A Christmas Carol - Lesson 6 - Christmas Present- Lesson Plan

In this English lesson focusing on Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," Year 6 students will delve into the literary techniques used by Dickens to shape the reader's perception of the central character, Ebenezer Scrooge. The learning objective is to understand how the thoughts, actions, and dialogue of other characters in the novel, particularly the Cratchit family, contribute to the development of Scrooge's character. Additionally, students will explore Dickens's own viewpoint and his purpose in writing the text, especially in relation to themes of poverty and social injustice.

The lesson plan is structured to achieve these goals through a series of activities. It will begin with a 'Who Said That?' starter activity, where students match statements to the characters who said them. The main teaching activity involves listing the Cratchit family's opinions of Scrooge and reading and discussing a specific extract featuring The Ghost of Christmas Present. The 'Ignorance and Want' task will encourage students to think critically about Dickens's commentary on societal issues. An extension activity challenges students to further explain their points with evidence from the text. The lesson concludes with a plenary where students share their findings, fostering collaborative learning and deeper understanding. Differentiation opportunities are provided to tailor the lesson to varying student needs, including the ability to edit the PowerPoint, personalise tasks, and balance teacher guidance with independent work.