This week both classes began a study of Charles Dickens. We spent a few days reading about his life and the events that inspired his writing. We went to the computer to research life in Victorian England. Students were amazed at how proper life was back then. I heard comments like, "Mrs.Gordon, did you know that people were not aloud to leave their bedrooms in pajamas?" or "Kids only saw their parents for one hour a day." After completing our research the kids tried their hands at Survive Charles Dickens England, a great video game that allows students to learn more about the life and times of Dickens.
For the next week we will be reading A Christmas Carol and applying what we know about Victorian England, Charles Dickens and literary techniques to this unit.