in the story of A Christmas Carol

Objective: at the end of the lesson, students will understand Jacob Marley’s role in the story A Christmas Carol.

Materials: Copy of the story A Christmas Carol

Time Allowance: 45 minutes

Procedure:

1. (5 minutes) Introduce the lesson. Ask students to name every character in A Christmas Carol. Introduce the character of Jacob Marley. Ask the students what they know about Jacob Marley.

2. (10 minutes) Have the students read aloud an excerpt from the story in which Jacob Marley appears. Ask questions about Marley’s behavior, emphasizing his frightening appearance and demeanor.

3. (15 minutes) Discuss the purpose of Jacob Marley’s visit. Ask the students to think about why Marley might seek out Scrooge after his death. Guide the discussion to the idea that Marley wants to warn Scrooge of the consequences of his continuing miserly ways.

4. (10 minutes) Ask the students to consider what message Marley wants to send to Scrooge by visiting him on the night before Christmas. Guide the discussion to the idea that Marley wants to remind Scrooge of the importance of cherishing people, especially family, in life.

5. (5 minutes) Review the lesson by having each student write a sentence about Jacob Marley’s role in the story of A Christmas Carol.

6. (5 minutes) Allow for a brief question and answer session, followed by an assessment of student understanding.