A Christmas Carol - Pearson
level 2Teacher’s notesTeacher Support ProgrammeA Christmas CarolCharles Dickensdinner, Scrooge is visited by two kind gentlemen whoare collecting money for the poor. Not only does herefuse to give them any, he also suggests that poor peopleshould be kept in prisons and workhouses. After dinner,he receives another visit, that of his long dead partner,Marley, who warns him that his miserly behaviour willmake him suffer for eternity, unless he follows the adviceof three ghosts that will come to see him very soon.Chapter 2About the authorCharles Dickens, the most popular writer of the Victorianage, was born near Portsmouth, England, in 1812 anddied in Kent in 1870. When his father was thrown intodebtors’ prison, young Charles was taken out of schooland forced to work in a shoe-polish factory, whichmay help explain the presence of so many abandonedand victimized children in his novels. As a young manhe worked as a reporter before starting his career asa fiction writer in 1833. In his novels, short stories andessays, Dickens combined hilarious comedy with a scathingcriticism of the inhuman features of Victorian industrialsociety. Many of his novels, such as Great Expectations,David Copperfield and Oliver Twist, have been made intofilms.SummaryThe first ghost, that of Past Christmases, shows himscenes from his life as a schoolboy and a young man. Welearn that he had a sad and lonely childhood, but that hewon the heart of a lovely woman whom he lost throughhis greater love for money.Chapter 3The second ghost, the Ghost of Christmas Now, showsScrooge that people can spend a happy Christmas dayeven without much money. He shows him Fred, hisnephew, and Bob, his employee, enjoying Christmas withtheir families. However, the ghost also shows him twosad sights: that of Bob’s ailing son and that of two otherchildren who represent all the poor and ignorant childrenin the world.Chapter 4The third ghost, the Ghost of Future Christmases, showsScrooge scenes after his death. Everybody is happy thathe has died. Only the Cratchit family is very sad – theirson Tiny Tim has passed away. It is then than Scroogebegs the ghost to let him change such a horrible future.On Christmas Eve, four ghosts teach Scrooge, an elderlymiser, that love and friendship are much more importantthan amassing a fortune. The first ghost is that of Marley,his former business partner, who warns him aboutthe suffering awaiting him if he does not change. Thethree other ghosts reveal to Scrooge scenes from hispast, present and future. After witnessing these scenes,Scrooge is a changed man.Chapter 5Chapter summaryA Christmas Carol, first published in 1843, is the mostpopular of all his Christmas stories.Chapter 1Scrooge is a cold, hard man who loves money more thanpeople. For him, the worst part of the year is Christmas, atime in which even the poor make merry. This ChristmasEve, after rejecting his nephew’s invitation to Christmaspearsonenglishreaders.com Pearson Education Limited 2015When Scrooge wakes up after the visits have ended, herealizes it is only Christmas morning. He orders a largegoose to be sent to the Cratchits, promises to help thepoor and dines at his nephew’s house. Scrooge, now achanged man, becomes a second father to Tiny Tim, who,fortunately, does not die young.The original textIts moral, which still applies today, is that a change of heartis needed among those who are well-off regarding theless fortunate, and that there is no better season for it totake place than Christmas.A Christmas Carol - Teacher’s notes 1 of 3
level 2Teacher’s notesTeacher Support ProgrammeA Christmas CarolBackground and themesIn A Christmas Carol Dickens wishes to raise awarenessof social inequality in Victorian England. Among the manysources of suffering for the poor were the workhouses,public establishments that provided them with housing atthe expense of brutal treatment.Social inequality: Who is responsible for the well being ofthe less fortunate, the state or every one of us?56Chapter 2While reading7Childhood: Does an unhappy childhood necessarily leadto an unhappy adulthood?A change of heart: Can human beings change theirbehaviour for the better as Scrooge does?Christmas and communal festivities: To what extent tothey foster social bonding?Suffering: Does suffering make us mature?Discussion activitiesChapter 1Before reading1Discuss: Christmas timeHave students discuss the importance of Christmas intheir country. If they