ESL ENGLISH LESSON (60-120 mins) – 10th December 2011

Why do we dream of a white Christmas?

Why do we dream of a white Christmas? Why do we get Christmas cards
with snow on them? The culprit is the writer Charles Dickens. His childhood
coincided with a decade of freakishly cold winters. Thus in his writings he
describes persistently a Britain smothered in snow on Christmas Day, his
inspiration coming from his childhood. Six of Dickens’s first nine
Christmases were white. One of these fell in the winter of 1813-14, when
Britain’s last Frost Fair was held on a frozen River Thames in London and
Dickens was nearly two years old. The ice around Blackfriars Bridge was
thick enough to bear the weight of an elephant. So when in 1843, he came
to write about the Ghost of Christmas Past, he did so with the spirit of those
colder Christmases, with “quick wheels dashing the hoar frost and snow
from the darker leaves of the evergreen like spray”. The story is now
credited with establishing the Victorian genre of the Christmas story and
spurring a revival of the celebration of Christmas in early Victorian England.

Phillip Allingham, a specialist in Dickens’s Christmas books said, A

Christmas Carol made Christmas respectable for the English bourgeoisie,
who had come to regard it as somewhat antiquated. Christmas trees
brought over to Britain by Prince Albert in 1840 were adopted too, after
Dickens wrote a popular essay on them. Other tales would later
complement Dickens’s idealised snowy Christmas. From the mid 19th
century a poem first published in America 20 years earlier gained currency.
The night before Christmas put Santa Claus on a sleigh pulled by reindeer.
It was around this time that artists consistently drew Santa in red robes.
But Dickens had done most of the groundwork, driven by an enduring
obsession for the season. In The Pickwick Papers, published six years before
A Christmas Carol, he had written: “Happy happy Christmas, that can win
us back to the delusions of our childish days.”

Those dearly remembered childhood Christmases that Dickens remembered

coincided with the second decade of the 19th century, the coldest decade in
Britain since the 1690s. Some regard those winters as the last hurrah of “a
little ice age” that had gripped Northern Europe for several centuries,
though the immediate cause of the cold was a series of colossal volcanic
eruptions that enveloped the globe in dust and shrouded the sun.

Category: Christmas / Charles Dickens / Snow

Level: Intermediate / Upper intermediate
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 Why do we dream of a white Christmas? – 10th December 2011

EXERCISES
1. Why do we dream of a white Christmas? Think of three answers
to this question. Go round the room swapping details.

2. Geography: London: Where is London? What country is it in? What part

of the country is it in? What river runs through London? Draw a map on the board
then look on Google maps to help you.

3. Dictation: The teacher will read four to six lines of the article slowly and
clearly. Students will write down what they hear. The teacher will repeat the passage
slowly again. Self-correct your work from page one - filling in spaces and correcting
mistakes. Be honest with yourself on the number of errors. Advise the teacher of
your total number of errors. Less than five is very good. Ten is acceptable. Any more
is room for improvement! More than twenty - you need to do some work!

4. Reading: The students should now read the article aloud, swapping readers
every paragraph.

5. Vocabulary: Students should now look through the article and underline any
vocabulary they do not know. Look in dictionaries. Discuss and help each other out.
The teacher will go through and explain any unknown words or phrases.

6. The article: Students should look through the article with the teacher.
a) What is the article about?
b) What do you think about the article?

7. Let’s think! Think of five things about a white Christmas. Then add five
things about Charles Dickens. Write them below. Explain to your partner why you
chose these.
Five things about a white Christmas Five things about Charles Dickens
1 1
2 2
3 3
4 4
5 5
The teacher will choose some pairs to discuss their findings in front of the class.

8. Let’s discuss: A white Christmas: Think of two different places in

the world where there might be a white Christmas? Compare and discuss together
with your partner.
The teacher will choose some pairs to discuss their findings in front of the class.

