Teachers Pack Contents
Characters Matching activity for younger classes
(Match name to picture, match name to description)
Draw the Ghosts Drawing activity for younger classes.
(Draw and describe.)
The Story Reading and True/False questions for younger classes
Scene by Scene Longer reading, vocabulary and True/False questions
Scrooge’s Life Use prompts to write sentences, order sentences and write a paragraph about Ebenezer Scrooge’s life.
Interview with a Ghost Creative speaking activity in pairs. Ask and answer questions about ghosts.
Charles Dickens Reading and speaking in pairs
Christmas in the UK True/false questions, discussion of Christmas traditions.
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Match: Belle ___
The Ghost of Christmas Present __5__
Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim ____ 1
Scrooge ____ Mr Fezziwig ___
The Ghost of Christmas Past ____
3
2
6 5
4
Match these characters from the story with the words in the box.
Characters: Mr Fezziwig Scrooge Tiny Tim Cratchit Belle The Ghost of Christmas Past The Ghost of Christmas Present
is a beautiful young woman is a mean old man
shows Scrooge his past life. is very sick shows Scrooge the Cratchit’s house loves dancing
Example
1. 1.Mr Fezziwig loves dancing
2. Scrooge
3. Tiny Tim Cratchit
4. Belle
5. The Ghost of Christmas Past
6. The Ghost of Christmas Present
The Ghost of Christmas Past wears white clothes.
Draw a picture.
The Ghost of Christmas Present wears a holly wreath.
Draw a picture.
The Ghost of Christmas Future wears a black robe.
Draw a picture.
Marley’s ghost wears heavy chains.
Draw a picture.
The Story (For younger classes)
It’s Christmas Eve and Ebenezor Scrooge is working in his office. He is counting his money. Two carol singers come to visit. They are collecting money for poor people. “Get out!” , says Scrooge. “I don’t want to give you any money.”
Scrooge’s nephew, Fred, comes to visit. He invites his Uncle Scrooge to come to his house for dinner on Christmas Day. “Bah! Humbug!”, says Scrooge. “I hate Christmas!”.
Bob Cratchit works for Scrooge. He has a wife and children. One of the children, Tiny Tim, is very sick. The Cratchit family is very poor because Scrooge doesn’t pay Bob much money. Scrooge only gives Bob one day’s holiday for Christmas.
In the evening Scrooge goes home. He hears a strange noise. It is the ghost of his friend Jacob Marley. Marley says that three spirits will visit Scrooge that night.
First the Ghost of Christmas past visits Scrooge and they go back into the past. The ghost takes Scrooge to his old school. Scrooge sees a lonely little boy. It is young Scrooge. The Ghost shows Scrooge a young man and a beautiful young woman called Belle. Belle loves Scrooge but Scrooge only loves money.
Next the Ghost of Christmas Present visits Scrooge and shows him the Cratchit’s house. Scrooge sees that they are very poor, but very happy. He feels very sad because Tiny Tim is sick.
Then the Ghost of Christmas Future comes to Scrooge’s house. This ghost doesn’t speak. Scrooge understands that he will die alone with no friends. He is very very sad.
Scrooge decides to change. He buys a big turkey for the Cratchits. He goes to visit his nephew on Christmas Day. He isn’t mean any more. He is kind, generous and very very happy.
The End.
True or False?
Questions for Younger Classes
1. Scrooge is kind to the carol singers. T/F 2. Scrooge is Fred’s uncle. T/F 3. The Cratchits are rich. T/F 4. Bob Cratchit has a long holiday at Christmas. T/F 5. Jacob Marley is still alive. T/F 6. Three ghosts visit Scrooge on Christmas Eve. T/F 7. In the past, Belle loved Scrooge. T/F 8. Tiny Tim is sick. T/F 9. The Ghost of Christmas Future talks a lot. T/F 10. Scrooge doesn’t change. T/F