celebrate other religiousfestivals, get them to talk about them.Here are some suggested questions:Is it cold or hot at Christmas time in your country? Dofamilies meet to eat and drink? What do children likeabout Christmas?While reading23Discuss: CelebrationsHave students compare what they do for theirreligious celebrations and what Scrooge does forChristmas.Here are some suggested questions:Do you invite the family or also some friends? What doyou eat? Does Scrooge have any friends? Does he have afamily? Why doesn’t he go to his nephew’s house forChristmas?Discuss: GhostsHave students stop reading on page 7 and discusswhether they believe in ghosts.Marley thinks that some people walk the streets of theworld when they are dead. Why does he think they mustdo that? Do you think there are ghosts around us?After reading4Write:Have students write a short letter as if they wereone of the men who visit Scrooge on pages 3– 4.Yesterday I went to ask Scrooge for some money for thepoor people in the city pearsonenglishreaders.com Pearson Education Limited 2015Read carefully:Have students reread pages 7 and 8 to find out whyMarley is so sad.Read carefully:Then have students reread Marley’s description andask them to draw him with his heavy chain.8Discuss: The Ghost of Past ChristmasesHave students discuss the ghost’s appearance.Why is this ghost old and young at the same time? Whydoes it have a light? Why doesn’t Scrooge want to seethe light?Discuss: Scrooge, the childHave students discuss Scrooge’s childhood.Was Scrooge happy as a child? What was his father like?Do you feel sorry for him?After reading9Write:Have students write a letter that little Scrooge senthis Dad when he was alone at school.10 Research and Pair work:Have students find out about the stories Scroogeloved as a child: Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves andRobinson Crusoe. Then, in pairs, have them makea list of their favourite children’s stories.11 Role play:Have students role play the dialogue betweenScrooge and his girlfriend on page 16.Chapter 3Before reading12 Predict:Have students predict what the chapter will be about.What will the next ghost show Scrooge? Will Scrooge bea better man after this new visit?While reading13 Look carefully:Have students look at the picture on page 19 andthen answer the questions.How is this ghost different from the Ghost of PastChristmases? What is there near him?14 Discuss: LessonsHave students discuss the lessons Scrooge learns atthe Cratchits’ and at Fred’s house.15 Discuss: Schools and foodHave students discuss what the two children next tothe Ghost of Christmas Now represent.Here are some suggested questions:Why do the children look like animals? Why does theghost show them to Scrooge? Why does the ghost tellScrooge that they are everybody’s children?When Scrooge asks the ghost who can help the childrenthe ghost answers: ‘Aren’t there any prisons? Aren’t thereany workhouses?’ Why does he say so?A Christmas Carol - Teacher’s notes 2 of 3
level 2Teacher’s notesTeacher Support ProgrammeA Christmas CarolAfter reading16 Artwork:Have students draw the two children described onpage 25.17 Read carefully and write:Have the students reread pages 22–24. Then in pairs,they can write down what Mrs Cratchit and Fred’swife think of Scrooge.18 Research:Have students look for different illustrations ofScrooge’s face on the Internet. Then they can choosethe one they like best and explain why they havechosen it.Chapter 4While reading19 Discuss: Facing factsHave students discuss the following:When does Scrooge understand that the dead man is hehimself ?20 Discuss: FearHave students discuss the following:How does this ghost make Scrooge afraid? Why does hedo so? Which is the worst thing that he shows him? Canthat make you afraid?Chapter 5While reading23 Discuss: Sudden changesHave students discuss Scrooge’s change.Do you like Scrooge’s change? Does it make the storybetter or worse?After reading24 Write: Change Chapter 5Have students suggest a different ending to thestory and write two or three paragraphs as a newChapter 5.25 This traditional English Christmas carol is more thanfour hundred years old. To listen to it, download themusic from the Internet. Have students sing it andthen make a list of the Christmas carols or traditionalsongs that people sing in their country for religiousfestivals and celebrations.We wish you a merry Christmas,We wish you a merry Christmas,We wish you a merry Christmas,And a happy New Year.Students may want to collect the words of all thesongs on the list and build a webpage with them.After reading21 Write:Have students write an obituary, a short newspapernote on somebody’s death. Have the students writeScrooge’s obituary.22 Predict:At the end of Chapter 4 Scrooge says: ‘I’ll change myfuture!’ Have students predict the changes.pearsonenglishreaders.com Pearson Education Limited 2015A Christmas Carol - Teacher’s notes 3 of 3
