Exploring and engaging with themes in 'A Christmas Carol'
I can identify and engage with the key themes in ‘A Christmas Carol’.
Exploring and engaging with themes in 'A Christmas Carol'
I can identify and engage with the key themes in ‘A Christmas Carol’.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- A theme is a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story.
- Themes often link together and overlap.
- The theme of transformation is an important theme in ‘A Christmas Carol’.
- Transformation is depicted through Scrooge's journey from a miserly individual to a compassionate and generous one.
- Dickens uses Scrooge’s treatment of others and their treatment of him to convey this change.
Keywords
Theme - A theme is a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story.
Convey - To convey means to communicate a message to the reader directly or indirectly.
Transformation - Transformation is the process of significant change, often resulting in a big shift in character, beliefs, or behaviour.
Common misconception
Children may not realise that a story can contain multiple themes which sometimes overlap.
Discuss a simple but well known tale and its many themes in advance of the lesson.
To help you plan your year 4 English lesson on: Exploring and engaging with themes in 'A Christmas Carol', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 4 English lesson on: Exploring and engaging with themes in 'A Christmas Carol', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 2 English lessons from the 'A Christmas Carol': narrative writing and reading unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these does the theme of love link to?
Q2.Which of these does inference help with?
Q3.Order the following events from 'A Christmas Carol'.
Q4.True or false? Poverty in Victorian London was worse than in London today.
Q5.Which of these reactions suggest you are happy to see someone?
Q6.True or false? The moral of a story is the lesson it teaches you.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions.
a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story
to communicate a message to the reader directly or indirectly
the process of significant change
Q2.What does Scrooge promise to do to help Bob?
Q3.True or false? Considering actions and characteristics of people within the text is a good way to identify a theme.
Q4.Which of these are themes from 'A Christmas Carol'?
Q5.Match the theme with how it's conveyed in the text.
After his transformation, Scrooge treats Bob like a close friend.
Scrooge eventually realises that he can be accepted by others.
For a long time, Scrooge treats others very badly.