True or False? ANSWERS
Younger Classes
1. Scrooge is kind to the carol singers. T/F False, he says “Get out!” and he doesn’t give them any money.
2. Scrooge is Fred’s uncle. T/F True, Fred is Scrooge’s nephew. Fred’s Mum was Scrooge’s sister. Her name was Fan.
3. The Cratchits are rich. T/F False, they are very poor.
4. Bob Cratchit has a long holiday at Christmas. T/F False, he only has one day.
5. Jacob Marley is still alive. T/F False, Jacob Marley is dead. He died 7 years ago, on Christmas Eve.
6. Three ghosts visit Scrooge on Christmas Eve. T/F True. (4 including Marley’s Ghost)
7. In the past, Belle loved Scrooge. T/F True.
8. Tiny Tim is sick. T/F True.
9. The Ghost of Christmas Future talks a lot. T/F False, he doesn’t speak.
10. Scrooge doesn’t change. T/F False, Scrooge becomes kind, generous and happy.
Adapted by Sarah Simpson
Before the story starts
Ebenezer Scrooge and Jacob Marley are business partners. They have a company and they work together in their office. They are extremely mean. They don’t have any friends. They LOVE money. Then one Christmas Eve Jacob Marley dies.
This story starts seven years later…..
Scene One
It’s Christmas Eve. Ebenezer Scrooge and his clerk Bob Cratchit are working in their office. Two carol singers arrive. They are collecting money for poor people. “Are you Mr Marley or Mr Scrooge?” says the carol singer. “Do you think I am alive or dead?” says Scrooge. “Mr Marley died seven years ago!” Scrooge doesn’t give them any money. He hates Christmas and he also hates poor people. He says they should go to prison. Or die. Scrooge is really mean. He says “Bah! Humbug! He thinks Christmas is nonsense.
Scrooge’s nephew Fred arrives. “Merry Christmas, Uncle! Ha ha ha!”. Fred often laughs. He’s very happy and friendly.
“Why don’t you come and spend Christmas Day with my family?” says Fred.
“No!” says Scrooge. “Go away. I don’t like Christmas! Bah! Humbug!”
Bob Cratchit wants to stay at home with his family on Christmas Day. Scrooge agrees but says that Bob has to come to work early on Boxing Day (the day after Christmas).
Scene Two
Scrooge goes home alone. His house is cold and dark. He hears the sound of bells and heavy chains. A ghost appears. It is the ghost of Jacob Marley.
“I didn’t help anybody. I didn’t love anybody. I only loved my money,” says Marley’s ghost. “Now I am dead and I cannot rest. “
“Why are you here?” says Scrooge. “I am here to warn you,” replies the ghost. He wants to help Scrooge. He says that 3 spirits (ghosts) will visit Scrooge that night.
Scene Three
The Ghost of Christmas Past visits Scrooge. He wears white. He takes Scrooge on a magical journey back into his past. “I know this place!” says Scrooge. “I was a boy here.” They visit Scrooge’s old boarding school. It’s the Christmas holidays and all the other children are at home with their families. Scrooge sees himself, alone reading a book. He remembers the characters in the stories that he read when he was a child. “There’s Ali Baba,” he says.
Next they go to Mr Fezziwig’s company where Scrooge was an apprentice. An apprentice is a young person who is learning how to do a job. Fezziwig was very kind and generous to his employees. “Stop working, Ebenezer Scrooge!” says Mr Fezziwig. “It’s Christmas Eve! It’s time to have fun!” Everyone stopped work on Christmas Eve and had a party with lots of dancing. Scrooge sees Belle. Belle was Scrooge’s fiancée but he preferred money, so she didn’t marry him. “I can’t marry you, Ebenezer,” says Belle. “You don’t know how to love me. You can only love money”.
Scene Four
The Ghost of Christmas Present visits Scrooge. He wears a holly wreath on his head.
He takes Scrooge to see what is happening in houses all over the world at Christmas. First they visit Bob Cratchit’s house. Scrooge sees that Bob Cratchit has lots of children. They are having their Christmas dinner. They have a very small goose and a tiny Christmas pudding because they are very poor, but they are all very happy. Bob has a little boy called Tiny Tim. Tiny Tim is very sick.
Then they visit Fred’s house. Fred is very kind and he often laughs. Fred and his family are playing games together. Scrooge enjoys himself. The other people can’t see Scrooge and the ghost.
Scene Five
The Ghost of Christmas Future visits Scrooge. This spirit doesn’t speak. He wears a long black robe. This spirit shows Scrooge what will happen in the future. Scrooge hears some people talking about a dead person. “I don’t know much about it,” says one man, “I only know he’s dead.” Then Scrooge sees a gravestone.
The name on the stone is EBENEEZER SCROOGE.
