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Dickens 2012 – Celebrating the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens

Resources | Published 16 January, 2012

To celebrate the bicentenary of Charles Dickens’s birth on 7th February, we’ve put together a box of birthday delights for you, which highlight the best teaching resources shared on TES.

Teaching materials include,

  • Secondary English classroom resources shared by teachers
  • Audio readings including commentaries of and extracts from Dickens’s novels
  • BBC Class Clips

See all Dickens teaching resources

Birthday prizes for teachers!

Charles Dickens & Literary Heritage TES Competition

We asked you to share your best Charles Dickens and/or Literary Heritage teaching resources for the chance to win two prizes:

  • Major Works of Charles Dickens - Penguin Special Edition Clothbound Boxed Set
  • A short theatre break (hotel, dinner & tickets) for two

Thank you to everyone who took part - find out who won and view all the entries.

Charles Dickens BBC Class Clips on TES

A selection of videos on context, Dickens, and his texts from the BBC Class Clips series.

The Childhood of Charles Dickens (1/6)

The Childhood of Charles Dickens (2/6)

The Childhood of Charles Dickens (3/6)

The Childhood of Charles Dickens (4/6)

The Childhood of Charles Dickens (5/6)

The Childhood of Charles Dickens (6/6)

David Copperfield – Dramatised Reading

Hard Times - Extract

Hard Times – Gradgrind and ‘Facts’

Hard Times – Extract (contemporary version)

Commentary on Charles Dickens’s Hard Times

Great Expectations – Extract (1/2)

Great Expectations – Extract (2/2)

Great Expectations – Pip’s Benefactor

Great Expectations – Pip meets Miss Havisham

Great Expectations – Pip is manipulated by Miss Havisham

Great Expectations – Pip confronts Miss Havisham

Charles Dickens MP3 Podcasts from Naxos AudioBooks on TES

From Naxos AudioBooks, their special series of Charles Dickens MP3 podcasts. The podcasts include introductions to and excerpts from the books, read by distinguished actors such as Anton Lesser and David Horovitch.

A Tale of Two Cities: Podcast

A Christmas Carol:Podcast

Barnaby Rudge: Podcast

Bleak House: Podcast

David Copperfield: Podcast

Dombey and Son: Podcast

Great Expectations: Podcast

Hard Times: Podcast

Little Dorrit: Podcast

Martin Chuzzlewit: Podcast

Nicholas Nickleby: Podcast

Oliver Twist: Podcast

Our Mutual Friend: Podcast

Sketches by Boz: Podcast

The Old Curiosity Shop: Podcast

The Mystery of Edwin Drood:Podcast

The Pickwick Papers: Podcast

Charles Dickens Teaching Resources, Worksheets & Activities on TES

Dickens and Victorian London – Research & Online Games

Great Expectations and the Gothic

Great Expectations Study Pack

Great Expectations – Range of Homework Tasks

Charles Dickens and Hard Times - Background

Oliver Twist - Reporting the Pick-pocket Extract

Oliver Twist – The Artful Dodger Wanted Poster

Oliver Twist – Nancy’s Motives Pie Chart

Dickens and A Christmas Carol - Background

A Christmas Carol – Sow, Resources, Online Games

Teachers TV – Charles Dickens & Christmas

A Christmas Carol – Plot, Characters & Themes

A Christmas Carol – Scrooge Acrostic

Chantel Mathias

Websites

TES welcomes Chantel Mathias, Subject Lead for Secondary EnglishThe Official Dickens 2012 Website
Chantel MathiasDickens in Context from the British Library
TES English Index PageNaxos AudioBooks

Subscribe to the magazine

5 average rating

Comment (62)

  • Dear Colleagues,

    I hope that you are enjoying our Dickens 2012 collection. I also hope that you will take part in our competition (ends 29 February 2012) by uploading teaching resources for any Literary Heritage author, poet or playwright. If you do, you’ll be in with a chance of winning:
    • Major Works of Charles Dickens - Penguin Special Edition Clothbound Boxed Set
    • A short theatre break (hotel, dinner & tickets) for two

    Please spread the word, and good luck!

