A Christmas Carol - The Cratchits Part 4 - teaching resource

A Christmas Carol – The Cratchits Part 4

(17-slide editable PowerPoint with 2 worksheets)

This GCSE English Literature lesson continues the exploration of Dickens’ presentation of the Cratchit family in Stave Three of A Christmas Carol. Designed for KS4 learners, the 17-slide fully editable PowerPoint and two accompanying worksheets guide students through close reading, analysis, and interpretation, deepening understanding of Dickens’ themes and characterisation.

The lesson focuses on the passage from “At last the dinner was all done…” down to “…on hearing his own name”, examining how Dickens portrays the Cratchits’ warmth, gratitude, and togetherness in contrast to Scrooge’s isolation and miserliness.

The lesson begins with a differentiated Do Now starter activity designed to consolidate knowledge through retrieval and revision of quotations from across the novella so far.

Learners then explore an image of a caterpillar eating a leaf, connecting it to Dickens’ “insect on the leaf” metaphor in the passage, which symbolises Scrooge’s greed and selfishness.

After this preparation, learners read the passage and complete five focused analytical tasks on a passage-based worksheet. Suggested answers are provided on the PowerPoint to support teacher-led discussion and independent study.

The lesson concludes with a plenary debate, where learners generate points to support or challenge a statement regarding the Cratchits’ symbolic role in Stave Three, encouraging evaluative thinking.

Perfect for classroom teaching, revision, intervention, or exam preparation, this resource develops key skills in close reading, thematic analysis, and critical interpretation for the GCSE English Literature exam.

Related Resources

A Christmas Carol

GCSE Prose teaching resources

Get access to thousands of pages of resources. Find out more about membership here.

Our Price : £2.99 / 3 Credits  

 Add to basket