level 2Activity worksheetsTeacher Support ProgrammeA Christmas CarolWhile ReadingChapter 11 What happened first? Put these sentences inthe right order. Number them 1–12.a He hears the noise of a heavy chain downbelow.cb Then he goes to his rooms in Marley’sold house.cc Bob Cratchit shuts the office.cd Scrooge gives them nothing.ce After Fred leaves, two men come intoScrooge’s office.cf Fred comes to visit him.cg He shuts the door and sits by the fire.ch Scrooge has dinner in a cheap eatinghouse.ci The two men leave the room.cj They ask him for some money for thepoor.ck He invites Scrooge to dinner.cl Scrooge is in his office.c2Match A and B.AScroogeFredThe two menMarleyBob CratchitWho says what?B‘Christmas is a good time – akind happy time.’‘It’s only on Christmas day.’‘I made this chain in my life.’‘Humbug!’‘Aren’t there any workhousesfor the poor?’‘How much will you give us?’‘I sat next to you many times inthe days after I died.’‘Why are you here? You’redead.’Chapter 23 What’s the right name, Old Scrooge orOld Fezziwig?a had three daughters.b told everybody at his office to stop workon Christmas Eve.c paid his clerk one pound a week.d ’s party made everybody very happy.e spent Christmas at home without anyfriends.pearsonenglishreaders.com Pearson Education Limited 2015Photocopiable4Which ones are wrong?In the story, Christmas time means:a working hardb being with your familyc readingd eating and drinkinge dancingf sleeping a lotg playing musicChapter 35 Write the right words from the box.wife sees wine back table takesdinner kitchen clothes fruitfire help goose sonThe Ghost of Christmas Now Scroogeto Bob Cratchit’s house. There he hisclerk’s family for the first time. Mrs Cratchit iswearing her best . She is making and her son is watching some food on the . When Bob comes in he has Tiny Tim,his youngest , on his because thechild cannot walk without Bob putssome in the , his bringsthe from the and they all sitround the Christmas .6Write the answers:a Mrs Cratchit: ‘How was Tiny Tim in church?’Bob Cratchit: .b Scrooge: ‘Will Tiny Tim live?’Ghost: c Scrooge: ‘Are ghosts’ lives very short?’Ghost: d Scrooge: ‘Ghost, are these children yours?’Ghost: e Scrooge: ‘Isn’t there a place for these childrensomewhere?’Ghost: Chapter 47 Who says this?a ‘I’ll follow.’b ‘He’s dead. He can’t use these things.’c ‘There was nobody there when he died.’d ‘We were all afraid of him before he wasdead – but not after.’e ‘Tiny Tim was very light.’f ‘Fred never knew Tiny Tim, but he wasunhappy too.’A Christmas Carol - Activity worksheets 1 of 2
level 2Activity worksheetsTeacher Support ProgrammeA Christmas Carol8Let’s think that Marley comes to visit Scroogeafter the Ghost of Future Christmases leaves.In pairs write down the talk between themand then read it to the other students.9At the end of Chapter 4 Scrooge is a changedman. You are Scrooge. Write a letter to thepoor people who have to pay you a lot ofmoney (page 29) to tell them that they canpay you next year.Dear friends, Best wishes,ScroogeChapter 510 In Chapter 5 Scrooge does a lot of things forthe first time. Mark the right ( ) ones and thewrong ( ) ones.a Scrooge started singing Christmas carols. cb He visited Marley’s ghost and thanked himfor the lessons that he taught him.cc He laughed for the first time in manyyears.cd He bought a big chicken for theCratchits.ce He told the two men to go to his officethe next day because he was wanted togive them money for the poor.cf He went to church.cg He had dinner with the Cratchits.ch He said ‘Humbug’ again.cPhotocopiableAfter reading12 What does each ghost show Scrooge?Marley’s ghostThe ghost ofChristmas PastThe ghost ofChristmas NowThe ghost ofChristmasFuture13 A fable is a story that teaches a lesson. Thelesson in a fable comes at the end of thestory. We call it a ‘moral’.A Christmas Carol is a fable. Choose the moralthat you like best for the story:a Our friends and our family are moreimportant than money.b Money doesn’t make you happy.c It’s important to help the poor.d Christmas teaches us to be better people.e We can all learn how to be better people.f Adults can change.g Good food and good schools are veryimportant in a child’s life.11 At the end of the story Scrooge is a betterperson. He now knows that Christmas is atime to be kind. Make a list of the presents hecan buy for the people that he knows.FredFred’s wifeBob CratchitTiny TimThe two menpearsonenglishreaders.com Pearson Education Limited 2015A Christmas Carol - Activity worksheets 2 of 2
