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Dickens A Christmas Carol: A Unit Study

December 17, 2023, marks the 180th anniversary of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Unit resources.

December 17, 2023, marks the 180th anniversary of the publication of a classic work, one which has influenced literature, Christmas customs, and even the English language itself: A Christmas Carol by that writing genius, Charles Dickens.

Early Dickens

Before he created A Christmas Carol , Dickens had been writing for about ten years, starting with a collection of stories published under the pen name “Boz.” (“Boz” was a corruption of the name “Moses,” Charles Dickens’s youngest brother’s nickname. When a person with a cold says “Moses,” it sounds something like “Boses.” The fact that “Boses” lasted long enough in the Dickens family to be shortened into “Boz” leads one to believe that they must have had more than their share of coughs and sniffles.) Sketches by Boz was successful enough to launch Dickens into the completion of The Pickwick Papers and a career in writing.

More books followed, all published serially and all wildly popular in both America and Dickens’s native England. His writing was so popular in America, in fact, that in 1842 Dickens made a trip to our shores with a twofold purpose in mind—to speak up for the abolition of slavery and to argue for better protection of copyrights internationally. He did not make much headway in the latter purpose. The American press hinted that he should be content with his popularity and learn to regard piracy as a backhanded compliment.

Dickens went home thoroughly disgusted with America and American ways, especially tobacco chewing. His next two works, American Notes for General Circulation and Martin Chuzzlewit , tended to ridicule what Dickens viewed as the stereotypical American, thus alienating a formerly enthusiastic audience. His sales suffered accordingly.

This placed Dickens in an awkward position in the fall of 1843. His publishers were beginning to suspect that his best days were behind him, and meanwhile he was running into debt trying both to support his comfortable lifestyle and to supply his parents’ and brothers’ incessant demands for money.

But it would be unfair to allege that Dickens’s only motives for his next move were mercenary. He had long felt a deep concern for the poor of England, especially for impoverished children. Earlier that year he had decided to write a pamphlet which he had intended to title, “An Appeal to the People of England, on behalf of the Poor Man’s Child.” He had not yet started on it. The idea needed a little more tinkering before it could deliver the “sledgehammer blow” Dickens was seeking. He was waiting for an inspiration.

The Birth of A Christmas Carol

That inspiration came on October 5, 1843. Dickens was speaking at a fundraiser for the Manchester Athenaeum, an organization seeking to provide education to the working people. His subject was educational reform, and his audience was spellbound. Something in that setting kindled a spark.

Dickens hurried outside as soon as possible after his speech to take a long walk. That pamphlet was on his mind. The goal of standing up for the child worker was a worthy one, but Dickens had a feeling he had chosen the wrong means of going about the task. A pamphlet would not awaken the sympathy of the people. What he needed was a compelling story. Perhaps if he hurried he could have it ready in time for Christmas. Why, that was the very thing! A Christmas story!

When Dickens returned home to London, he set to work writing furiously. He had no notes or outlines other than the basic storyline set out in “The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton,” a somewhat similar tale originally published in The Pickwick Papers . When he needed inspiration, he set off on a late-night stroll through the city, often walking fifteen to twenty miles at a time, laughing and crying the whole way.

The story took shape. Scrooge’s greed and cynicism would contrast sharply with the joyful life of his poorer, but wiser, clerk, Bob Cratchit. But Scrooge was to undergo a change of heart. In his dreams, his business partner, Jacob Marley, would come back from the dead to warn him of his peril and commit him into the hands of the three spirits. The Ghost of Christmas Past would remind Scrooge of forgotten scenes and rouse his sleeping conscience. The jolly Ghost of Christmas Present would show him all the joy he had missed. The outstretched finger of the fearsome Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come would point to the doom that awaited him if he failed to repent. And Scrooge would be a better man for it in the end.

In six weeks the story was finished. Dickens handed the manuscript over to the publishers for the final touches. A Christmas Carol made its debut on December 19, 1843, and it sold out only five days later. By the following spring, the story was already in its sixth printing. It went through 24 editions in the next few years, and by the end of the Civil War it had even redeemed Dickens’s reputation in America. Today there is probably not another book so strongly associated with Christmas as A Christmas Carol .

The Christmas Carol Legacy

It is impossible to estimate precisely how much impact Dickens’s “sledgehammer blow” delivered, but there is no question that the effect of A Christmas Carol was profound:

• It launched Christmas to the status of an annual family occasion.
• It replaced the lingering medieval stiffness of the holiday with merriment and joy.
• It associated Christmas with charity in some minds.
• It apparently inspired an eruption of turkey-buying on the part of generous employers.
• It introduced the word scrooge to the dictionary.
• It popularized the terms “Merry Christmas” and “Bah! Humbug!”

“And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!”

Free eBook:

• Variety of formats
• Version with the original manuscript in Dickens’s handwriting
• Condensed version with meanings to unfamiliar expressions
• Audio (Campbell Playhouse radio broadcast featuring Lionel Barrymore)

Copywork, Writing, and Other Literary Suggestions

Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it: and Scrooge’s name was good upon ’Change, for anything he chose to put his hand to. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail.

• Find out what ‘Change refers to.
• No one can turn a phrase quite like Dickens. Read the second paragraph of Stave One. Explain how it relates to the first paragraph. Underline the simile in your copywork.
• “As dead as a doornail” is an idiom. Make an idiom booklet featuring five common idioms .
• Read the sixth and seventh paragraphs of Stave One. What an incredible description of a very cold person! Think of someone who is the opposite — a very warm person. Using the paragraphs as a model, write a description of the warm person using similar language.

“It isn’t that,” said Scrooge, heated by the remark, and speaking unconsciously like his former, not his latter, self. “It isn’t that, Spirit. He has the power to render us happy or unhappy; to make our service light or burdensome; a pleasure or a toil. Say that his power lies in words and looks; in things so slight and insignificant that it is impossible to add and count ’em up: what then? The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune.”

• Describe Mr. Fezziwig’s ball.
• Throughout the book the traditions of a Victorian Christmas are described. Choose five of those traditions mentioned and compare/contrast them with the ways in which we celebrate Christmas today. You can use this interactive compare/contrast map at ReadWriteThink.
• Instead of the above suggestion, you may prefer to imagine you are headed to one of the celebrations mentioned. Use this party planner worksheet at ReadWriteThink to help you record who you will be and what you will be doing.

