A WebQuest to introduce the study of “A Christmas Carol: Scrooge and Marley”

IntroductionCurrently in English class, you are reading “A Christmas

Carol: Scrooge and Marley.” This play is an adaptation of the famous novella, “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. You may be familiar with it, as there have been many movies and TV shows made using this story.

Including…

As you read, in order to learn a little about Charles Dickens and the time period during which our story is set. Your goal is to be able to answer the questions: Who was Charles Dickens? and What was life like during Victorian England?

Using the links in the following slides, answer the questions on your worksheet. You should only visit the approved sites.

Have fun!

Wait…

But, before you begin I would like you to think about what you already know about our topic. On your note card, write “Before” at the top. Then, list any information you know about the following topics:– Charles Dickens– Victorian England– “A Christmas Carol”

After you finish, put this to the side and go on tothe next slide.

Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens is the author of “A Christmas Carol.” Click here to learn information about him.

Reading Dickens

Charles Dickens was a very popular author during the 19th century. Click here to find out more information about reading his work.

London Map

“A Christmas Carol” is set in London. The website below has a map of London as it was during Dickens’ time. After you open the map, locate and click on Camden Town.

Click here to see the map of London

Victorian EraDickens lived during the Victorian Era.

On the website below, read the first 7 paragraphs on this website. (Note: a paradox is something that is made up of two opposite things that might seem impossible, but is true.)

Then, scroll down to “SOCIAL CLASS”Next, look for “MONEY.”A little further down, you’ll notice the heading “DISEASES.”

Click here to learn information about the Victorian Era.

WorkhousesIn Victorian England, many people who were poor,

orphaned, old or sick lived in a workhouse. For a typical day, workers woke up at 5 a.m. and spent ten hours doing physical labor, such as crushing stones, sewing, laundry or milling corn. Bedtime was 8 p.m.

The website below shows you what an average person who lived in a workhouse would have to eat each day for a week. This chart lists average meals for six different workhouses. See what was served at workhouse “#4” by reading from left to right and scrolling down through the days.

Click here to learn about the workhouses.

Life at Home for the Middle Class

Victorians made their own entertainment at home. They had no radio or TV, but they enjoyed singing. A rich family would sing around the piano, while poorer families enjoyed tunes on a pipe or a fiddle. Families played card games and board games and acted out charades.

The website below has information about some of the “Parlor Games” that were popular. Scroll down to read about “Speaking Buff”Click here to read about some of the “Parlor Games.” `

SchoolsIt was Queen Victoria (in 1870) that made it

mandatory for all children to attend school. Before then, only the children of wealthy families had the privilege of being educated. The website below describes some of the typical rules in a Victorian classroom.

Click here to learn about schools during the Victorian Era.

ConclusionCongratulations! You should now be able to answer the

questions “Who was Charles Dickens?” and “What was life like during Victorian England?”

Go back to the note card you wrote on at the beginning of class. On the back, write a few sentences answering the above questions. In other words, you are summarizing what you learned today.

Make sure your note card has your name on it and hand this to Mrs. Smith. Hold onto the worksheet.

Click to the next slide.

But, wait… there is more! If there is still time in class, click to the next slide and read about Victorian Fashion and the Christmas traditions started during this time period.

FashionWikipedia

Includes information on both men’s and women’s styles, along with photographs and illustrations.

Christmas TraditionsHistoric UK.com

Details on many of the traditions of the Victorian Age.

Christmas in Victorian EnglandInformation on the specifics of how Christmas was celebrated during the Victorian Age,.