9. Let’s think! In pairs. On the board write as many words as you can to do
with ‘A white Christmas’. One-two minutes. Compare with other teams. Using your
words compile a short dialogue together.
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 Why do we dream of a white Christmas? – 10th December 2011

10. Let’s talk! Radio London: In pairs/groups. You are in the Radio
London studio. One of you is the presenter; the other student(s) select one or more
of the topics listed below as today’s talking point(s). Try to get a balanced interview.
5 minutes.
1 Charles Dickens 3 A white Christmas
2 Christmas 4 A Victorian Christmas
The teacher will choose some pairs to tell their stories in front of the class.

11. Let’s do ‘The Article Quiz’: Have the students quiz each other in
pairs. They score a point for each correct answer and half a point each time they
have to look at the article for help. See who can get the highest score!
Student A
1) Name the famous writer.
2) Name the river.
3) What year did the writer write about the ghost of Christmas Past?
4) Who is Philip Allingham?
5) What really caused the cold winters?
Student B
1) Who was Prince Albert?
2) What did Prince Albert bring to Britain in 1840?
3) Name the bridge.
4) The sleigh was pulled by what?
5) Name the books.

12. Let debate: Students A prefer a white Christmas. Students B prefer

Christmas without snow. 2 minutes.

13. Presentation: In pairs, groups or individually: Prepare in class or at home

a 2-minute presentation on either: A white Christmas / Charles Dickens. Stand
at the front of the class to give your presentation to the class. The class can vote on
the best presentation. Class – After the presentations go through the good and weak
points on each presentation. Learn from the results.

14. Let’s draw a Christmas tree: On the board draw a Christmas tree.
Decorate it and label your tree.

15. Let’s write an e-mail: Write and send a 200 word e-mail to your
teacher about: A white Christmas. Your e-mail can be read out in class.

16. Sentence starters: Finish these sentence starters. Correct your

mistakes. Compare what other people have written.

a) Christmas _____________________________________________________

b) Charles Dickens _________________________________________________

c) Victorian England _______________________________________________

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 Why do we dream of a white Christmas? – 10th December 2011

DISCUSSION
Student A questions
1) Did the headline want to make you read the article?
2) Why do we dream of a white Christmas?
3) Why do we get Christmas cards with snow on them?
4) Have you read any of Charles Dickens’s books? Which ones?
5) When did it last snow in your country?
6) What three things do you like about Christmas?
7) Think of three things you put on a Christmas tree.
8) Think of three things you put on a snowman.
9) Think of three things about Victorian Christmases.
10) Who was Prince Albert?

Student B questions
1) What do you think about what you read?
2) Think of three things you like about Christmas.
3) Think of three things you dislike about Christmas.
4) Think of three things you liked about Christmas as a child.
5) Do you get White Christmases in your country? Why? Why not?
6) Do you have a Christmas tree at Christmas? Why? Why not?
7) Do you go ice skating at Christmas? If yes, where?
8) Is Christmas more for children?
9) What are doing for Christmas this year?
10) Did you like this discussion?

SPEAKING

Let’s discuss! Christmas

Allow 10-15 minutes – As a class / small groups / pairs / 1 to 1

A white Christmas – Decorating the Christmas tree – A Christmas dinner – Opening

the Christmas presents – Celebrating Christmas
The teacher can moderate the session.

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 Why do we dream of a white Christmas? – 10th December 2011

GAP FILL: READING:

Put the words into the gaps in the text.

Why do we dream of a white Christmas? freakishly

Why do we (1)_____ of a white Christmas? Why do we get
Christmas cards with snow on them? The (2)_____ is the writer Christmas
Charles Dickens, his childhood coincided with a decade of
(3)_____ cold winters. Thus in his writings he describes hoar
persistently a Britain smothered in snow on (4)_____ Day. His
inspiration coming from his childhood. Six of Dickens’s first nine ice
Christmases were white. One of these fell in the winter of 1813-
14, when Britain’s last Frost Fair was held on a frozen River
dream
Thames in London and Dickens was nearly two years old. The
(5)_____ around Blackfriars Bridge was thick enough to bear the
ghost
weight of an elephant. So when in 1843, he came to write about
the (6)_____ of Christmas Past, he did so with the spirit of those
Victorian
colder Christmases, with “quick wheels dashing the (7)_____
frost and snow from the darker leaves of the evergreen like
spray”. The story is now credited with establishing the Victorian culprit
genre of the Christmas story and spurring a revival of the
celebration of Christmas in early (8)_____ England.