“As good as gold,” said Bob, “and better. Somehow he gets thoughtful, sitting by himself so much, and thinks the strangest things you ever heard. He told me, coming home, that he hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see.”

• Find the idiom and simile in the copywork above.
• Who is Bob referring to? Find Scripture passages that support your conclusion.

Quiet. Very quiet. The noisy little Cratchits were as still as statues in one corner, and sat looking up at Peter, who had a book before him. The mother and her daughters were engaged in sewing. But surely they were very quiet!

• Dickens often uses repetition to make an impression (see the opening paragraph). And yet, he not only tells us that the normally boisterous Cratchits were quiet, he shows us that they are quiet, as well. What words or phrases does he use to convey this (excepting quiet )?
• Remember or imagine a family scene that is rather noisy. Using the paragraph as a model, write and show that the family is noisy.
• Scrooge vows, “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” What is he saying? How do you think he might do that?

He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world.

• We don’t typically use the word good too often as it is not a particularly descriptive word: good in what way? to what degree? How has Dickens used to this word to provide an incredible description of Scrooge’s new self?
• Write a sentence using the copywork as a model, and including the repetition, to describe a person, place, or thing. Notice there are four comparisons (friend, master, man, city) with the last also compared four times (city, town borough, world).
• Compare/contrast Scrooge’s attitude and mood in each stave.
• Choose a character to describe and include the words and phrases that Dickens has used to help you know that character.

Additional Resources

A Christmas Carol Study guide for the book covering the themes, organization, vocabulary, and issues, along with research/project ideas.

The Truth About Tiny Tim The story of how his final disposition was originally left out of the book, but remedied at the “eleventh hour” by someone in the print process.

A Christmas Carol Biblical Application Copy these Scriptures and explain how they apply to the story.

A Christmas Carol Projects Many options for interacting with the literature.

A Humbug’s Grammar Here is a fun way to review English grammar — A Humbug’s Grammar: A Review of English Grammar Based Upon the Prose of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol !

A Christmas Carol Folder Project Create folder to summarize what you have learned. Think of this as a lapbook for older students! (Free registration required.)

A Christmas Carol Animation via guinea pigs.  It helps to know the story before watching!

A Christmas Carol Coloring Book Reputable Dover edition.

A Day With Charles Dickens by Maurice Clare A peek into the way Dickens spent his writing days.

A Christmas Carol Book Set & Advent Calendar These are out of print, but we have enjoyed ours so much each year that we’ve included it anyway. Each day you can read one piece of a very condensed version of the story and then place that small book on the tree as an ornament.

Unit Studies & Lesson Plans

A Christmas Carol Classroom Lessons Many quality enrichment ideas covering word meanings, literary devices, characters, and more!

A Christmas Carol Classroom Lessons — Middle Grades Many quality enrichment ideas covering a how-to essay, character analysis, using the right words, then-and-now comparison/contrast, scene building, and more!

A Christmas Carol Lesson Plans Includes discussion questions and student activities.

A Christmas Carol BBC radio school that includes nine audio retellings, text, synopsis, and teacher activity guide!

Printables & Notebooking Pages

Author Notebooking Pages Simple pages that include room for copywork, narrations, an illustration and dates of birth/death of the author, and books by the author.

Dickens Christmas Carol Notebooking Pages Make a notebooking page to summarize what you have learned.

Keep Reading

A Christmas Carol (Enriched Classics)

Each year we re-read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. The Enriched Classics version includes a introductory chronology of Charles Dickens’s life and work,…

7 Free Writing Lessons for December

Here is a free download with 7 writing lessons for December taken from Write Something Every Day.

6 Ways to Get the Most from Literature-Based Studies

For those who rely on a literature-based approach, it is particularly important to process what we read. 6 tips for interacting with literature.

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A Christmas Carol Lesson Plans | Entire Novel Study

Included is a PDF of the  novella  A Christmas Carol  by Charles Dickens  published December 19, 1843.

This resource makes it easy to upload the book to your teacher webpage so your students have easy access to the story! You could also print the text (or specific parts of it) for students to annotate and analyze.

This resource includes an  ANTICIPATION GUIDE (pre-reading activity) for the novella A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

An anticipation guide is a comprehension strategy that is used BEFORE reading to activate students’ prior knowledge and build curiosity about a new topic.

In this lesson, students will respond to several claims by indicating if they agree or disagree with that said statement. Next, students will work collaboratively in groups to answer related discussion questions to further build anticipation about the novel before reading.

Before reading  A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens , you will want to familiarize your students with important concepts from the novella including  author background information and historical context.

In this pre-reading activity, teachers will use the Powerpoint presentation to teach students about numerous topics related to the novella and students will use a  guided notes worksheet  to copy necessary notes as well as participate in important discussions about the lesson.

This lesson includes background info on the following:

• Charles Dickens
• Setting 1840s
• Industrial Revolution
• Queen Victoria and Victorian Era
• Debtor’s Prison
• 19th Century London
• Christmas Traditions of the 19th Century
• Author’s Inspiration
• Upcoming Themes

If you are working on a  novel study for  A Christmas Carol  by Charles Dickens, these Vocabulary Lists, Practice Activities, and Quizzes  will work perfectly for you!

There are 5 sets of vocabulary words, divided by staves (Stave 1 Part 1, Stave 1 Part 2, Stave 2, Stave 3, Stave 4+5). There are 95 vocabulary words in total.

Included in this resource:

• Vocabulary Lists for teacher with answers
• Powerpoint presentation with words and definitions for teaching purposes
• Graphic organizers for students for every section of words to fill in, which entails the definition, part of speech, and a synonym
• Corresponding practice activities for every section
• Quizzes (or additional practice) divided by sections
• ANSWER KEYS for all

Make sure your students are completing their independent reading for the novel  A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens  with these quick  Reading Checks or Chapter Quizzes ! This product works well if your students are reading independently or if you are reading as a class and you want to ensure students are paying attention! 🙂

These questions require brief responses; they are recall questions that are meant to be simple to remember for anyone who has completed the reading. This is a tool used simply to check that students are completing the independent reading, comprehending the basic information, and/or are engaged during class.