    Kind regards,


    Chantel Mathias

    PS. Please post a link to your uploaded resources in the comment area below and we’ll add them to the competition collection.

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    15:52
    26 January, 2012

    TESEnglish

  • I've just uploaded this lesson on the life and times of Dickens:
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Dickens-Full-lesson-Historical-Context-6170202/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    14:56
    29 January, 2012

    Miss R

  • I've also just uploaded this resource for Chapter 2 of Oliver Twist. This is a full lesson Powerpoint with resources:

    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Dickens-Oliver-Twist-In-the-Workhouse-6170207/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    15:04
    29 January, 2012

    Miss R

  • I've just uploaded this resource to the TES too:

    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Dickens-Oliver-Twist-Learning-about-the-book-6170215/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    15:11
    29 January, 2012

    Miss R

  • I've just added this resource for writing about Oliver Twist too:

    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Dickens-Oliver-Twist-Using-the-book-as-stimulus-6170231/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    15:40
    29 January, 2012

    Miss R

  • and this one too:

    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Who-Wants-To-Be-A-Millionaire-Dickens-6170242/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    15:52
    29 January, 2012

    Miss R

  • and this one too:

    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Dickens-Oliver-twist-quiz-6170245/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    15:54
    29 January, 2012

    Miss R

  • ...and lots of pertinent quotations to be displayed in relevant areas of the school...
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Dickens-Quotes-6170519/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    9:15
    30 January, 2012

    natalieanns

  • Super! Thank you!

    Please, all TES users, I want some more!

    Best wishes,

    Chantel

    PS. Your entries aren't restricted to Dickens; entries for resources by ANY writer (poet, author or playwright) from the literary heritage will count, too.

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    11:56
    30 January, 2012

    TESEnglish

  • These 10 word cloud posters make a great competition: name the novel from the characters.

    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/What-s-the-Dickens-6170518/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    18:48
    30 January, 2012

    natalieanns

  • Well, if not restricted to Dickens, here is a useful fact sheet on the life of Edmund Spenser:
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Edmund-Spenser-Lesson-Powerpoint-6132638/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    17:02
    2 February, 2012

    Miss R

  • Here's a Dicken's lesson - ideal for use on World Book Day:
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/World-Book-Day-Oliver-Twist-Recreate-Lesson-PP-6172335/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    17:16
    2 February, 2012

    Miss R

  • http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Differentiated-Oliver-Twist-lessons-6173127/requestAction/add/

    Here's a short scheme of work focusing on Oliver Twist. Very differentiated.

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    17:31
    4 February, 2012

    Chocolateteacher

  • http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Comparing-Sonnet-130-6173156/requestAction/add/
    I've uploaded a powerpoint which explores 16th century ideas regarding beauty and 21st cebtury ideals. The focus is sonnet 130.

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    18:09
    4 February, 2012

    Chocolateteacher

  • I have added this resource on Charles Dickens:
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Write-a-Biography-of-Charles-Dickens-6175034/requestAction/add/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    10:14
    7 February, 2012

    CharlieB131

  • One of my favourite poems from the Literary Heritage:
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Full-Lesson-Powerpoint-on-Poem-Elegy-Tichbourne-6132642/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    11:45
    8 February, 2012

    Miss R

  • I uploaded this activity to explore the way Dickens creates his characters in A Christmas Carol on 5/2/12
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Dicken-s-Use-of-Physical-descriptions-of-Character-6173744/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    19:32
    8 February, 2012

    fholt

  • I've uploaded the following activity with discussion points etc about Stave 4 of A Christmas Carol on 5/2/12
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Stave-4-A-Christmas-Carol-Part2-6173938/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    19:36
    8 February, 2012

    fholt

  • I uploaded this PPT with activities and discussion points for Stave 4 of A Christmas Carol on 5/2/12
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Stave-4-A-Christmas-Carol-Part-One-6173820/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    19:37
    8 February, 2012

