Mrs. Mulvihill: Christmas Carol Webquest

Introduction

This month we are going to be reading a play called "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. This is an abridged (shortened) version of his original novel of the same title, and still contains much of the original language and all of the important plot, characters, setting, and lessons that Dickens presented in the full length book.

Before we read, it is important for to understand the history of the Victorian era, life in London during this time period, and important events in Charles Dickens' life. You will have an opportunity to share what you’ve learned with the class. Having this background knowledge will allow you to understand what is going on in the play and to learn all that Dickens is teaching his readers.

Task

In order to prepare for our unit on A Christmas Carol, you will be researching several aspects of Victorian England.The story takes place during the Victorian Era, which is a period of history from 1837-1901 during the reign of the Queen Victoria.

You will become our class “experts” on one of the topics listed below. You will do research on your topic,and then present your findings to the class. You will work with a partner/group and will receive an individual and group grade. Each member of your group must contribute equally.

The Jobs:

1. Food & Fashion Expert:

Responsible for...

- Researching and taking notes on the food served in Victorian England.

- Find information and taking notes on the clothing men, women, and children wore in the Victorian era.

- Don't Forget pictures!

Use the Following websites to gather your information. Don't forget to cite your sources!

Food Facts Children's Fashion

The Victorian Kitchen Dress Pattern

English Afternoon Tea Men's Fashion

Smoking Bishop & Plumb Pudding

2. Holiday Celebrations & Recreation Expert:

- Responsible for...

- Researching and taking notes about how the Victorians celebrated Christmas.

What customs did they follow?

- Finding out and taking notes on the names and rules of games & social activities of Victorian England.

- Describing what the celebrations/games/activities sounded and looked like.

- Researching and taking notes on the games and activities that Victorians participated in for fun.

- Don't Forget pictures!

Use the Following websites to gather your information. Don't forget to cite your sources!

Traditions Games

More Traditions Dances

Christmas Trees Other Activities

3. Child Labor & Prison Expert:

Responsible for...

- Researching and taking notes on life for children working in factories.

- Find out about and take notes on the debtors’ prisons, and the poor/work houses of Victorian England.

- Don't Forget pictures!

Use the Following websites to gather your information. Don't forget to cite your sources!

Child Labor Prisons

Victorian Child Labor Punishments

Workhouses

4. Charles Dickens & Christmas Carol Expert

- Researching key events in Charles Dickens' life.

- Focus on events from childhood that he used in his writing

- Be sure to find out what lessons Charles Dickens was trying to teach about what was going on in Victorian London/England

- Research what might be wrong with Tiny Tim

- Look at the map of the setting of A Christmas Carol.

- Don't Forget pictures!

Use the Following websites to gather your information. Don't forget to cite your sources!

Charles Dickens Fast Facts Map of the Setting - Camden Town

Charles Dickens: A Chronology of his Life

Tiny Tim's Health Money

Process

Directions: Each person in the group needs to assume responsibility for an area of your topic, and then research and create a Prezi presentation about it.

Your Prezi must include:

 Title with the name of your topic and a few images to represent it

 Each group member must each make a Prezi about the topic (make a bulleted list of between 5-10 facts and include a few images).

 Remember that you are going to be your group’s expert on your topic! Be prepared to elaborate on your bulleted list and explain your images.

 Design your Prezi so that the writing can be easily read. Use a large, clear font. (You will lose points if we cannot read your information.)

Evaluation

Grading~

You will be graded individually and as a group. You will receive a daily grade for effort, focus, cooperation, and work progression. You will also receive a cumulative test grade for this project based on the rubric below.

Your group project is due, and will be presented to the class, on Friday December 22nd. (If you know that you will not be in school on December 22nd, please make arrangements with me and your partner/group BEFORE you leave for the Winter Vacation.)

You will have the following class days to work on the project. 12/5, 12/6, 12/11, 12/13, 12/20, & 12/21. I will be after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays and available at HW Study to help you and your group as well.

Prezi Rubric
CATEGORY	4	3	2	1
Clarity of Ideas	Easy to read Text guides audience and serves as an aid.	Readable Text guides the audience/ presenter.	Sometimes difficult to follow; zooming/effects are excessive.	Difficult to understand.
Oral Presentation	Presenter demonstrates thorough understanding of content and speaks knowledgably about content.	Presenter demonstrates good understanding of content and is able to speak knowledgably about most talking points.	Presenter demonstrates limited understanding of content and relies upon text for most of the presentation.	Presenter demonstrates little or no understanding of content and reads text directly from presentation to audience.
Content	Ideas are interesting and thought provoking. Ideas demonstrate depth of knowledge.	Ideas are interesting. Some ideas are thought provoking.	Ideas do not demonstrate depth of knowledge. Ideas are not particularly interesting or thought provoking.	Ideas are illogical or unclear
Organization	The path moves logically from one idea to the next; ideas build on each other. Ideas are grouped in a way that makes sense.	The path moves logically from one to the next. Ideas are grouped logically.	The path move in a seemingly arbitrary way. Ideas are not grouped or are grouped arbitrarily.	There is no path and/or grouping.
Multimedia	Effective use of images/videos/links to enhance and support content.	Prezi includes adequate photos, videos and/or links to support content.	More visual elements would add to the presentation.	Prezi does not include visual elements.
Spelling & Grammar	No spelling or grammatical mistakes. .	Minor spelling or grammatical mistakes	Some serious spelling or grammatical mistakes.	Spelling or grammar hinders clear communication of ideas.
Originality	Originality Content is original and in the student’s own words.	Most content is original. All content is in the student’s own words.	Some content is original. All content is in the student’s own words.	Content is not in the student’s own words.