An Introduction to A Christmas Carol for GCSE - teaching resource

An Introduction to A Christmas Carol for GCSE

(45-slide editable PowerPoint with 11 accompanying worksheets)

This comprehensive GCSE English Literature resource introduces students to the plot, structure, and key ideas in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Perfect for KS4 learners, the 45-slide fully editable PowerPoint and 11 worksheets provide an accessible yet detailed overview of the novella, preparing students for deeper analysis in later lessons.

The resource begins with a differentiated Do Now starter task where learners match illustrations of key moments in the novella to relevant quotations. Higher-ability learners are also challenged to:

• Sequence the illustrations in the correct order

• Decide which moment is the most significant and justify their reasoning

The resource includes a detailed plot summary, broken down into five sections, each corresponding to a stave in the novella. To support comprehension and analysis, there are eleven worksheets linked to these sections, encouraging learners to:

• Summarise events clearly

• Develop inference and analytical skills

• Explore Dickens’ themes and techniques

Many worksheets include extension tasks to stretch more able learners, ensuring differentiation throughout.

This resource can be delivered in one extended session or split across two 50–60 minute lessons, making it highly flexible for classroom teaching, revision, or intervention.

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