    fholt

  • I uploaded the extract style questions for the higher tier WJEC paper on 5/2/12
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Extract-style-Questions-Stave-4-A-Christmas-Carol-6173975/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    19:39
    8 February, 2012

    fholt

  • I uploaded this PPT for VLE activities for independent learning based on Stave 3 of A Christmas Carol on 29/1/12
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/-A-Christmas-Carol-Stave-3-6170360/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    19:42
    8 February, 2012

    fholt

  • I uploaded these extract style questions for the WJEC higher tier paper for Stave 3 of A Christmas Carol on 31/1/12
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Extract-Style-Questions-Stave-3-A-Christmas-Carol-6171455/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    19:45
    8 February, 2012

    fholt

  • I'm not sure if this resource was uploaded too early for the competitio. It was uploaded on 26/11/11. If it was, pleasedisregard it . Concept map of Scrooge - Stave 1 A christmas Carol.
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Concept-Map-Scrooge-at-the-start-of-and-quot-A-Christmas-6142977/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    19:50
    8 February, 2012

    fholt

  • Not sure if this was uploaded too early for entry - please disregard if it was. Uploaded 26/11/11. Activity PPt Stave 2 A Christmas Carol
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/A-Christmas-Carol-Stave-2-Part1-6143080/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    19:52
    8 February, 2012

    fholt

  • Again may be too early for the compettion - uploaded 26/11/11. Activities part 2 for Stave 2 of A Christmas carol
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/A-Christmas-Carol-Stave-2-Part-2-6143085/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    19:54
    8 February, 2012

    fholt

  • Too early for competition? Uploaded 26/11/11 - please disregard if too early. PPt with jigsaw activity to explore Stave 1 of A Christmas Carol
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Stave-1-Activities-and-quot-A-Christmas-Carol-and-quot-6142979/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    19:56
    8 February, 2012

    fholt

  • 5 x Extract style questions Stave 1 of A Christmas Carol for WJEC higher tier paper updated 16/1/12
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Stave-1-Activities-and-quot-A-Christmas-Carol-and-quot-6142979/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    19:58
    8 February, 2012

    fholt

  • I may have uploaded this too early - upload on 26/11/12 if so please disregard. 4 x extract style questions based on Stave 2 of A Christmas Carol for WJEC higher tier paper.
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Stave-2-Extract-Style-Questions-6143101/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    20:06
    8 February, 2012

    fholt

  • 5x extract style questions based on Stave 1 of A Christmas Carol updated on 16/1/12 WJEC http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Extract-style-questions-Stave-1-A-Christmas-Carol-6142981/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    20:09
    8 February, 2012

    fholt

  • I have just completed the first of my lessons based on Stave 5 of A Christmas Carol and uploaded it to the site.
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Stave-5-A-Christmas-Carol-Student-Activities-6176114/requestAction/add/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    21:45
    8 February, 2012

    fholt

  • http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Charles-Dickens-Quiz-6176122/requestAction/add/

    I have just added this resource - a Dickens quiz baed o picture clues suitable for all ages

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    22:26
    8 February, 2012

    oops_vip

  • Three resources I've had up for a while!
    Something for Robert Louis Stevenson- Treasure Island (KS3 speaking and listening assessment)
    Siegfried Sassoon- Absolution (for G&T students)
    Charles Dickens- A Christmas Carol (KS3 reading assessment)

    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Treasure-Island-Speaking-and-amp-Listening-AF3-6169272/

    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Absolution-by-Siegfried-Sassoon-6146051/

    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/A-Christmas-Carol-Reading-AF5-and-AF7-6144856/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    9:45
    9 February, 2012

    Georgia Harris

  • Wow! Thank you all very much for highlighting your resources on the site.

    The competition was launched on 13 Jan 2012 so only resources uploaded on / after that date will be considered. The competition does not end until 29 Feb 2012 so you still have time to add some new resources. Your resources can be on any writer from the literary heritage - not just Dickens. Please, all TES users, I want some more!

    The future of dedicated, subject-specific competitions such as this will be guided by the response to this competition, so thank you all for taking part.