level 2Progress testTeacher Support ProgrammeA Christmas CarolPhotocopiableChapter 1Chapter 41 Ten things are wrong. Find them and make themright.It was seven o’clock on a warm winter afternoon butit was already dark. There was a thick smoke in thestreets but Scrooge was in his office near a big fire.Then his uncle Fred came into the office. His face wasyellow from the cold outside but it had a sad smile.Scrooge didn’t understand how his nephew could behappy if he was rich. Fred answered that Christmaswas a happy time for him. When he left, two womencame into Scrooge’s office. They asked Scrooge formoney to buy the poor some clothes. But Scroogegave them nothing.4 Who’s who? Choose the right name from the box.You can use two names twice.Chapter 22 Are these sentences right ( ) or wrong ( )?a Little Fan was Scrooge’s older sister.b Mr Fezziwig was a kinder boss than Scrooge.c Scrooge’s girlfriend left him because he lovedanother woman.d Scrooge’s first name is Ebenezer.e Scrooge wanted the Ghost of Past Christmasesto show him more places from his past.cccccChapter 33 What happened first? Put these sentences in theright order. Number them 1–8.a Then he takes him to Fred’s house.b When he arrives, Scrooge sees that he’s verydifferent from the Ghost of Past Christmases.c Scrooge gets ready for the visit of the Ghost ofChristmas Now.d He also takes Scrooge to hospitals and toprisons.e First the ghost takes Scrooge to the Cratchits’house.f After the visits, Scrooge sees that the ghostis getting older and older.g At twelve, the Ghost of Christmas Now leavesand a new one arrives.h Before leaving, the ghost shows him twochildren, a boy and a girl.pearsonenglishreaders.com Pearson Education Limited 2015cccOld Joe Mrs Dilber the cleanerthe undertaker’s man the washerwomanBob Cratchit Peter Fred Scroogethe ghost the little Cratchits Tiny Tima had some clothes and somebooks.b wanted to sell ’s bed-curtains,bedclothes and shirt.c Very poor people brought things to ’sshop when they wanted to sell them.d was in black.e was reading to veryquietly.f walked very fast with on his back.g met in the street.h couldn’t see ’s face.Chapter 55 Answer why:a Why is Scrooge so happy that it’s Christmas day?b Why does Scrooge send the Cratchits a goose?c Why does Scrooge put on his best clothes?d Why does he talk to the two men?e Why is Scrooge afraid when he goes to Fred’shouse?f Why is Fred so happy when he sees his uncle?g Why doesn’t Scrooge say ‘Humbug’ now?cccccA Christmas Carol - Progress test 1 of 1
level 2Answer keysTeacher Support ProgrammeA Christmas CarolBook keyOpen answersa Merry b past, workhouse c candle d foge coal f ghost g Poor h clerk i prisonj chain3 a poor people b Bob Cratchit c Fredd Scrooge e Marley’s ghost f Scrooge4 a b c d e f g h i 5 – 6 Open answers7 a The Ghost of Past Christmases b young Scroogec Scrooge’s sister d Fred e Scrooge’s first bossf Dick Wilkins g the love of money h Scrooge8 a hears b remembers c comes d wantse takes f looks g shows h feels9 –10 Open answers11 a 6 b Martha c Tiny Timd hot wine with fruit e goose f He is very ill.g ‘Humbug!’ h Yes and No i Scroogej nothing12 a red b green c grey d brown e grey13 –15 Open answers16 a 8 b 3 c 5 d 1 e 4 f 2 g 10 h 6i 7 j 917–18 Open answers19 a ‘What’s today?’ b for a goose.c to Bob Cratchit’s house. d ‘Come to my office.’e to Fred’s house. f more money.20 a before b after c after ( Open answers)21–29 Open answers12Discussion activities key123456Open answersScrooge doesn’t have any friends. He has a nephew,Fred, who invites him home for Christmas because hefeels sorry for him. Scrooge doesn’t go to Fred’s partybecause he thinks that Christmas parties are ‘humbug’.Marley thinks they are the people who never helpedothers in life. Open answer.Open answersMarley is sad because a) he carries a heavy chain withhim b) he can see happy people but he cannot laughwith them c) he can see sad people but he cannot crywith them, and d) he cannot