The ghost takes him to the Cratchits’ house but Tiny Tim is not there anymore and Bob Cratchit is really sad. Scrooge is very frightened and he understands that he has to change. “I will honour Christmas in my heart,” he says. “I will live in the past, the present and the future. It will be Christmas every day.”
Scene Six
Scrooge wakes up on Christmas Day. He feels like a different person.
“I don’t know what to do! I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel. Merry Christmas everybody!”
He is going to change and be kind and generous. He buys an enormous turkey for the Cratchit family and then he goes to his nephew Fred’s house for Christmas dinner.
Scene Seven
It’s Boxing Day (26th December). Bob Cratchit arrives at work late. Scrooge pretends to be angry . “You’re late! What do you think you are doing, coming here at this time?” shouts Scrooge.
“I’m very sorry, sir”, says Bob. Bob is scared.
“Well it’s not good enough!” says Scrooge, “so am going to raise your salary! Yes, I am going to pay you MORE money!”
Bob is very confused. He thinks Scrooge has gone mad.
“Are you feeling alright, Mr Scrooge?” asks Bob.
After the Story ends
Ebeneezer Scrooge is kind and generous. Tiny Tim doesn’t die because Scrooge helps him. Scrooge is full of laughter and joy. And most of all… He LOVES Christmas.
Vocabulary
Generous/mean Scrooge is very mean at the beginning of the story.
“Bah! Humbug!” Scrooge always says this. It means “Nonsense!” or “Christmas is deception!” Scrooge says this because he hates Christmas and he thinks it is stupid to stop work and spend time with your family every year.
carol singers A Christmas carol is a religious song about Christmas. Carol singers ask for money for poor people in return for their songs.
nephew Your brother or sister’s son. Scrooge had a little sister called Fan. She was very kind to Scrooge. Fan had a son called Fred. Fred is also very kind. Fred is Scrooge’s nephew.
Boxing Day Boxing Day is on 26th December. It is a public holiday in the UK.
business partner Scrooge started his company with Jacob Marley. Jacob Marley was Scrooge’s business partner.
Christmas Eve The name for 24th December, the day before Christmas.
alive/dead/die Jacob Marley is dead. He died 7 years ago. Scrooge is alive.
boarding school A school where the pupils sleep. They usually go home in the school holidays.
fiancée The woman you are going to marry is your fiancée.
salary The money you earn when you work. Scrooge is going to raise Bob’s salary. (He’s going to pay him more money)
Christmas pudding ghost/spirit British people eat Christmas 3 spirits visit Scrooge. pudding for dessert on Christmas Day. The Ghost of Christmas Past, The Ghost of Christmas Present and The Ghost of Christmas Future. holly
The Ghost of Christmas Present wears holly on his head chains frightened/scared
Marley’s ghost Scrooge is frightened or scared of the wears heavy chains. Ghost of Christmas Future
True or False?
Before the Story Starts
1. Ebenezer Scrooge and Jacob Marley work together. T/F 2. Scrooge and Marley are very generous. T/F
Scene One
1. Jacob Marley is still alive. T/F 2. Scrooge hates Christmas. T/F 3. Scrooge is kind to poor people. T/F 4. Fred is Scrooge’s uncle. T/F 5. Bob Cratchit has to work on Christmas Day. T/F
Scene Two
1. Scrooge hears the sound of something metal. T/F 2. Marley’s ghost wants to kill Scrooge . T/F
Scene Three
1. Scrooge went home in the Christmas holidays when he was a boy. T/F 2. Scrooge worked for Mr Fezziwig when he was young. T/F 3. Scrooge married Belle. T/F
Scene Four
1. Bob Cratchit is very rich. T/F 2. Tiny Tim is Bob Cratchit’s son. T/F 3. Scrooge enjoys visiting Fred’s house. T/F
Scene Five
1. Scrooge hears some people talking about him. T/F 2. Scrooge decides to change. T/F
Scene Six
1. Scrooge is very sad on Christmas Day. T/F 2. Scrooge visits Fred on Christmas Day. T/F
Scene Seven
1. Scrooge says he is going to pay Bob Cratchit less money than before. T/F
After the Story Ends
1. Scrooge likes Christmas. T/F
True or False? ANSWERS
Before the Story Starts
1. Ebenezer Scrooge and Jacob Marley work together. T/F
True, they are business partners.
