
• Why was it important for you to help out in this way?
• How did you benefit from this experience?
• How did others benefit?

Click here to view the rubric for your post-reading assignment.

I hope you have enjoyed reading Dickens' A Christmas Carol. If you liked it, you may want to read some of Dickens' other short stories - I reccommend The Cricket on the Hearth (the chapters are called "Chirps" - get it? Chirps - as in a cricket "chirps"), and The Chimes (Dickens calls the four chapters "Quarters" in this story - as in the four quarters of an hour).

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