stay in one place, he hasto go to many sad places.Open answerspearsonenglishreaders.com Pearson Education Limited 2015Possible answers:The ghost may be old because Scrooge is an old man,and he may be young because he may representScrooge as a child, or Scrooge’s recent past. The lightin the ghost may represent past events in Scrooge’slife which Scrooge doesn’t want to see or remember.8 Possible answers:He was very sad. His father wasn’t kind to him and hehad no friends at school.9 –11 Open answers12 Open answersScrooge will be a better person because he is startingto understand that, in the past, he lived in the wrongway.13 Possible answers:This ghost is a fat, happy man. He is wearing greenand white clothes and he has long brown hair. Thereare lots of bottles and plates with food near him.The other ghost was a child and an old man at thesame time. He was wearing white clothes.14 Open answers15 Possible answers:They look like animals because the children don’t goto school and because they are very hungry. Scroogehas to learn about what happens in the world andstart helping the poor children with his money.The ghost says these words because Scrooge usedthem with the two men who came to ask for moneyfor the poor in Chapter 1.16 Open answers17 Possible answers:They don’t like Scrooge. They think he is a coldmoney-lover.18 Open answers19 Open answers20 By showing Scrooge what will happen when he dies.Open answer.21–22 Open answers23 Open answers24 –25 Open answer7Activity worksheets key12a 12 b 10 c 8 d 6 e 4 f 2 g 11h 9 i 7 k 5 k 3 l 1‘Christmas is a good time – a kind happy time.’ (Fred)‘It’s only on Christmas day.’ (Bob Cratchit)‘I made this chain in my life.’ (Marley)‘Humbug.’ (Scrooge)A Christmas Carol - Answer keys 1 of 2
level 2Answer keysTeacher Support ProgrammeA Christmas Carol‘Aren’t ther
people. For him, the worst part of the year is Christmas, a time in which even the poor make merry. This Christmas Eve, after rejecting his nephew’s invitation to Christmas dinner, Scrooge is visited by two kind gentlemen who are collecting money for the poor. Not only does he refuse to give them any, he also suggests that poor people
A Sesame Street Christmas Carol (2010; with Kristin Chenoweth and Tim Curry; in Children’s) Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol (2011; BBC science fiction) The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol (2011; animated; part of The Smurfs Collection, in Children’s) A Christmas Carol (2012; scary Pop T
A Christmas Carol By: Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol, Play version adapted by Frederick Gaines This adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol was first produced by the Children's Theatre Company of the Minneapolis Society of Fine Arts in November 1968. The script was edited by Linda Walsh Jenkins with the assistance of Carol K .
A Christmas Carol By: Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol, Play version adapted by Frederick Gaines This adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol was first produced by the Children's Theatre Company of the Minneapolis Society of Fine Arts in November 1968. The script was edited by Linda Walsh Jenkins with the assistance of Carol K .
in the coming new year! On behalf of Linguaton Teachers, Aneta Janiszewska Christmas crossword puzzles 2 Christmas pictorial puzzle 3 Christmas I remember best – Olga Zwierzchowska 3 Christmas song and game 4 Christmas jokes and cryptogram 5 Christmas grammar quiz Christmas questions 6 6 Christmas matching
The Old Vic A Christmas Carol teaching resources 2 Cast and Creative team 3 Characters 9 Synopsis 11 Themes 14 Timeline: Dickens, Christmas and the Theatre 15 Interview with Matthew Warchus, Director of A Christmas Carol, 17 and Artistic Director of The Old Vic
Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol, December 1843 [A Christmas Carol] is a national benefit, and to every man and woman who reads it a personal kindness. William Makepeace Thackeray Fraser’s Magazine, February 1844 Nothing is more Dickensian than the Dickens Christmas. I
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Pearson Education LTD. Pearson Education Australia PTY, Limited. Pearson Education Singapore, Pte. Ltd. Pearson Education North Asia, Ltd. Pearson Education Canada, Ltd. Pearson Educatión de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. Pearson Education—Japan Pearson Education Malaysia, Pte. Ltd. Library of Co