2. Scrooge and Marley are very generous. T/F
False, They are very mean.
Scene One
1. Jacob Marley is still alive. T/F
False, Marley died 7 years ago on Christmas Eve.
2. Scrooge hates Christmas. T/F
True.
3. Scrooge is kind to poor people. T/F
False, he thinks they should go to prison or die. He doesn’t give money to the carol singers.
4. Fred is Scrooge’s uncle. T/F
False, Fred is Scrooge’s nephew (Scrooge is Fred’s uncle)
5. Bob Cratchit has to work on Christmas Day. T/F
False, Bob has to work on Boxing Day but he can spend Christmas Day with his family.
Scene Two
1. Scrooge hears the sound of something metal. T/F
True, Scrooge hears the sound of heavy chains. He also hears bells. 2. Marley’s ghost wants to kill Scrooge . T/F
False, Marley comes to warn and help Scrooge.
Scene Three
1. Scrooge went home in the Christmas holidays when he was a boy. T/F
False, Scrooge stayed at school during the Christmas holidays.
2. Scrooge worked for Mr Fezziwig when he was young. T/F
True, Scrooge was an apprentice to Mr Fezziwig.
3. Scrooge married Belle. T/F
False, Belle was Scrooge’s fiancée but she left him because he loved money more than people.
Scene Four
1. Bob Cratchit is very rich. T/F
False, Bob Cratchit is very poor.
2. Tiny Tim is Bob Cratchit’s son. T/F
True.
3. Scrooge enjoys visiting Fred’s house. T/F
True.
Scene Five
Scrooge hears some people talking about him. T/F
True, they are talking about a dead man. The dead man is Scrooge.
Scrooge decides to change. T/F
True.
Scene Six
1. Scrooge is very sad on Christmas Day. T/F
False, Scrooge is very happy on Christmas Day.
2. Scrooge visits Fred on Christmas Day. T/F
True, Scrooge has Christmas dinner at Fred’s house.
Scene Seven
1. Scrooge says he is going to pay Bob Cratchit less money than before. T/F
False, Scrooge is going to raise Bob’s salary.
After the Story Ends
1. Scrooge likes Christmas. T/F
True.
Ebenezer Scrooge’s Life
Use the prompts to write sentences about Ebenezer Scrooge. Put the sentences in the right order and then write a paragraph about Scrooge’s life.
Example: 1. Ebenezer Scrooge/go/boarding school
Ebenezer Scrooge went to boarding school.
2. Scrooge/business partner/Jacob Marley/die.
______
3. Scrooge/work/as an apprentice/Mr Fezziwig.
______
4. Scrooge/start business/Jacob Marley.
______
5. Belle/leave/Scrooge/because/love/money.
______
6. Scrooge/change/become generous.
______
7. Three spirits/visit Scrooge/Christmas Eve.
______
8. Scrooge/mean/not give/money/carol singers.
______
Possible Answers Ebenezer Scrooge’s Life
Use the prompts to write sentences about Ebenezer Scrooge, then use the sentences to tell the story of Scrooge’s life.
Correct Sentences:
Scrooge went to boarding school.
Scrooge worked as an apprentice for Mr Fezziwig.
Belle left Scrooge because he loved money too much.
Scrooge started a business with Jacob Marley.
Scrooge’s business partner Jacob Marley died.
Scrooge didn’t give any money to the carol singers.
Three spirits visited Scrooge on Christmas Eve.
Scrooge changed and became generous.
Possible Paragraph
Ebenezer Scrooge went to boarding school. When he left school he worked as an apprentice for Mr Fezziwig. His fiancée Belle left Scrooge because he loved money too much. Then Scrooge started a business with Jacob Marley but his business partner died. Scrooge was very mean and he didn’t give any money to carol singers. Three spirits visited Scrooge on Christmas Eve. After that, Scrooge changed and became generous.
Interview with a Ghost
STUDENT A – THE INTERVIEWER
“Good evening! This is Ghostly News. Our Spook of the Day today is The Ghost of Christmas Past. Please give him/her a big round of applause!”
