A Christmas Carol

Objective & Plot Summary

Objective: To initiate students into the comprehension of a classic story, identifying the main characters, their emotions (mean/nice, sad/happy) and the transformation of the hero.

Summary: Ebenezer Scrooge is a mean old man who hates Christmas. One night, he receives a visit from three ghosts who show him his past, his present, and his future. Frightened by what he sees, he wakes up on Christmas morning transformed into a good and generous man.

Suggested Lesson Flow

1. Before Listening (~5 min): IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS

• Brainstorming: Discuss Christmas vocabulary using images: Christmas, presents, family, dinner, snow.

• Anticipation: Show an illustration of Scrooge. "Is this man happy or sad? Is he nice or mean?".

2. During Listening (~15-20 min): THE NIGHT OF THE GHOSTS

• Segmented listening with visual support:

  • Part 1 (Mean Scrooge): Listen to the beginning of the story. Pause: "What does Scrooge like? (Money) What does he hate? (Christmas)".

  • Part 2 (The 3 Ghosts): Listen to the visit of the ghosts. After each ghost, show an image (a lonely child, a happy family, a grave) and ask "Is Scrooge happy or sad?".

  • Part 3 (Nice Scrooge): Listen to the end, on Christmas morning.

3. After Listening (~10 min): MERRY CHRISTMAS!

• Discussion: "At the end, is Scrooge a good man or a bad man? Is he happy? Why?".

• Simple Task: Ask students to draw Scrooge at the end of the story (smiling, giving a gift) and write "Happy Scrooge" or "Merry Christmas!" below it.

Adaptations

• To Simplify: Use emotion cards (happy, sad, angry smileys). During listening, students hold up the card that corresponds to how Scrooge is feeling.

• To Extend: Ask students to imagine a gift for the Cratchit family and make a simple sentence. Example: "A toy for Tiny Tim." or "A big dinner for the family.".