Phillip Allingham, a specialist in Dickens’s Christmas books said,

A Christmas Carol made Christmas respectable for the English
reindeer
(1)_____, who had come to regard it as somewhat (2)_____.
Christmas trees brought over to Britain by Prince Albert in 1840 sleigh
were adopted too, after Dickens wrote a popular (3)_____ on
them. Other tales would later complement Dickens’s idealised snowy
(4)_____ Christmas. From the mid 19th century a (5)_____ first
published in America 20 years earlier gained currency. The night bourgeoisie
before Christmas put Santa Claus on a (6)_____ pulled by
groundwork
(7)_____. It was around this time that artists consistently drew
Santa in red robes. But Dickens had done most of the (8)_____, antiquated
driven by an enduring obsession for the season. In The Pickwick
Papers, published six years before A Christmas Carol, he had essay
written: “Happy happy Christmas, that can win us back to the
delusions of our childish days.” poem

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 Why do we dream of a white Christmas? – 10th December 2011

GAP FILL: LISTENING

Listen and fill in the spaces.

Why do we dream of a white Christmas?

Why do ___________________ Christmas? Why do we get Christmas cards
with snow on them? The culprit is the _____________________. His
childhood coincided with a decade of freakishly cold winters. Thus in his
writings he describes persistently a Britain ____________________
Christmas Day, his inspiration coming from his childhood. Six of Dickens’s
first nine Christmases were white. One of these __________________ of
1813-14, when Britain’s last Frost Fair was held on a frozen River Thames in
London and Dickens was nearly two years old. The ice around Blackfriars
Bridge was thick enough to bear the weight of an elephant. So when in
1843, he came to write about the Ghost of Christmas Past, he did so with
the spirit of those colder Christmases, with “quick wheels
______________________ and snow from the darker leaves of the
evergreen like spray”. The story is now credited with establishing the
Victorian genre of the Christmas story and spurring a revival of the
celebration of Christmas in early _________________.

Phillip Allingham, a specialist in Dickens’s Christmas books said,

_________________ made Christmas respectable for the English
bourgeoisie, who __________________ it as somewhat antiquated.
Christmas trees brought over to Britain by Prince Albert in 1840 were
adopted too, after Dickens wrote a _____________________. Other tales
would later complement Dickens’s idealised snowy Christmas. From the mid
19th century a poem first published in America 20 years earlier gained
currency. The night before Christmas put ________________ sleigh pulled
by reindeer. It was around this time that artists consistently drew
__________________. But Dickens had done most of the groundwork,
driven by an enduring obsession for the season. In The Pickwick Papers,
published six years before A Christmas Carol, he had written: “Happy happy
Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions ____________________.”

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 Why do we dream of a white Christmas? – 10th December 2011

GRAMMAR
Put the words into the gaps in the text.

Why do we dream of a white Christmas? these

Why do we dream of a white Christmas? (1)__ do we get
Christmas cards with snow on them? The culprit is the writer from
Charles Dickens. His childhood coincided with a decade of
freakishly cold winters. (2)__ in his writings he describes those
persistently a Britain smothered in snow on Christmas Day, his
inspiration coming from his childhood. Six of Dickens’s first nine about
Christmases were white. One of (3)__ fell in the winter of 1813-
14, when Britain’s last Frost Fair was held on a frozen River
why
Thames in London and Dickens was nearly two years old. The ice
around Blackfriars Bridge was thick enough to bear the weight of
with
an elephant. So (4)__ in 1843, he came to write (5)__ the Ghost
of Christmas Past, he did so with the spirit of (6)__ colder
thus
Christmases, with “quick wheels dashing the hoar frost and snow
(7)__ the darker leaves of the evergreen like spray”. The story is
now credited (8)__ establishing the Victorian genre of the when
Christmas story and spurring a revival of the celebration of
Christmas in early Victorian England.

