English/Language Arts
Explore short stories - sub-genres and review criteria
This Minute opens the door to having a long exploration of a fascinating genre, the short story. As Author Warren explains, this “short” story of Dickens was actually pretty darn long. Take a look at some flash fiction with your students, or look at six word memoirs. Have your students develop criteria for reviewing the quality of short stories.
Explore word choice - awesome adjectives
Author Warren includes the Dickens’ quote “a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, clutching, covetous, old sinner.” Have the students take a closer look at the adjectives Dickens chose. Would it have been as effective with fewer words? Would just one more have made it better? Now have your students dive into their Writer's’ Notebooks to find a piece they can use to play with adjectives. Add some. Subtract some. Peer review. Repeat as necessary.
Social Studies
Explore British History - 19th century
Known as the Victorian Age, the Minute provides the perfect springboard for exploring a century marked by the rise of industrialism, secularism, scientific discovery and literary exploration of social justice. Have your students work in small groups to construct timelines of what the group believes are the important points of the era, then compare with each other to justify their choices and come up with a class consensus timeline.
Explore paranormal beliefs in the 19th century
From Victorian England to upstate New York, there is a lot of evidence that supports an increasing fascination with the paranormal and supernatural. The increase in literary ghost stories paralleled other events like the unveiling of Darwin’s theory of evolution and the publication of The Origin of the Species. Have students discuss how science influences culture. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? What are some possible outcomes? Can students find other examples in history?
STEM
Explore evolutionary theory and Darwin
Author Warren mentions that 19th century Brits were enamored with all things paranormal. Some hypothesize that the rising interest in the supernatural was connected to increasing secularism and declining religious activity due in large part to Charles Darwin’s publication of The Origin of the Species. Use this Minute to introduce (or reintroduce) evolutionary theory and have students explore the challenges when science clashes with current theological beliefs or popular thinking.
Art
Explore illustration as an art form
Author Warren has included some of John Leech’s beautiful illustrations from the public domain first edition of “A Christmas Carol.” Use this Minute to look at book illustrators and the art of illustration. Collect a cart of picture books from the library and have students examine them for similarities and differences. How many are written and illustrated by the same person? Investigate whether authors get to choose artists (they frequently have NO say) and what the working relationship is between these two parties (often, no relationship is established or encouraged). Have students each read the same short story and try to independently illustrate the story. Compare the results!
Research Skills
Explore Museum Websites
Use this Minute to launch a thorough exploration of the British Library Website. A treasure trove of scholarly articles and images thoughtfully curated, have your students document a curiosity journey and see where it takes them. To extend the activity, at each “stop” have them add an annotated citation explaining what led them there and where they are headed next.
Explore short stories - sub-genres and review criteria
This Minute opens the door to having a long exploration of a fascinating genre, the short story. As Author Warren explains, this “short” story of Dickens was actually pretty darn long. Take a look at some flash fiction with your students, or look at six word memoirs. Have your students develop criteria for reviewing the quality of short stories.
Explore word choice - awesome adjectives
Author Warren includes the Dickens’ quote “a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, clutching, covetous, old sinner.” Have the students take a closer look at the adjectives Dickens chose. Would it have been as effective with fewer words? Would just one more have made it better? Now have your students dive into their Writer's’ Notebooks to find a piece they can use to play with adjectives. Add some. Subtract some. Peer review. Repeat as necessary.
Social Studies
Explore British History - 19th century
Known as the Victorian Age, the Minute provides the perfect springboard for exploring a century marked by the rise of industrialism, secularism, scientific discovery and literary exploration of social justice. Have your students work in small groups to construct timelines of what the group believes are the important points of the era, then compare with each other to justify their choices and come up with a class consensus timeline.
Explore paranormal beliefs in the 19th century
From Victorian England to upstate New York, there is a lot of evidence that supports an increasing fascination with the paranormal and supernatural. The increase in literary ghost stories paralleled other events like the unveiling of Darwin’s theory of evolution and the publication of The Origin of the Species. Have students discuss how science influences culture. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? What are some possible outcomes? Can students find other examples in history?
STEM
Explore evolutionary theory and Darwin
Author Warren mentions that 19th century Brits were enamored with all things paranormal. Some hypothesize that the rising interest in the supernatural was connected to increasing secularism and declining religious activity due in large part to Charles Darwin’s publication of The Origin of the Species. Use this Minute to introduce (or reintroduce) evolutionary theory and have students explore the challenges when science clashes with current theological beliefs or popular thinking.
Art
Explore illustration as an art form
Author Warren has included some of John Leech’s beautiful illustrations from the public domain first edition of “A Christmas Carol.” Use this Minute to look at book illustrators and the art of illustration. Collect a cart of picture books from the library and have students examine them for similarities and differences. How many are written and illustrated by the same person? Investigate whether authors get to choose artists (they frequently have NO say) and what the working relationship is between these two parties (often, no relationship is established or encouraged). Have students each read the same short story and try to independently illustrate the story. Compare the results!
Research Skills
Explore Museum Websites
Use this Minute to launch a thorough exploration of the British Library Website. A treasure trove of scholarly articles and images thoughtfully curated, have your students document a curiosity journey and see where it takes them. To extend the activity, at each “stop” have them add an annotated citation explaining what led them there and where they are headed next.
© Karen Sterling, 2017 - May be used for educational purposes without written permission