Before reading Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, students examine different aspects of Victorian Life in London through a variety of research projects requiring hands-on computer activities.

Copies of handouts (see attached), copies of A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens

Computers with Internet access (lab setting preferred, word processing or desktop publishing software such as MS Word, presentation software such as PowerPoint, LCD projector or other computer projection device

Students will need a basic working knowledge of word processing and presentation software. Note: Before using the student newspaper sample, download and insert a picture of Dickens in the space indicated. Teacher will need to make arrangements for students to visit the media center for research as needed.

1.)Give a brief introductory lecture on Charles Dickens and the Victorian Period in London.
(Charles Dickens)
A great resource page for teacher and student, links

2.)Explain to the students that they will be conducting research in the media center and on the Internet to complete a two-part Victorian Project. The first part will be done individually and presented orally. Instruct students to randomly draw a project idea from a box (a list is attached). Each student will then write his/her name on the sign-up sheet (see attached) and include the project idea drawn from the box.

3.)Distribute copies of the guidelines for the slideshow presentations and discuss each step with the students (see attached).

4.)Give each student a copy of the assessment sheet and a copy of the research sheet before research begins (both attached). Be sure students understand that the research sheet must be completely filled out before they are allowed to begin designing their slideshows. Review all guidelines for the project with the students as necessary.

5.)Show the attached PowerPoint set-up of the project. Schedule computer time for the completion of the slideshow presentations. Assist as needed.

6.)Allow students to present their slideshows to the class. Require students to turn in the research sheets to the teacher at this time. (Using the attached rubric, assess projects as they are presented.)

7.)Upon completion of the student presentations, introduce the short novel A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Discuss the importance of the PowerPoint presentations and their relevance to the story.

8.)Read A Christmas Carol aloud in class. Lead discussions on the literary elements and vocabulary in the novel as each stave is read.

9.)Upon completion of the novel, introduce the newspaper project. Pass out the guidelines for the project (see attached). Divide the students into groups of four to work cooperatively on this project. Returning the research sheets to the students at this time may help generate ideas and save research time.

10.)Allow computer time for students to put their newspapers together. Remind students to follow all of the guidelines and to consult their assessment sheets.

11.)Display finished projects in a prominent place in the classroom or media center.

Students will be evaluated on the following criteria: following written and oral directions, accuracy/completeness of work, and grammar and spelling using the attached rubric.