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A Christmas Carol
ENGLISH
1. Speaking and listening
KS1
The performance gives students the opportunity to listen to the story, respond appropriately and offer feedback in class on points in the story which interest them. They can also identify and respond to sound patterns in language such as rhyme and word play used by the characters in the songs during the performance. The performance also gives students an opportunity to hear some of the old English language used during Charles Dickens’ time.
KS2
The performance gives students the opportunity to speak clearly on stage when asked to respond to certain parts of the production, when appropriate - for example, when students are picked to help the Ghost of Christmas Present with his transportation spell. Students can also evaluate the overall effectiveness of the performance by observing the language variation and dialect forms of the many characters in the play.
LITERATURE
The production gives both KS1 and 2 the opportunity to explore the fine works of Charles Dickens and to see how a story from a book can be adapted for the stage.
DRAMA
Allows students to discuss the versatility of the actors; for example, when different types of body language and voices are used to portray a variety of characters. KS2 students can see how light, sound, costumes and set also contribute to the overall performance.
PSHE & CITIZENSHIP
For both key stages 1 and 2 the production raises issues such as bullying, human emotion, the importance of families, kindness, love and the meaning of Christmas spirit.
HISTORY
The production allows all ages to explore the Victorian period by seeing the characters in different costumes of that era and seeing the way they lived. This adaptation uses some of the original text, giving the students an opportunity to hear some old, English language.
KS1
Explore the Victorian period and find out what toys children played with. Make a poster of the different Victorian toys and games.
KS2
Get the students to investigate issues surrounding child labour during the Victorian period. In groups, get them to write their own protest song, highlighting the terrible conditions that young workers had to put up with.
KS1 & 2
As a whole class, take part in some group role play. You could take on the role of a teacher from the Victorian period and hold a lesson as they would have done during those times. Maybe everyone could dress up as Victorians.
KS1 & 2
Make a poster advertising this performance of A Christmas Carol. Tell the children to draw their favourite scene from the show.
KS1 & 2
Sing the song from the performance as a group and afterwards get the children to make up their own song all about Christmas. KS2 could work in small groups on this activity and KS1 could work together as a whole class, with the teacher helping out.
KS2
Put the children in a circle and get them to pretend to be different characters from the play. Get them to sit in the middle of the circle in turn while the other students ask questions about their character. The children then have to try and guess who they are.
KS1
Get the children to walk around the room like different characters from the performance. When you say ‘freeze’ they stand like statues. If they move then they are out of the game. Carry on until there is a winner.
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