The reading checks are divided by every individual stave (5). There are three different versions of every set of questions (a, b, and c). This is so you can use different quizzes for different classes and avoid cheating (students talk and share answers).

This product includes a Powerpoint presentation as well as printable worksheets (PDF).

To administer quizzes:

• project the questions on your board for students to see
• have students use scrap paper or lined paper to write their answers down (or print the worksheets included)
• when everyone is done, have students grade each other’s answers by switching papers in class
• review the correct answers out loud and project them on the board
• collect graded quizzes

Teacher answer keys included!

While completing a novel study for the novella  A Christmas Carol  by Charles Dickens  have your students answer reading comprehension questions for every chapter   (staves)   using this organized packet.

Included are 5 sets of questions (one for every stave) which analyze character motives, themes, symbols, irony, dialogue, and basic comprehension of the plot.  Detailed answer keys  are provided for all questions. There are also  after reading discussion questions  included in the Stave 5 section. You can print this resource as one all-encompassing packet or you can provide students worksheets one stave at a time.

Included in this resource are 5 individual  journal prompts  based on each chapter of the  novella  A Christmas Carol  by Charles Dickens.  These journal prompts are meant to be used at the end of every chapter or can be used as one final packet after the novella is completed.

Students will reflect on their personal feelings and connections associated with the major conflicts of each specific stave. This is a great tool for writing practice, journaling, and checking in during a novel study.

In this resource, your students will identify and analyze different types of  figurative language  in the novella  A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

There are three parts to this activity:

Multiple Choice (12 questions)

Matching (14 questions)

Open-Ended (6 questions)

Students will cover the following literary devices:  parallelism, symbolism, metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, and onomatopoeia.

Throughout this lesson, students will determine the type of figurative language used, its literal meaning, and explain the significance and impact of Dickens’s words. Students can work in pairs, groups, or independently on this activity.

After reading  A Christmas Carol  by Charles Dickens,  have your students write a  persuasive essay  based on the prompt provided. This resource includes a short lesson on persuasive writing, the essay prompt, essay rubric, and brainstorming graphic organizer ( persuasion map )!

The writing rubric focuses on: content, style, conventions, focus, organization, and format.

The graphic organizer is designed to match the prompt and will guide students to write a cohesive five paragraph essay. The persuasion map is ready-to-print (PDF).

Included in this product you will get a printable copy of the prompt/rubric (PDF) as well as a copy that is editable for teachers (Word Document) that way teachers can adjust the point values, expectations, etc.

The Persuasive Writing Lesson  is in Powerpoint format. This lesson will teach students about what is included in persuasive writing and how to organizer their ideas, including a  thesis  statement.

In this resource, your students will review and analyze several essential conflicts that develop the plot and themes of the novella  A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

Included in this lesson:

• Character vs Self
• Character vs Character
• Character vs Nature
• Character vs Society
• Character vs Supernatural
• Character vs Fate
• Character vs Technology
• 9 Examples of Conflict from the novella  A Christmas Carol  where students will answer a series of questions using textual evidence for EACH conflict. Students will work in groups to complete the graphic organizers. They will analyze how the conflicts impact the story and become resolved. For Example: Scrooge vs Christmas (PDF and Word document available for teachers to edit)
• Teacher Answer Key

Have your students share their understanding of the novel  A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens  by imaginatively blending their written ideas with colorful images based on information from the text. With this  one-pager reading comprehension project,  students will analyze the literature by determining theme, symbolism, characterization, and more. Students’ artwork make for unique and creative analyses of the literature and also make great bulletin boards!

Included in this purchase is:

• Student directions for the one pager project (PDF)
• Rubric for the one pager project (PDF)
• Example one pager based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (PDF)
• 13 BLANK TEMPLATES (printable—optional) (PDF)
• EDITABLE Copy of student directions in case teachers would like to make modifications (word document)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Samantha Ribera (@chompingatthelit)

A Christmas Carol Digital Escape Room

Are you READY to unlock your  Christmas  Spirit!!!? Bah, Humbug no more…

Your students are going to love deciphering and solving puzzles in this festive and spooky  360° digital escape room  themed activity! Students must unlock a chest that holds their Christmas spirit. In order to do so, they will travel through the past, the present, and the future… meeting three ghosts along the way! There are FIVE awesome escape room scenes in this one activity, so students really get the feel that they are traveling through time! This activity is designed to work for a laptop, tablet, or smart phone. Students will solve a series of clues based on the novel  A Christmas Carol  by Charles Dickens  in order to crack the master lock and release their Christmas spirit. This game requires reading comprehension skills; students must find textual evidence to solve the puzzles. Watch the video preview to get a closer look at the clues and the rooms!

This activity is created for after reading the novel  A Christmas Carol , and is best utilized near the end of a unit as a review or just for fun!

Included in this download are teacher instructions, student instructions, clue graphic organizer, answer keys, and a reflection sheet.

This resource includes:  A Christmas Carol Final Test with Answer Key!

This test, based on  Charles Dickens’  A Christmas Carol , requires students to establish what they learned from the novella and their overall comprehension of the book. This assessment requires students’ knowledge about: setting, symbolism, figurative language, characterization, theme, and more.

The exam consists of 55 questions and offers students an opportunity to demonstrate knowledge, skills, and abilities in a variety of ways:

• 25 multiple choice questions
• 12 character identification questions
• 9 true or false questions
• 9 short answer questions (2-5 sentences)

This resource includes the following file types:

• READY TO PRINT Test Student Copy (PDF)
• EDITABLE Test Student Copy (Word document)
• READY TO PRINT Test Teacher Copy with Answers (PDF)

Your students will enjoy searching for different words from the novella  A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens  in this activity. This resource includes  FIVE different Word Search worksheets  with different puzzles correlating to each Stave (chapter). The words are hidden in all directions making these the perfect challenge!  ANSWER KEYS INCLUDED!

This is an awesome activity for early finishers! You could also assign these as extra credit or just something fun to enjoy in class/at home.

