Lesson video

Hi everyone.

My name is Ms. Boyle, and welcome to this reading lesson where we will be exploring characterization in, "A Christmas Carol".

We will be reading extracts from an adapted version of a Christmas Carol.

You can find these in the additional materials section of this lesson.

During the lesson, you'll need to be listening carefully and there'll be tasks where you need somebody to talk to.

I hope you are feeling excited and ready to learn.

Let's get started.

The learning outcome for today's lesson is, "I can analyse characterization within a chapter." Here are our key words for today's lesson.

Let's practise saying them.

My turn, your turn.

Characterization.

Synonym.

Contrast.

Great job.

Let's take a look at their definitions.

Characterization is the way an author and illustrator describes and develops the personalities and traits of the characters in a story.

A synonym is a word that has the same or similar meaning to another word.

Contrast is a significant difference between one thing and another.

There are two parts to today's lesson.

In the first part, we will be exploring characterization within the story, and in the second part we will be reading the summary.

So let's begin with exploring characterization.

Chapter one, "A Christmas Carol".

Let's remind ourselves what we know so far.

Ebenezer Scrooge, an unkind man rejects the joy of Christmas and focuses only on his wealth.

Despite festive surroundings, Scrooge dismisses his nephew's invitation to Christmas dinner.

His nephew emphasises the importance of family and spreading joy during the holiday season.

Unmoved, Scrooge returns to his work, unaware that everything might be about to change.

What is characterization? Characterization is the way an author describes and develops the personalities and traits of the characters in a story.

Authors and illustrators use a range of methods to convey characterization.

A character's appearance, a character's words, and a character's actions.

Let's check your understanding.

True or false.

Characterization can only be conveyed through a character's actions.

Pause the video and select your answer.

That is false, well done.

Now, can you justify your answer? A, characterization can be conveyed through a character's actions, thoughts, dialogue, and interactions with others.

Or B, characterization can only be conveyed through what is written by an author.

Pause the video and select the correct justification.

The answer is A, well done.

Characterization can be conveyed through a character's actions, thoughts, dialogue, and interactions with others.

You can use your inference skills to gain a deeper understanding of the characterization within a story.

We are going to explore how Charles Dickens characterises Scrooge.

Sometimes characterization is very clear and easy to spot.

It appears in the adjectives an author uses to describe a character.

An adjective is a word that describes a noun.

Read and listen to the following quote carefully.

Ebenezer was known throughout the town as the meanest, most miserly person you could ever meet.

In this quote from the text, which words describe Scrooge? Pause the video now and see if you can spot the adjectives used to describe Scrooge with your partner.

Well done for spotting those adjectives.

Jacob said, "the words meanest and miserly describe Scrooge." The adjective, "Meanest" Is linked to the adjective, "Mean." The definition of, "Mean" Is unkind or unpleasant or unwilling to share things.

Here is an example of how we can use the word, "Mean." "She was very mean with her workers.

She barely paid them anything." The adjective, "Miserly" Is linked to the noun, "Miser." A miser is a person who spends as little money as possible.

"Miserly" Means unwilling to share or spend money.

Let's check your understanding.

Which of the following adjectives is a synonym for miserly? Remember, a synonym is a word that has the same or similar meaning to another word.

so you are searching for words that mean the same thing as miserly.

Unwilling to share or spend money.

Pause the video and select your answers now.

The answers are B and D.

Ungenerous and greedy are good synonyms for the word, "Miserly." Well done.

Laura says, "The way someone treats others tells you a lot about them." Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why? Pause the video now to discuss this question with your partner.

Your sentence starters are, "I agree with this statement because.

." "I disagree with this statement because.

." Come back and press play when you are ready.

I really enjoyed listening to your discussions.

Izzy said, "I agree with this statement because the way you treat other people depends on your characteristics.

For example, if you are a kind person, you treat people kindly." This was a great answer.

Authors often choose to give you insight into a character's personality through their actions.

This helps the reader understand the character even better, develop an opinion of them and become more invested in the story.

It's now time to pause the video, go to the additional materials and read chapter one of the story.

Come back and press play once you have read this chapter.

Welcome back.

I hope you really enjoyed reading chapter one.

Let's check your understanding.

Which of the following actions characterise Scrooge in a negative light? A, Scrooge refused to give Bob more coal for the fire.

B, Scrooge scowled when his nephew walked in.

C, Scrooge sat behind his desk.

D, Scrooge waved Fred away dismissively and barked at him.

Pause the video now and select all of the actions that characterise Scrooge in a negative light.

The answers are A, B, and D.

Well done.

Scrooge refused to give Bob more coal for the fire.

