If you’ve ever scrolled through teacher Instagram and thought, “Wait, she’s doing an entire Dickens-themed escape room with twinkle lights, costumes, AND a hot cocoa bar?!”—pause right there.
Listen: You do not have to compete with Pinterest-perfect, five-week-long A Christmas Carol extravaganzas to be a good teacher. You also don’t need 90 vocab words, three separate packets, or to build a Victorian London diorama in your classroom. (Unless you want to. In which case—power to you. But also… WHY. 😂)
In a sec, I’ll share my very own simple, 10-day plan for A Christmas Carol that’s also student-friendly, festive, and (best part!) already mapped out.
But first, here’s the birds’-eye-view side-by-side reality check (my version vs. the chaos I see out there in Internet Crazy Land) 👇
| Feature | ✅My 10-Day Reading Schedule | ❌Typical A Christmas Carol Units Online |
| Length of Unit | 10 45ish min class days—done before break | 3–5 weeks (dragged out, lots of side projects) |
| Focus | Just enough context + focus on reading, reflection, and discussion | Heavy on pre-reading history, film comparisons, long projects |
| Activities | Quick, ready-to-use activities (journals, sketches, predictions, character maps) | Escape rooms, elaborate one-pagers, film studies, Victorian research packets |
| Vocab. | Short, curated list by stave with context + definitions | 60–90 words across the novella |
| Tests | One simple, ready-made comprehension test | Multiple quizzes + extended writing projects |
| Teacher Prep | Low (all mapped out, print-and-go) | High (choosing projects, prep lots of handouts, decorate, plan ahead) |
| Tone & Approach | Made for middle school, realistic, no-pressure, no comparisonitis | Often geared toward high school or “Pinterest-perfect” projects |
| Teacher Lifestyle | Respects teacher time—you go home earlier each day | Assumes hours of prepping & grading outside school |
Ok, here’s the breakdown of what each day actually looks like.
We’re keeping this low-key (you have my permission to keep it simple). Grab your cocoa, and let’s walk through it day-by-day.
Day 1: Meet Dickens + Victorian London 🎩
- Kick things off with a short video on Victorian England to set the scene → I love this one because it gives a friendly, relatable overview of what life was like during the Victorian era in Britain, which is the time period of the novel.
- Why it works: It’s upbeat, clear, and just the right level for middle school. Students get a feel for the social conditions, technology, class differences, etc.
- How you could use it: Show it at the very beginning—Day 1 of your schedule. Then ask: “What catches your eye as a middle schooler? What’s weird or different compared to our world?” Use as a bell-ringer.
- Begin reading Stave 1 (just the first few pages).
- Activity: Create a “Before Scrooge” character map to track his Bah! Humbug! Era.
Steal Borrow my Christmas Carol Reading Schedule + Activities here
[my treat, on the house, complimentary!]
👉 Why it works: Students get the historical vibe and a baseline for Scrooge’s transformation.
Day 2: Marley’s Ghost 👻
- Finish Stave 1.
- Discuss: Why is Scrooge the way he is? What’s Marley’s big warning?
- Activity Options:
- “Scrooge Profile” (traits + memorable quotes).
- Marley’s Chains symbolism activity (what do they represent?).
- Prediction chain—how will Marley’s visit change Scrooge?
- “Scrooge Profile” (traits + memorable quotes).
👉 Why it works: You’re introducing theme + symbolism without a 40-minute lecture.
Day 3–4: Ghost of Christmas Past 🌟
- Day 3: Read first half of Stave 2 → students create “Memory Maps” of Scrooge’s childhood + early choices.
- Day 4: Finish Stave 2 → group discussion + journal prompts (“What if Scrooge had chosen differently?”).
- Extra: Sketch Fezziwig + Belle, make a “Turning Point Timeline.”
👉 Why it works: Middle schoolers love imagining the “what if” version of someone’s life—it makes Dickens’ themes super relatable.
REMEMBER:
All the resources you need to actually implement my 10-day simple version of A Christmas Carol are located right here, ready to download.
Day 5–6: Ghost of Christmas Present 🎉
- Day 5: Meet the Ghost + visit the Cratchits. Compare Scrooge’s values vs. the Cratchits’.
- Day 6: Focus on Tiny Tim and the impact of poverty. Students write a paragraph as Tiny Tim (“Here’s my future if Scrooge doesn’t change”).
👉 Why it works: It’s empathy + character analysis rolled into one, and it sets up Scrooge’s next big turning point.
Day 7–8: Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come 🕯
- Day 7: Read Stave 4 → predict what Scrooge is learning. Try a “Choose Your Future” journal prompt.
- Day 8: Finish Stave 4 + begin Stave 5. Small groups discuss Scrooge’s reaction to his own death.
👉 Why it works: Students see the urgency of Scrooge’s change and get to imagine their own legacies. (Dark, but middle schoolers love a little dark!)
Day 9: Scrooge’s Transformation 🎅
- Finish Stave 5.
- Activity: Create a “Scrooge 2.0” profile showing his new traits + outlook.
👉 Why it works: Instant before/after character study—your Day 1 character map pays off big here.
Day 10: Wrap-Up + Reflection 📝
- Whole-class discussion: What’s Dickens’ bigger message about generosity + second chances?
- Options:
- Write a thank-you letter from Scrooge to one of the ghosts.
- Design a “Redemption Roadmap” (for Scrooge, a fictional character, or themselves).
- Or, go Cratchit-style with hot cocoa + snacks while students write their own “new year’s resolution” inspired by Scrooge.
- Write a thank-you letter from Scrooge to one of the ghosts.
👉 Why it works: You’re closing the loop with both literary analysis and personal reflection.
Bonus Tips 🎁
- Vocab Mini-Lessons: Sprinkle in a few of those rich Dickens words (misanthropic, jovial, munificence) each day for bite-sized vocabulary work.
- Assessment Made Simple: End with a quick multiple-choice test (20 questions) to check comprehension + themes. No need to reinvent the wheel—you’ve got it ready.
- Flexible Stations: If you love running stations, break up the activities (character maps, journal prompts, sketching, predictions) into rotation-style tasks.
Final Thoughts 💡
Teaching A Christmas Carol doesn’t have to be overwhelming or complex. With a clear schedule, built-in activities that you don’t have to prep for ahead of time, and a mix of reflection + analysis, you’ll get Dickens’ classic into your students’ hands while going home a little bit earlier each day… even during the busiest season of the year.
And who knows? You might even find yourself a little more blithe by the end. 😉