The words in each puzzle are pulled directly from each Stave in the novella. Some words highlight mood and tone, some feature aspects of theme and plot, and some words highlight characters and academic vocabulary.

(A few example words: Marley, Nephew, Humbug, Workhouse, Scrooge, Donate, Knocker, Children, Ignorance, Want, Business, Christmas, Party, Greedy, Cold, Blithe, Solemn, Ghost, Liberality, Turkey)

This resource includes A Christmas Carol Movie Guide and Film Analysis.

This is based off of the film A Christmas Carol (2009), directed by Robert Zemeckis, and starring: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, and Colin Firth. Based on the novella  A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens,  the film is 96 minutes in length.

This activity is available as PDF (ready to print) and Word Document (for editing purposes). An answer key is also provided.

This works perfectly at the end of a novel study for the novella A Christmas Carol! Students can appreciate the film and analyze the extent to which the film stays faithful to or departs from the text, evaluating the choices made by the director or actors.

Charles Dickens Author Study — Literary Legends Collaborative Poster

Have your students create a collaborative poster and learn about  Charles Dickens  in a new and engaging way!

Your students will create an author biography by researching Charles Dickens and establishing his profile on a poster.

Students will learn about Charles Dickens’s life and his body of work as a legendary author.

This is perfect for any unit on Dickens’ novels, to include:

A Christmas Carol

A Tale of Two Cities

Great Expectations

Oliver Twist

David Copperfield

Additionally, your students will discover the importance of collaboration and effective communication.

This resource includes  FIVE FULL WEEKS of content for the novella  A Christmas Carol  by Charles Dickens.

Additionally, in this  UNIT PLAN BUNDLE , you will receive a teacher guide that encompasses an example Unit Schedule/ Pacing Guide!

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Meltdowns: Chaos & the Neurodivergent Author

The Johari Window & Character Blind Spots

Dec 20 2023

Writing Lessons from “A Christmas Carol”

• By Kristen Lamb in Writing Tips

Why are there certain stories we just can’t get enough of? Why do some stories fade away while others become staples for every generation? Charles Dickens’  A Christmas Carol has been made into all kinds of movies, plays, cartoons, musicals and there are countless variations of Dickens’ original story: A grumpy old miser who is transformed by the power of love.

Dickens used symbol, theme & allegory to create enduring stories ….

Full disclosure. A week ago, I slipped and cracked my head open on the corner of an end-table (Did I mention I can be clumsy?) For the record, I am fine *left eye twitches*, just a big banged up and sore.

Anyway, since I couldn’t do much with a concussion, I sat and listened to the audiobook of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol , which I strongly recommend.

Today, we are going to explore the many brilliant layers of a very simple and timeless tale and maybe even extract some lessons to make our own writing even better.

One of my all-time favorite movies for the holidays is The Muppets Christmas Carol . I believe I’ve seen this movie a few hundred  thousand times.

I’ve worn out three VHS tapes and at least three DVDs. I play the movie over and over, mainly because, well, duh, MUPPETS! I drive my husband nuts playing this movie over and over…and over.

***And, for the record, Henson Productions did a superlative job of sticking to the original story.

Christmas? I’m worse than a three-year-old.

Muppets aside, I also can’t get enough of the music. I love the story of A Christmas Carol no matter how many times I see it, no matter how many renditions, and I am certainly not alone.

Charles Dickens’ story of a redeemed miser is a staple for holiday celebrations around the world and across the generations.

This story is virtually synonymous with “Christmas,” but why is it such a powerful story? Why has it spoken so deeply to so many? Why is it a story that never grows old? Today, I want to talk about a couple of the elements that speak to me, because they rest at the heart of great writing.

Christmas Carol & A Little Background

A Christmas Carol is a beautiful story, but I find it’s true beauty when it’s explained in the Christian context that inspired it.  Many years ago, Toddler Spawn was watching Bubble Guppies  and they tried (dismally) to tell the same story inserting “holiday” so as not to offend anyone, I presume.

Yet, the story fell flat.

The PC had ruined the beauty of this tale and made it more of a lesson about embracing shallow commercialism once a year than a story of love’s power to redeem the irredeemable.

Thus, this post will use scriptural and religious references to explain why I believe this story is so moving and timeless.

Charles Dickens was a Christian and his beliefs are wound all through the story. To remain true to the literary intent, this post will explore the story in light of that reality.

Instead of Dickens preaching his beliefs, he created the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge. Then, through theme, symbols, motifs and allegory drove home very powerful lessons I believe we all can embrace regardless of our spiritual beliefs.

Christmas & The Power of Names

Naming characters can be vital. Great writers use the power of parsimony. Each element should serve as many purposes as possible.

A name is more than a name. It has the power to be a story within a story.

I recall the moment I was first introduced to what would become my favorite hymn, Come Thou Fount of Many Blessings. One verse stood out:

Here I raise my Ebenezer

Here by Thy great help I’ve come

And I hope, by Thy good pleasure

Safely to arrive at home.

Ebenezer? Raise an Ebenezer? I needed to know more.

Ebenezer is actually (in Hebrew) Even Ha’Ezer , which literally means  stone of help or monument to God’s glory and is referenced in the book of Samuel.

Thus, when Dickens chose a name for his protagonist, he chose the perfect name for the redeemed sinner. What is a better testament to a God of grace, than the hardened heart melted by the power of love? The current climate of political correctness aside, A Christmas Carol is most definitively a Christian story and the theme is reminiscent of Proverbs 25:22:

If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat

and if he is thirsty give him water to drink

for you will heap burning coals on his head

and the Lord will reward you.

Very often this verse is misunderstood.

“Yeah! BURN ‘EM! THAT’LL TEACH THEM TO MESS WITH ME! COALS! BURN BABY BUUUURN!” Yet, if one looks to the ancient Hebrew, the heaping burning coals is literally the holy fire of LOVE that melts the hardened heart so it can be remade (think of melting a weapon of war to remake it into something of beauty or a tool for healing or farming).

The path to redemption is love, for only love holds the power to redeem those who have committed grave wrongdoings. Only love can repair what’s been broken and “remake” it into something entirely new.

The Christian story is a story of love, of redemption, of second chances and not because one has earned it or deserved it.