Scrooge scowled when his nephew walked in, and Scrooge waved Fred away dismissively and barked at him.

This characterises him in a negative light.

Sometimes authors introduce a very different character to help highlight a character's traits.

This contrast is a very effective characterization technique.

In chapter one, which character displays a very different attitude and personality to Scrooge? Have a little think.

Andeep said it's Fred, and he is correct.

Fred's arrival makes it even more clear how mean and miserly Scrooge is because his personality is very different.

I will explain how Fred is different to Scrooge using evidence.

I think that Fred is different to Scrooge because he smiles a lot, whereas Scrooge scowls.

It's now your turn to have a go.

Can you explain how Fred is different to Scrooge using evidence from the text? Your sentence starter is, "I think that Fred is different to Scrooge because.

." Pause the video and answer this now.

Well done for spotting the ways in which Fred and Scrooge are different.

A good example I had was, "I think that Fred is different to Scrooge because he is generous for inviting Scrooge round for dinner.

Scrooge on the other hand is unkind." It's now time for your first task, and it is a talk task.

This task is called, "the Diamond 4." Look at the adjectives below.

Place the adjective that you think describes Scrooge best at the top of the diamond and work your way down.

Explain your choices.

The adjectives are, "Mean, miserly, weak and unkind." Refer to chapter one to support your discussion.

Pause the video and do the task now.

Let's take a look at what Aisha and Andeep said.

They placed unkind at the top of the diamond.

Then they placed mean and miserly in the middle of the diamond.

And they placed weak at the bottom of the diamond.

Let's look at how they explained their decision.

Aisha said, "I think unkind describes Scrooge best because in chapter one he treats both Fred and Bob badly." Andeep said, "I put weak last because I haven't seen any evidence of Scrooge being weak yet." Aisha and Andeep have used evidence from the text to explain their choices.

Well done for completing the diamond 4 to describe Scrooge.

It's now time for the second part of our lesson where you will be reading the summary section of A Christmas Carol.

We will now read the summary of A Christmas Carol from the additional materials.

Pause the video, go to the additional materials and read from the start of the summary up to, ".

despite his own isolation and indifference." Come back and press play once you have read this section.

Welcome back.

Well done for reading the beginning of the summary.

Let's check your understanding.

Which of the following statements are true? A, the ghost of Marley carried heavy chains.

B, Scrooge was not scared by Marley's visit.

C, the ghost of Christmas present was jolly.

Pause the video now and select the true statements.

The true statements are A, the ghost of Marley carried heavy chains, and C, the ghost of Christmas present was jolly.

Well done.

It's time to continue reading.

Pause the video, go to the additional materials and read from, "Finally, the ghost of Christmas.

." Up to, ".

has been given a second chance." Come back and press play when you are ready.

Well done, I hope you enjoyed reading.

It's time to check your understanding.

Put the following events from the summary in the correct order.

A, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of Christmas present.

B, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his old business partner, Marley.

C, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of Christmas past.

D, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of Christmas yet to come.

Pause the video and number these one to four to show their order in the story now.

Let's take a look at the answers together.

One, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his old business partner, Marley.

Two, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of Christmas past.

Three, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of Christmas present.

Four, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of Christmas yet to come.

Well done for showing your understanding of the chronology of events within the story.

It is time for your final task, and it is a talk task.

Make a prediction.

What do you think will happen next? Your sentence starters are, "I predict that.

because.

." And, "Next, I think that.

because.

." Because is the key subordinating conjunction you need to use to justify your answer with evidence from the story.

Pause the video and discuss this with your partner now.

Welcome back.

You are fantastic at using your knowledge of the story to make a sensible prediction about what might happen next.

Let's take a look at a couple of the examples I heard.

Laura said, "I predict that Scrooge will change his ways because it seems as though he has learned his lesson.

Since it is Christmas day, maybe he will do festive things with his friends and family." Jacob said, "Next, I think that Scrooge will transform into a better person.

However, I think he will find it hard because he has spent years being mean and wisely." These were two wonderful examples of predictions about what might happen in the story next and how Scrooge's character might change based on what has happened so far.

We've now come to the end of our lesson, so let's go over a summary together.

Characterization is the way an author describes and develops the personalities and traits of the characters in a story.

Authors choose adjectives carefully to build a picture of a character.

The way a character treats others helps us understand a character, build an opinion of them, and become more invested in the story.

Authors use contrasting characters to help highlight particular characteristics.

In the summary, Scrooge meets four ghosts who give him a new perspective on life.

Well done for engaging so well in the story of A Christmas Carol and exploring the characterization within it.

I have really enjoyed teaching you this lesson.