Phillip Allingham, a specialist in Dickens’s Christmas books said, A

Christmas Carol made Christmas respectable for the English
a
bourgeoisie, (1)__ had come to regard it as somewhat
antiquated. Christmas trees brought over to Britain (2)__ Prince by
Albert in 1840 were adopted too, after Dickens wrote a popular
essay on them. Other tales would later complement Dickens’s in
idealised snowy Christmas. From (3)__ mid 19th century (4)__
poem first published in America 20 years earlier gained currency. but
The night before Christmas put Santa Claus on a sleigh pulled by
who
reindeer. It was around this time that artists consistently drew
Santa in red robes. (5)__ Dickens had done most of the our
groundwork, driven by an enduring obsession (6)__ the season.
(7)__ The Pickwick Papers, published six years before A for
Christmas Carol, he had written: “Happy happy Christmas, that
can win us back to the delusions of (8)__ childish days.” the

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 Why do we dream of a white Christmas? – 10th December 2011

SPELLING TEST

The teacher will ask the class individually to spell the following words that are in the
article. Afterwards, check your answers with your teacher, using the following
ratings: Pass = 12, Good = 15, Very good = 18, Excellent = 20
1 hoar 11 groundwork
2 inspiration 12 antiquated
3 persistently 13 freakishly
4 respectable 14 decade
5 bourgeoisie 15 hurrah
6 coincided 16 gripped
7 Victorian 17 immediate
8 immediate 18 enveloped
9 celebration 19 shrouded
10 reindeer 20 culprit

LINKS
http://www.nwitimes.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/article_ad68618b-e975-
5d9e-b868-eaf9270f3fcd.html
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=9176107
http://charearl.com/christmas/Why-Do-We-Dream-of-a-White-Christmas.html
http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/who-really-made-us-dream-of-a-white-
christmas/19282574
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8424432.stm

ANSWERS
GAP FILL: Why do we dream of a white Christmas? Why do we dream of a white
Christmas? Why do we get Christmas cards with snow on them? The culprit is the writer Charles
Dickens. His childhood coincided with a decade of freakishly cold winters. Thus in his writings he
describes persistently a Britain smothered in snow on Christmas Day, his inspiration coming from his
childhood. Six of Dickens’s first nine Christmases were white. One of these fell in the winter of 1813-14,
when Britain’s last Frost Fair was held on a frozen River Thames in London and Dickens was nearly two
years old. The ice around Blackfriars Bridge was thick enough to bear the weight of an elephant. So
when in 1843, he came to write about the Ghost of Christmas Past, he did so with the spirit of those
colder Christmases, with “quick wheels dashing the hoar frost and snow from the darker leaves of the
evergreen like spray”. The story is now credited with establishing the Victorian genre of the Christmas
story and spurring a revival of the celebration of Christmas in early Victorian England.
Phillip Allingham, a specialist in Dickens’s Christmas books said, A Christmas Carol made Christmas
respectable for the English bourgeoisie, who had come to regard it as somewhat antiquated.
Christmas trees brought over to Britain by Prince Albert in 1840 were adopted too, after Dickens wrote a
popular essay on them. Other tales would later complement Dickens’s idealised snowy Christmas. From
the mid 19th century a poem first published in America 20 years earlier gained currency. The night
before Christmas put Santa Claus on a sleigh pulled by reindeer. It was around this time that artists
consistently drew Santa in red robes. But Dickens had done most of the groundwork, driven by an
enduring obsession for the season. In The Pickwick Papers, published six years before A Christmas Carol,
he had written: “Happy happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days.”
(V1)

Created by David Robinson. This ESL lesson is the copyright of www.newsflashenglish.com

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