Scrooge is a dreadful man, yet as the story unfolds, not only does Scrooge’s heart begin to melt as he’s faced with the truth of who he is, but our hearts melt toward Scrooge as we travel through the past, present and future and see what has created such a embittered, cruel person. We empathize and start to have compassion and love the unlovely . We see him less as a monster and more as a person with deep, unhealed wounds.

Scrooge has done nothing to earn redemption, but his redemption is precisely why we cheer at the end.

The spectral visits serve to show Scrooge the truth, which again is reminiscent of scripture; and then you will know the truth and it is the truth that will set you free (John 8:32). Scrooge cannot change what he cannot see . The three ghosts come to reveal what he’s failed to see on his own.

Repentance is not the mumbled and counterfeit “Sorry.” Rather, it is finally seeing the truth of who we are and what wrong we’ve done. It’s a decision to make things right and turn away from wrong.

By the end of the story, Ebenezer is authentically repentant. He’s a changed person determined to share the love and grace that was freely given to him when he didn’t deserve it.

Again, what a wonderful testament to God’s love. What a lovely “Ebenezer.”

Jacob Marley is another symbolic name. Jacob Marley is the name of Scrooge’s old business partner, and it is he who intervenes to try and redeem his old friend before Ebenezer is sentenced to share Marley’s fate. The name “Jacob” actually means “thief and liar.”

In the Bible, Jacob stole his brother Esau’s blessing, then manipulated, lied, stole and connived until it came back to bite him multiple times (Jacob later wrestled with an angel until he could be given a new name, Israel and eventually became the father of a nation).

What better name to give someone sentenced to roam as a specter for eternity carrying the weight of his ill deeds than a name (Jacob) that literally means thief and liar ?

Christmas & the Power of Symbol

When the ghost of Jacob Marley visits Scrooge:

The chain he drew about his waist was clasped about his middle. It was long and wound about him like a tail; and it was made (for Scrooge observed it closely) of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses wrought in steel…

Why cash-boxes? Or legal deeds? Why purses?

In life Jacob was a money-lender. He was ruthless in his dealings and never forgave a debt. Yet, Matthew 6:12 (part of The Lord’s Prayer) reads: Forgive us our debts as we have also forgiven our debtors.

Jacob forged his chains in life. He refused to show mercy, compassion, or kindness. He was ruthless and legalistic, thus he has sealed his fate. God has promised to forgive us the same way we forgive others, which is why the scripture pleads for grace, compassion and mercy. Also, forgiveness of debts is the heart of what Christmas is about, for unto us a child is born .

Christians believe God sent His only begotten son (God in the form of Man) to pay a debt we cannot hope to pay. God loves us as His children, and our actions have left us hopelessly out of our depth, incapable of paying our debts.

Yet, Love cancels the debt.

Christ’s last words on the cross, “It is finished” uses the word tetelestai .

The word  tetelestai  was also written on business documents or receipts in New Testament times to show indicating that a bill had been paid in full. Bible.org

Jacob Marley turned away from the grace freely offered, so now he wanders, burdened forever by the debts he cannot pay.

Jacob now finds opportunity to warn Scrooge of the chains he is now forging with his actions (and inaction), chains that are longer and heavier than even his. The only way for Scrooge to free himself is to learn to value himself and his fellow human beings.

Smaller Truths Reveal Larger Truths

Dickens makes it a point to show us that Scrooge is a miser. Scrooge shows no mercy, has no warmth, shares none of his wealth…with anyone, including himself. Scrooge is a very wealthy man, yet he wears old clothes, lights no coals for warmth because coal costs money. His home is threadbare and his food measly and meager.

The full story of redemption is that Scrooge not only sees his fellow man differently—worthy of compassion, love and generosity —but in changing how he views his fellow man, his view of himself changes (and heals) as well.

The three spirits not only heal Scrooge’s relationship with his Maker, but with himself and others. Scrooge, for the first time, becomes part of the human experience, no longer content to be “solitary as an oyster.”

Christmas & the POWER of WORDS

This point should resonate particularly with writers. There is a REASON the Ghost of Christmas Future refuses to speak. Words have creative power. We authors should grasp this better than anyone. We use combinations of 26 letters to create worlds, people, places, technology, other dimensions, religions, races, and on and on.

SPELLing, anyone?

If one looks at the first chapters of Genesis, God created the heavens and the earth and all living things by  speaking. “And God  said…”

He only breathed life into humans. God spoke everything else into existence. Throughout the Old and New Testament, there are countless scriptures referencing the power of the tongue, of words, and warning they carry both the power of life and death.

This idea carries into Ebenezer’s story because, by the time he has this final visit, he still has choice over what his future will be . The specter  cannot speak because words would cast Scrooge’s future and thus render it unable to be changed. Scrooge’s fate isn’t for the Spirit of Christmas Future to decide; it is up to Scrooge.

Happy Ending

Scrooge deserves the death he’s shown by the Spirit of Christmas Future. He deserves to die alone with those “closest” casting lots for his garments. This is what he has sown with his lifetime of greed, hate and spite.

Yet, he is pardoned.

Scrooge is the resurrected heart, the dead brought to life. When God promises “everlasting life” it isn’t a promise that we get to float around on a cloud in Heaven after we die. Rather, it’s a promise that life begins at the moment we decide to accept His divine mercy and love.

Scrooge has been “alive” but not “living.” He was existing. When he is redeemed, given a new chance, he decides to change. Out of gratitude for the mercy he is given, he reaches out to give what he’s been given. LOVE, MERCY, GENEROSITY.

Christmas & Restoration

Sure, God could have rained down a miracle that healed Tiny Tim and landed Bob Cratchit a better job with a better boss, but Dickens saw God as a partner with humanity. He saw God in the business of finding and changing the lost, miserable and broken. Instead of giving the miracle to Cratchit and his family, God, instead, gives it to Scrooge, the least deserving of a miracle.

Because God is about working through people . Many of His miracles come from ordinary people performing extraordinary acts of kindness and sacrifice. By changing Scrooge, God could create a man who would become a benefactor. Scrooge got a miracle only to become a miracle for those around him.

