A Christmas Carol Scheme of Learning - Stave 3 Lessons (only)

These lessons are part of a bundle

I created this Scheme of Learning to support ECTs and newly qualified teachers in my department :)

This Stave 3 lesson bundle for A Christmas Carol includes 4–5 fully planned GCSE English Literature lessons designed for Key Stage 4 students. The lessons focus on the Ghost of Christmas Present, the Cratchit family, and Dickens’ critique of Victorian attitudes towards poverty and social responsibility, while continuing to build strong exam-ready analytical skills.

Through a carefully structured sequence of lessons, students explore how Dickens uses symbolism, allegory, and contrast to challenge ideas about wealth, generosity, and moral duty. The bundle explicitly develops AO1, AO2, and AO3 skills, with embedded social context linked to the Poor Law, Malthusian beliefs, and the treatment of the poor.

This bundle includes:

1. 4–5 complete 60-minute lessons focused on Stave 3
2. Clear learning objectives, outcomes, and success criteria
3. Analysis of the Ghost of Christmas Present and symbolism of abundance
4. In-depth study of the Cratchit family as a microcosm and allegory for the Victorian poor
5. Exploration of pathos and how Dickens creates sympathy for Tiny Tim
6. Detailed analysis of Ignorance and Want as symbolic children
7. Key themes: generosity, inequality, responsibility, and the threat of ignorance
8. Embedded AO3 context (Poor Law, Malthusian theory, attitudes to poverty)
9. Cloze activities, Frayer models, quote explosions, and retrieval starters
10. Sentence starters and model paragraphs (Grades 6–9)
11. Practice GCSE-style exam questions
12. Challenge and extension tasks for higher-attaining students

Student Booklet: The ‘A Christmas Carol Generic Course Reader’ is not for sale. It was created by a wonderful English teacher and is available for free here: https://laurawebbcpd.com/a-christmas-carol-course-reader/