Interviewer’s Questions. Ask the Ghost…
1. When did you die? 2. How did you die? 3. What special powers do you have? Can you walk through walls? Does it hurt? 4. Do you ever get hungry? What food do you miss the most? Why? 5. What other things do you miss about being alive? 6. Do you think you are scary? Why/why not? 7. Why do you want to help people? 8. Can you travel in time? What’s your favourite era? Why? 9. Who’s the coolest ghost you know? Why? 10. Have you been to any other planets? What are they like? 11. Is there a ghost king/queen/president/prime minister? Do ghosts hold elections? 12. Why do you wear chains? 13. What do you think about Halloween? 14. Are you sorry about anything you did in your life? What? Why? 15. Do you have any advice for mortals? What?
Interview with a Ghost STUDENT B – THE GHOST
You are the Ghost of Christmas Past. You are appearing on a TV programme called “Ghostly News”.
Match the answers to the questions
a. I think it’s great. I love it when people dress up as ghosts and witches and wizards. It makes me feel normal. b. I’m really sorry I didn’t study more. c. I’ve been to Jupiter and Mars. d. I’m always hungry. I really miss Christmas pudding. e. I met the ghost of Christopher Columbus a few weeks ago. He’s really cool. We went sailing. f. I can fly. It’s great. I can read people’s minds too. I like doing that. It’s very interesting to find out what they are thinking. g. I don’t think so but people often scream when they see me. It makes me feel really sad. h. About 400 years ago. i. I got the Plague. j. I really miss swimming in the sea. And I miss feeling warm in the summer and cold in the winter. I can’t feel hot and cold any more. k. I have to wear chains because I am not free. It’s like prison. l. Of course not. But lots of kings and queens are ghosts now. I met Julius Caesar once. m. You should enjoy every moment. Life is short. n. I like helping people. It makes me feel happy. o. Yes, I can. My favourite period is when the dinosaurs were alive. They were awesome.
Interview with a Ghost Part 2
1. Now the interviewer is the ghost and the ghost is the interviewer. Can you think of your own answers to the questions? Can you think of any other questions?
2. Interview other ghosts in your class.
3. Compare the answers with a partner. Who gave the most interesting or funny answers?
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens had an amazing life. As a boy, he lived first in the countryside and then in Camden, in London. When he was a child his family had a lot of problems. His father went to prison for two years because he couldn’t pay his debts and the young Dickens had to leave school and go to work in a factory to help support the family. He was 12. Later he returned to school. Dickens became a journalist, and travelled all over Britain. He worked very hard all his life and wrote many books. He wrote “A Christmas Carol “ in 1843 and he gave many public readings of the book. He travelled to America and Italy to perform as well. Dickens had ten children. He never stopped working and died in 1870 when he was 58.
Discuss with a partner.
Why are these places and numbers mentioned?
the countryside Italy prison a factory Camden
12 1843 10 2 years
Christmas in the UK
True or False? Why?
1. British people give each other presents on 24th December. T/F
2. Every year the Queen appears on TV at 3pm. T/F
3. Norway give the UK a Christmas tree every year and it stands in Trafalgar Square, in
London. T/F
4. British children hang a stocking or a pillow case at the end of their beds on 24th
December. T/F
5. Rudolph the reindeer had a blue nose. T/F
6. British people eat turkey, potatoes and Brussel sprouts with chestnuts on
Christmas Day. T/F
7. People never set fire to their Christmas puddings. T/F
8. Christmas carols are a kind of traditional Christmas food. T/F
Discussion
Do you have any similar traditions in your country?
Which British tradition is the most interesting? Which one is the strangest?
Christmas in the UK - Answers
True or False?
1. British people give each other presents on 24th December. False – 25th December
2. Every year the Queen appears on TV at 3pm on Christmas Day. True – She speaks for 10 minutes every Christmas Day.
3. The city of Oslo in Norway give the UK a Christmas tree every year and it stands in Trafalgar Square, in London. True – This tradition started in 1947 to say thank you for supporting Norway in the Second World War.
4. British children hang a stocking at the end of their beds or next to the fireplace on 24th December. True – Father Christmas comes down the chimney and fills it with presents in the night.
5. Rudolph the reindeer had a blue nose. False – don’t be silly!
6. British people eat turkey, potatoes and Brussel sprouts with chestnuts on Christmas Day. True – The British eat about 10million turkeys every Christmas.
7. Many people pour brandy on their Christmas pudding and then set fire to it. True – the flames burn the alcohol.
8. Christmas carols are a kind of traditional Christmas food False - Christmas carols are Christmas songs. They are usually religious