If you read the book, you see a lot of why Scrooge is “angry.” He’s actually never dealt with deep losses and he failed to grieve. When his experiences with the three spirits remove the scales from his eyes, he then can heal that grief and ipso facto, let go of his anger.

Cratchit now has a kind and generous boss, the community now had a passionate philanthropist, and Tiny Tim lives. The family thrives because one man’s heart could be melted.

It is no great feat to love the lovely. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much (Matthew 5:46). This story is so powerful namely because it shows that every human has value and is worth an opportunity for redemption.

Christmas is About L ove

God is in the business of changing hearts, and Dickens wanted to show that. A Christmas Carol  is a masterful exploration of the true nature of Christianity, what it  should be , what it  was meant to be . Love. Above all.

It is also a brilliant explication of what the Christmas season is really all about. It isn’t the commercial nonsense, the “stuff” the parties and gifts. While those can be great, they are empty without love as the driving force behind them.

Christmas can be a very hard time of year for many people, myself included. So maybe we can take the lessons from “A Christmas Carol” to remember to give ourselves grace, love, compassion, and forgiveness. For when we allow these INTO US, all these can then flow through and from us as well.

Grieve what we’ve lost, then embrace and be grateful for what we have. Joy is a decision and so is love, which can be a super tough thing to remember.

Happy holidays and Merry Christmas! Sending love to all of you who keep me going day after day and year after year.

I LOVE Hearing From YOU!

Which is your favorite version of A Christmas Carol ? What do you love about this story? What is your favorite part? Do you now see the story in a different light than previously? I find it incredible how much Dickens packed into such a short story.

*sings Marley & Marley*

What are other Christmas movies that resonate with you and why? Can you see the symbols and themes that make those stories so beloved?

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21 comments

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• Sydney Baily on December 20, 2023 at 5:14 pm

Sorry to hear about your head injury. I have had three concussions, knocked myself out entirely with two of them. My memory has suffered for sure, but I still soldier on writing by having to read back a lot to the beginning of my tale. Made it a lot harder. I hope you have no long-term repercussions. Also, kinda funny, but my email cut the subject line off as Writing Lessons from “A Chr… For some reason, I thought it was going to say Writing Lessons from “A Christmas Bunker” like you were holed up somewhere, in a safe room perhaps. I don’t know if that says more about me or you from all your posts. Anyway, this was a great post. Take care and Merry Christmas!

• Carrie Kwiatkowski on December 20, 2023 at 6:30 pm

I gotta say my new favorite version is Spirited on Apple TV. Super funny and ALL HEART! Merry Christmas, Kristen!

• Roger L Nay on December 20, 2023 at 6:57 pm

Sorry you whacked your head. Timely and interesting post. When I was young, one of the few channels available to us showed a movie M-F mornings, I don’t recall the hosts name. Every Christmas vacation during my early elementary school years I can remember watching a version of “A Christmas Carol.” Out of curiosity, I searched the net trying to figure out which version. It was either the 1938 “A Christmas Carol” or 1951 “Scrooge.” The chain rattling Marley always gave me the creeps. Have a Merry Christmas, Kristen.

• Kate on December 20, 2023 at 8:00 pm

Thank you for this insightful illumination of A Christmas Carol. I’m so sorry you hurt yourself. Please stop doing that. 🙂 But I’m glad you were able to distract your poor concussed brain with the audio book of this amazing story. I haven’t heard it but will certainly do so. My favorite version is the musical “Scrooge,” but I love the Muppets version as well because … Muppets! 🙂 Excuse me now, but I’m going to reread your article. A lot to take in! Have a blessed Christmas/holiday.

• Lora D on December 20, 2023 at 10:36 pm

What a beautiful and powerful post! Yes, I see the story in a whole new way. You summed up the heart of Christmas beautifully.

I’m so sorry you cracked your head open! *cringe* I’m praying for your quick recovery. Thank you for sharing your heart with us even though you’re in pain.

May you and your family have a wonderful Christmas together!

• Kristen Lamb on December 21, 2023 at 9:48 am Author

Thanks! I appreciate the feedback and that you enjoyed the post. I saw the story in a whole new way, too when I sat down to write the post and all the references I kept adding. Felt like I could have written a small BOOK on this, LOL.

As for the head….

I did a doozy on myself. I just went to step out of bed and slipped with both feet. Thankfully (???) the back of my arm took most of my weight in the fall against the table, so it is all black and blue. BUT I did catch the corner with the back of my head. I have a good 3-4 inch gash and spent all week scrubbing blood out of every…towel…we…own.

BUT, I come from a family of medical people, so I knew how to instruct Hubby how to tend the wound and the signs to look for that I had a serious brain injury (pupil dilation, slurring words, etc.). I’d say I had a Level One concussion which is just a lot of rest and no quick movements. Spent most of the week just being still with packs of ice on my head.

The cut is healing pretty well. I can tell because it ITCHES. BUT, it could have been worse, so thank GOD for that.

• Ian on December 20, 2023 at 10:41 pm

Sorry about your head, hope it’s healing and left no lasting damage 🙁

I love the Muppets Christmas Carol, because … yeah … Muppets. I’m old enough to remember the weekly Muppet Show. As for another favourite movie, I’m going to go all predictable and say It’s a Wonderful Life, which reminds us how much influence each of us has on the world around us.

• Kristen Lamb on December 21, 2023 at 9:50 am Author

That is another really lovely story. Might be worth a post. Would be a fabulous story to explore on a deeper level.

• Kendolyn M Fisher on December 21, 2023 at 3:29 am

Of all your posts, this is my favorite. Great insight and so well written. Sorry about your head. I hope you feel better.

• Cathy Brownfield on December 21, 2023 at 7:20 am

When I was a child, I looked forward to watching Mr. McGoo’s A Christmas Carol. I still remember the compassion that stirred within me for that poor, sad man who valued wealth above everything else.

A while back I got hold of a DVD of that program to share with my family. (I am a great-grandma now.) I was sad that it didn’t hold the interest I have always had in this program. Maybe because animation is so much more sophisticated today than it was back then?

