Using A Christmas Carol in Homeschool

We are super excited to go and see A Christmas Carol in 3-D next week.

(If you haven't seen Up or Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs in this new 3-D...let me just say, it is amazing!)

I've been thinking of ways to incorporate the movie into our lessons without killing all the fun of going to the movie for the kiddos.

Here is what we are doing:

1. I am reading the original story to them.  (I always assumed I had read it before....but apparently not).

2. The kids are reading an abridged version.

3. They are making a chart comparing the different versions of the story: the book, the abridged children's version, the special they saw on tv last year (we call it the Jon Luc Picard version...but really the one where Patrick Stewart plays Scrooge), and the new movie.  This chat will serve as the pre-writing exercise for writing a compare/contrast paper.  (David will write a page, Alex will write a paragraph and Max will write a few lines...each to their abilities.)

4. I will have them draw pictures and write about how they would have presented each ghost if they were writing the story.  

5. We will read about Charles Dickens himself - most likely just on line.  

6. We will talk about what life was like during that time period.

7. We are going to play a few games (like those usually featured in the movies..."Tight as a drum..or you uncle Scrooge's purse."

8. They will pick their favorite scene to make a diorama out of.

9. We are working on public speaking a little bit - so I will probably have them present their project as one of the characters.

10. We will put up our Dickens Christmas Village I have been slowly collecting for the past 17 years.  The kids get into this process so much more than I ever would have thought.  They are often the ones to point out Scrooge's house shouldn't be so close to everyone else's, etc.

Every one of these things will be met with mild groans by my kids...except for going to see the movie. They never want to actually do any work.  But their complaints are mild.  I am just going into this knowing I will probably have the most fun.  And that is totally ok with me:)

Feel free to load me up with any additional great ideas.

Comments

[Brooke]

Owh that makes me want to attend your home school class. Please be sure to post pictures of the dioramas.

Maybe as they progress with the public speaking you could video it and post it on your blog. That way when they do the talk they know they will have a bigger audience than just their family.

[Rachel]

We can't wait to see this movie! And I agree with Brooke can we come to school at your house too? ;)

[kendra]

Will you home school me? I promise not to groan. Even mildly.

[jen]

You're the best home schooling mom ever!

[Roberta]

I had to teach A Christmas Carol when I was student teaching Jr.High English. I loved it! It's great that you are reading it aloud. Enjoy Kelli! I think maybe you were born in the wrong time period...

[kellicrowe]

Roberta - I often think I was born in the wrong time period...then I remember how much I like tooth paste and tivo and not the not dying during childbirth thing:)

[Lain]

Can I come over and hang out for this??? ;)
We love "Scrooged" with Bill Murray, too... trying to think of a way to make it educational..hmmm.... I'll get back to you on that one!

[Jenn]

What a fantastic idea! We can't wait to see this movie and I love your ideas to incorporate it with homeschooling lessons.

[Ann]

WOW, what a list! How about fitting some science (technology) into it. What did they use for lights, how did they cook? What things weren't invented then? Otherwise, I think you have it covered!

[amyjk]

love your ideas! i have none to add, but i would love to see pics of the dioramas-- and your dickens village too!

[amy schubert]

Have they not ever seen 'Muppet Christmas Carol' ??? for shame! Plus, super fun to compare to other versions because Gonzo plays 'Charles Dickens' the narrator ... good good stuff!

[Shelly Pope]

This is great! Thanks so much for posting!

[Patricia]

You rock!

P.

[Crafty P]

We just borrowed Jim Weiss's audio of A Christmas Carol for the library. His audio books are fabulous!

http://www.greathall.com/products/christmascarol.html

I cannot wait to see this movie, too! It reminds me of The Polar Express and we've about worn that DVD out!

[debbie]

I agree, we homeschool mom's probably have more fun (and learn more) than our kids! Don't worry though, they'll realize how blessed they are sooner or later.

[Felicia]

wonderful idea, may do something similar with my little guy (he's 7) with a different version of the movie. my mother and I went to see this new one tonight, and I think if my son saw this none of us would get ANY SLEEP FOR LIKE THE NEXT 6 MONTHS. he would be so freaked out. the animation made this VERY dark to me. I mean, I'm 30 and I was jumping in my seat. I think some kids would not do well with this flick.

[Sheila]

Now I know why I can never fine my car keys! This is still rattling in my brain:

Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth
Inspired hath in every holt and heeth
The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne
Hath in the Ram his halfe cours yronne,
And smale foweles maken melodye,
(That slepen al the nyght with open eye)
So priketh hem Nature in hir corages
Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages

[Julia M. in MI]

Sounds like a great plan. I hope you all have a lot of fun with this. I am not sure what we are going to do for the holidays. Better get to some planning. My daughter wants to study the Indians for Thanksgiving, so we'll see.

[kellicrowe]

Sheila - this is what I am saying!

[Shani]

Wow thank you for this. I was just thinking myself I must use this with my homeschooling, and so again thank you for making it easier for me. I really am inspired by you. I have a son 6yrs who has Autism and a daughter 8yrs with Dyspraxia and I home school both. I am really interested in how you approach your hmschooling with your boys. Again Thank you from my heart :-)