A Christmas Carol Wrap-Up

Today we finished discussing A Christmas Carol. We discussed the plot sequence and labeled the parts together.  You wrote these in your notes.  I also collected the 3 questions from Monday along with the synonyms and antonyms work.

Finally I gave you a crossword puzzle.  There are a few errors.  If you want Cratchit as the answer, spell it "CRACHIT".  Also, 5 across is CHRISTMAS.

Finishing A Christmas Carol

First we discussed the questions you completed last week.

Next we finished A Christmas Carol!  We read scene 6 together.  Afterwards you completed the following questions on page 275: 1, 5, 6 and 7.  On page 276 you completed the synonyms and antonyms exercise.

Tomorrow we go to see A Christmas Carol at Meadowbrook Theatre!  Make sure you have your permission slip in (they were due last week).  Bring money to go out to lunch afterward and dress as you are going to the theatre!  I am looking forward to this trip with you!  It's always a great time!!

We will save watching the movie until just before we break for Christmas.  When we return on Wednesday we will discuss the play a little further.  You will have questions about it again on your midterm.

Continuing with A Christmas Carol

Today you read Scenes 4 and 5 to yourself.

You added odious and charitable to your definitions in your notebook.

You completed the 3 questions on page 270 in complete sentences.

1. What do you think Scrooge felt when he saw Sparsit, the charwoman, and the cook laughing over his corpse and dividing his belongings?  Explain.
2. What thoughts came to mind when you read Scrooge's reaction to news of Tiny Tim's death?
3. Why do you think Tiny Tim's death affects Scrooge so deeply? 

When you finished the reading/work from above you had time to do the following.  Continue thinking about it because tomorrow you will have a short test; we only have 25 minutes of class time so the test will not be too extensive.

Homework:
I would study vocabulary (words from the story as well as your drama/play terms), know characters, and basic parts of the story/plot.

Scrooge and the First Spirit

Scrooge and the Spirit of Christmas Past

Today we reviewed the definitions of a play/drama that you wrote in your notebook yesterday.  Next we read Scene 3 (Scrooge and the First Spirit).  

Homework:

Next Tuesday we will have a 25 minute quiz on the definitions and parts of A Christmas Carol story.  Please begin studying

A Christmas Carol and parts of a play

Today we read through scene 2 of "A Christmas Carol."  After we finished we read pages 245-249 in the literature book and read about parts of a play.  You took down the definitions in your notebook.  It was crucial to take down very good notes as this will help you study for your quiz next week before break.

NO HOMEWORK!

Yesterday and Today

Here is a picture of Fred trying to urge Scrooge to Christmas dinner.

Yesterday we visited the seminary!  I really enjoyed my time with all of you!  I hope  you got a lot out of it.  I learned some new things too :)

Today we continued with A Christmas Carol.  First we recapped what we started reading Monday.  Then we finished the scene.  You also took down two more literary definitions: moon and irony.  We also took down more regular word definitions from the book.  If you were absent today, make sure to borrow someone's notebook.

In addition we answered the two questions on page 257 and added a third: What is ironic about what we as readers know about Scrooge and what the gentleman visitor is asking of Scrooge?

Again, if you need some help, I am here or ask a trusting friend who wrote the answers down.

Beginning A Christmas Carol

Today we discussed the Dickens Webquest further with you.

Then we began reading the play by assigning parts and reading aloud.  We discussed the story along the way.

Nice work today!  No Homework!

Prepare for the field trip to the seminary tomorrow!

A Christmas Carol Webquest

The following assignment is due MONDAY!


Charles Dickens Webquest

You will need to use the links at this website to research Mr. Dickens. http://charlesdickenspage.com/

Please copy and paste the questions into a Word document and type the answers.  If you do not finish in the class period, attach the document to an email and send it to yourself and finish at home.

Have a merry time!

Dickens Fast Facts                           

1.     When was Charles Dickens born?

2.     What were his parents’ names?       

3.     Explain what happened to his father that made an important impact on his life?

Reading Dickens

4.     What makes reading a Dickens novel difficult?

Dickens’ London

5.      What was London like during Dickens’s time?  Use about 6-8 sentences.  Read this page thoroughly; it is quite interesting and different from life here in Michigan 2011.

Dickens’ Map

6.      The map is interactive.  Find Camden Town.  Click on it.  Why is it important to A Christmas Carol?

7.     Why is "The City" important?

8.     Why is the Royal Exchange important?

Dickens and Christmas

9.     There are 8 articles on this link, make sure to read all of them EXCEPT #4 and 7. After you read them, give one or two interesting connections between what you learned and how it is important to A Christmas Carol.

Article 1:

Article 2:

Article 3:

Article 5:

Article 6:

Article 8:

Go Beyond: Charles Dickens and the Industrial Revolution

Find an .edu website that offers information on Charles Dickens and the Industrial Revolution.  Summarize what you learned in at least 3 sentences.  What is the Industrial Revolution and how did it effect Dickens' work?

Movie vs. Book and the Christmas Spirit

Today you worked in groups to produce a Venn Diagram about the similarities and differences between the book and the movie for The Devil's Arithmetic.

Next you had an assignment to help prepare for our next reading of A Christmas Carol.  You wrote an in-class draft about "What the Christmas spirit means to you."

Homework:
TYPE your 8-10 sentence paragraph explaining "what the Christmas Spirit means to you".  You must have a topic sentence, supporting details, and a conclusion.  IT MUST BE TYPED (double spaced).  This is due tomorrow.

Finishing "The Devil's Arithmetic"

Today we finished the movie "The Devil's Arithmetic."

Tomorrow we will discuss the Venn diagram assignment along with another assignment to start getting us in the Christmas Carol spirit!

NO HOMEWORK TONIGHT!

"The Devil's Arithmetic" movie Continued!

Today with our shortened hour (because of Mass) we were able to watch about 20 more minutes of the movie.  We should be able to watch the rest tomorrow and discuss the similarities and differences.

"Devil's Arithmetic" the Movie

Today we began the movie, "The Devil's Arithmetic."  You began to note the similarities and differences.

Devil's Arithmetic TEST

Today you took the Devil's Arithmetic test. 

With the time remaining you had a chance to catch up on other class work.

NO HOMEWORK!  Enjoy your long weekend!

Looking Ahead:

Next week we will watch "Devil's Arithmetic" and at the end of the week, we will start A Christmas Carol.

Devil's Arithmetic: Discussing the entire book and preparing for the test!

Today we discussed the essay question for the test as a class and possible ways to answer it.  Make sure you have a good draft in your head.  Organize your answer!  Have an introduction, examples to support your topic and a conclusion!  Learn from the mistakes you may have made on the previous test.

Next we did a little Devil's Arithmetic quiz out loud.  You did a nice job.  I think you will be ready for
your test tomorrow!! :)

No Class Today---MASS!

Today we went to Mass and you were all VERY GOOD!  Wow!  I didn't know what a great group of delightful singers we had :)  I was very impressed with your behavior!

Tomorrow I will prepare you for Thursday's test on The Devil's Arithmetic.  You can begin to prepare tonight by going to your chapter questions and studying the questions.