• Nicki Greenwood on December 21, 2023 at 7:41 am

I love the George C. Scott version of “A Christmas Carol,” but interestingly, I also really love the very dark and trigger-warning-filled FX version, which takes liberties with the story but really digs into the darkness in a human soul and shows how much work it is to heal. I read the book every year and find something new in it, which is a testament to why it’s a classic.

As an author, I also adore “The Man Who Invented Christmas.” The very first scene is priceless, and it only gets better from there. ?

• Kristen Lamb on December 21, 2023 at 9:49 am Author

I don’t think I have seen that. Still recovering so might look that up. Thank you!

• Nancy E Blanton on December 21, 2023 at 8:54 am

Brilliant, as usual. Thank you!

• Merry Muhsman on December 21, 2023 at 10:48 am

This is was just beautiful, timely and just what I needed today. I will never look at the Christmas Carol the same way again. Thank you for sharing this with the world. And I do hope you’re feeling better. We need more of your blogs in the new year!

• Sandy Quandt on December 21, 2023 at 1:22 pm

Kristen, thanks so much for such a lovely post that went far beyond simply being about The Christmas Carol. Hope you feel better soon. Merry Christmas!

• Kristen Lamb on December 21, 2023 at 2:15 pm Author

Thank you (((HUGS))). Merry Christmas!

• Kel Mansfield on December 22, 2023 at 10:34 am

My wife whacks her head every time she has a bath. I don’t know how she does it, but she always has to wrap a towel around her noggin when she gets out of the tub. Terrific post, Mrs Lamb. Merry Christmas and “God bless us, Every one!.

• Eldon Farrell on December 22, 2023 at 10:56 am

Hope you feel better soon. This was a wonderful read – thank you so much!! You know the thing I love most about A Christmas Carol is the history behind it. I read a number of years ago now that at the time it was written Christmas had faded to almost irrelevance. The industrial revolution and Victorian sensibilities had sidelined the holiday and only through Dickens’ writing did it get revived and grow to prominence as the holiday we all know today 🙂

• Deborah Ademola on December 23, 2023 at 1:03 am

A wonderful article, Kristen! I read ‘A Christmas Carol’ for the first time this February *laughs guiltily*. Like Eldon Farrell, my favourite part of the history is the almost singlehanded revival of Christmas in the Victorian era that resulted from Dickens’ work.

• Kristen Lamb on December 24, 2023 at 8:58 pm Author

I know, That is incredible isn’t it?

• JoAnn Haberer on December 31, 2023 at 11:28 am

Thank you for this powerful post. The Muppet version is one of my favorites, as well, and now I will view it with new insight into the author’s (Dickens) intention. In these times of politicizing everything (including religion) it’s wonderful to be reminded of the central message.

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Free Lesson Plan: Imagery and the Ghosts of A Christmas Carol

You can’t teach A Christmas Carol without discussing its iconic spirits: the Ghost of Jacob Marley, the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come. Since the novella’s publication, these spirits remain popular characters because of their imaginative portrayals. Author Charles Dickens took great care in characterizing each Ghost, helping them materialize in readers’ imaginations.

In this free lesson plan, students are presented with four passages from the story in which Dickens describes the Ghosts in detail. Using the imagery in the text, students will create their own visual interpretations of each Ghost. Encourage them to get creative!

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A Christmas Carol Stave 2 Post-Reading Creative Writing Prompts

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Enhance your A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens lesson plans with these highly engaging and thought-provoking creative writing prompts. Perfect for a range of class activities, including bell ringers, homework assignments, writing assessments, and sub lessons, these prompts will help your students deepen their understanding and analysis of the novel. With a focus on characters, themes, and concepts such as forgiveness and greed, these writing prompts encourage critical thinking and imaginative writing.

The download includes the following:

★ A list of all 10 prompts for Stave 2

★ Individual handouts for each prompt on which students can write their creative pieces.

Some examples of the prompts include:

➤ Write a letter from Scrooge to his younger self, reflecting on the memories and scenes shown to him by the Ghost of Christmas Past.

➤ Create a short story from the perspective of Scrooge's sister, Fan, recounting the moment when she brought young Scrooge home for good.

Due to the range of prompts, students can pick their own challenge or you can select it for them so you can differentiate for students of different levels. Don't miss out on this valuable resource for teaching Dicken's A Christmas Carol in your English language arts or literature classroom. These writing prompts are sure to be a hit with your students and help them get the most out of their reading of Stave 2!

If you are looking for more A Christmas Carol resources, then check out:

★ A Christmas Carol Post-Reading Stave Creative Writing Prompts Bundle

★ A Christmas Carol Post-Reading Creative Tasks

★ A Christmas Carol Roll the Dice Discussion Boards

★ A Christmas Carol Crossword

★ A Christmas Carol Stave Review Word Searches

★ A Christmas Carol Bingo

★ A Christmas Carol Word Search

If you are looking for more resources for the texts you teach, check out:

★ Macbeth Creative Writing Bundle

★ The Crucible Creative Writing Bundle

★ Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Creative Writing Bundle

★ The Raven Post-Reading Creative Writing Prompts

★ Famous First Lines Writing Prompts - YA Edition

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Reading and writing tasks

Based on Stave 1 of A Christmas Carol , this resource includes a number of reading and writing activities to develop students' understanding of Scrooge and Marley's Ghost, and Dickens' descriptions of settings.

Tasks include text analysis, quotation selection, vocabulary study, story planning and descriptive writing. They would work well alongside reading parts of Stave 1 and some would be appropriate to set for a cover teacher.

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• Christmas Story Starter Worksheet For Ks1 And Ks2 English Creative Writing

Christmas writing – Story starter ideas for KS1 and KS2

Christmas story starter PDF worksheet

This creative writing Christmas story starter worksheet includes short tips for students on plot, setting and characters, and space to write their short story and even draw a picture.

In the “Setting” section, the worksheet prompts children to consider the atmospheric backdrop of their tale. Is it a snowy, icy landscape, or a cosy indoor scene warmed by a roaring fire?

The worksheet encourages them to think beyond the conventional, asking if the story unfolds in the mystical North Pole, their own town, or perhaps in a fantastical land they’ve invented. This not only stimulates creativity but also helps children develop a vivid sense of place within their narratives.

Moving on to “Characters,” the worksheet encourages children to populate their Christmas story with a diverse cast. The central character could be Santa Claus, one of his trusty reindeer, an industrious elf, or even a character of their own invention.

The worksheet prompts children to explore the character’s relationship with Christmas – do they love the holiday fervently, or perhaps harbour a dislike? This element encourages children to infuse their characters with emotions and motivations, adding depth to their storytelling.

The “Plot” section delves into the heart of the narrative. This section challenges children to envision the events that unfold in their Christmas story. Is it an adventurous tale where Santa requires assistance in delivering presents on time? Or does an unexpected twist threaten to spoil a family’s Christmas celebration? This section prompts children to think critically about the progression of their story, fostering creativity and storytelling skills.

Christmas writing worksheet prompts

Is it cold, snowing, dark, icy? Or are you indoors with a roaring fire? Is your story set in the North Pole , in your town, or a fantasy land you’ve invented?

Who is the story about? Santa Claus? One of the reindeer? One of his elves? Maybe it’s about you and your family or friends. Or can you invent a character for your Christmas story? Do they love Christmas, or hate it? Why?

What happens in your story? Is it a Christmas adventure? Does Santa need help delivering presents on time? Has something happened to a family that could ruin their Christmas?

Browse more Christmas activities for schools or browse more creative writing prompts .

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Five 'A Christmas Carol' Creative Task Worksheets Pack - Every Stave!

Subject: English

Age range: 14-16

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

12 January 2022

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This collection of worksheets contains 5 creative task worksheets in response to each stave of ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens .

Each task is differentiated with three challenge levels to ensure that every student is catered for.

Worksheets included in this pack:

• Stave One - Scrooge’s Diary
• Stave Two - The Fezziwig’s Party
• Stave Three - Letter from Bob Cratchit
• Stave Four - Scrooge’s Death
• Stave Five - Writing an Epilogue

Students can work through the activities independently using the task instructions and challenge levels to guide them.

These activities work really well as homework or revision , as well as regular in class activities .

NB it is assumed that students have read the novella, or seen a film version of ‘A Christmas Carol’

Reviews greatly appreciated!

WAIT! These worksheets are available in my ‘A Christmas Carol’ Activities Bundle - save 25%!

Looking for more resources for ‘A Christmas Carol’? Have a look at my Poster Bundle for ‘A Christmas Carol’ !

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A bundle is a package of resources grouped together to teach a particular topic, or a series of lessons, in one place.

A Christmas Carol Activity Bundle - 15 Student Worksheets!

This lesson bundle download contains **15 worksheets** to support your teaching of ***A Christmas Carol* by Charles Dickens**. These resources are designed to relieve your boredom of using the same old comprehension questions, instead allowing students to **engage with and interpret the classic novella** in new ways. **SAVE 20% BY BUYING THIS BUNDLE!** Each lesson is carefully structured to include **real learning opportunities** and close reading, creative writing and analysis skills. **Lessons included in this bundle:** **[Close Reading Worksheets](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/five-a-christmas-carol-close-reading-worksheets-every-stave-12601973)** This collection of worksheets contains 5 close reading tasks covering each stave of 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens. Each task includes an extract from the novella and six close reading prompts. Each question encourages a deep engagement with the language and supports students to think about deeper implications in the text as a whole and the impact on the reader. Additional essay questions are included for every extract, allowing students to put their close reading to work! **[Creative Task Worksheets](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/five-a-christmas-carol-creative-task-worksheets-pack-every-stave-12601918)** This collection of worksheets contains 5 creative task worksheets in response to each stave of 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens. Each task is differentiated with three challenge levels to ensure that every student is catered for. Worksheets included in this pack: * Stave One - Scrooge's Diary * Stave Two - The Fezziwig's Party * Stave Three - Letter from Bob Cratchit * Stave Four - Scrooge's Death * Stave Five - Writing an Epilogue **[Film Adaptation Worksheets](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/film-adaptation-worksheets-a-christmas-carol-by-charles-dickens-12605379)** This resource contains 5 worksheets designed to help students develop their own film adaptation of 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens. Each worksheet focuses on a key moment in the text and asks students to adapt this for a film. Mini-tasks prompt students to consider costume, set design, sound, perspective, script, direction and more.

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Year 5 & 6 A Christmas Carol Festive Writing Resources Pack

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Pupils in Y5 and Y6 can explore characters’ viewpoints using extracts from ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens. They will read two extracts from this classic literary text and explore Scrooge’s view of Christmas at the beginning and end of the story and compare these viewpoints with his nephew’s.

In the writing tasks, pupils will write a diary entry in the role of Scrooge (or another character) describing the events, and his view of them, from the two extracts provided.

This writing resource offers a fantastic opportunity for pupils to develop the voice of a character and maintain this across a piece of writing, a key element in writing at greater depth at the end of Key Stage 2.

This resource pack should be completed over several sessions and could be used as a writing unit within English lessons.

What is included in this resource pack?

• Two extracts from ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens – PDF extracts to discuss characters’ viewpoints and inspire writing
• Scrooge character profile – A PDF worksheet for pupils to complete
• Exploring viewpoint worksheets – two versions to be used after reading each extract to explore different viewpoints of the same event
• Diary planning sheet – a PDF worksheet for pupils to plan a diary, writing in role as one of the characters
• PowerPoint presentation – to guide teachers and pupils through the tasks
• Themed writing paper – PDF sheets of lined paper for pupils to use for writing
• Teacher’s notes – guidance on how to use the resource is given, divided into a series of six activities. Additional activities are also suggested.

National Curriculum English programme of study links

• Pupils should increase their familiarity with a wide range of books, including … fiction from our literacy heritage
• Pupils should plan their writing by noting and developing initial ideas, drawing on reading and research where necessary
• Pupils should draft and write by selecting appropriate grammar and vocabulary, understanding how such choices can change and enhance meaning

This resource is part of the Calendar Resources collection. View more from this collection

• 2 x extracts from 'A Christmas Carol'
• Character profile planning sheet
• Diary planning sheet
• Exploring viewpoints worksheet 1
• Exploring viewpoints worksheet 2
• Teacher notes
• Themed writing paper

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