    Kind regards,

    Chantel

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    10:39
    9 February, 2012

    TESEnglish

  • Resources to support KS3 teaching of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew:
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/The-Taming-of-The-Shrew-6176545/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    18:06
    9 February, 2012

    Georgia Harris

  • I've just uploaded this resource for the teaching of the final part of stave 5 A Cristmas Carol.
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Stave-5-Part-Two-A-Christmas-Carol-6176597/requestAction/add/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    20:49
    9 February, 2012

    fholt

  • http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/A-Christmas-Carol-Resources-6176864/

    Resource I've just uploaded :D

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    14:15
    10 February, 2012

    krista_carson

  • http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Song-about-the-characters-in-the-novels-of-Dickens-6177049/

    Ive just added a song about characters from the novels of Charles Dickens.

    I hope this won't be the second appearance of this but I'm having difficulty uploading my info.

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    17:39
    10 February, 2012

    pwilloughby3

  • http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Romeo-and-Juliet-workbook-6177190/

    Romeo and Juliet for Year 9 - lots of acitivities
    Complete work book

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    14:50
    11 February, 2012

    SuePinnick

  • http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Researching-Context-of-Macbeth-and-amp-Frankenstein-6177177/

    AQA English Literature Controlled Assessment
    Contrast in 'Macbeth' and 'Frankenstein'
    Students need to write about context - these research questions should help!

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    14:53
    11 February, 2012

    SuePinnick

  • Hi,

    Yesterday, I uploaded the following resources for Hardy, Dickens, James and Shakespeare:
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/200th-Birthday-6178011/
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/The-Taming-of-the-Shrew-SOW-6177993/
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/The-Oxen-and-The-Blinded-Bird-6178005/
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Thomas-Hardy-poems-6178006/
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Othello-lessons-for-controlled-ass-6178015/
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/The-Turn-of-the-Screw-Literary-Heritage-6178013/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    18:05
    14 February, 2012

    N Raheem

  • Hi - I've just uploaded this resource on Spenser's Sonnet XV:
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Sonnet-XV-Edmund-Spenser-Full-Lesson-PP-6179880/requestAction/add/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    8:28
    18 February, 2012

    Miss R

  • Romeo and Juliet APP booklet : useful for reading level for all AFs.
    Focus on key scenes. Can be done using film and extracts.
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Romeo-and-Juliet-APP-style-workbook-6181030/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    15:27
    20 February, 2012

    SuePinnick

  • http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Dracula-Oxford-Play-Bram-Stoker-and-amp-David-Calcutt-6181689/

    Lots of useful vocabulary-based starter activities to help students access more difficult vocabulary in the play.

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    13:18
    21 February, 2012

    SuePinnick

  • I've just uploaded 2 extract style questions based on Stave 5 of 'A Christmas Carol'. Aimed at WJEC Higher Tier.
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Extract-Style-Questions-Stave-5-A-Christmas-Carol-6181962/requestAction/add/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    20:40
    21 February, 2012

    fholt

  • I developed a webquest for young people to learn about Charles Dickens. Perhaps, you may find it of value: http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Charles-Dickens-Happy-200th-Birthday-6163782/
    Other webquests can be found at my website:http://www.gailhennessey.com

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    23:02
    22 February, 2012

    gailhennessey

  • Sonnet 43 Powerpoint for Relationships Cluster
    Includes link to short BBC video to help with context, plus a reading by Judi Dench
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Sonnet-43-from-Relationships-Cluster-6182870/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    20:32
    23 February, 2012

    SuePinnick

  • http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/The-Farmer-s-Bride-by-Charlotte-Mew-Relationships-6183793/

    The Farmer's Bride Powerpoint for Relationships Moon on the Tide AQA Literature

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    19:42
    25 February, 2012

    SuePinnick

  • http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Sister-Maude-by-Christina-Rossetti-Relationships-6183796/

    Sister Maude by Christina Rossetti Powerpoint for Relationships Moon on the Tide AQA Literature

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    19:43
    25 February, 2012

    SuePinnick

  • http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/A-Tell-Tale-Heart-Edgar-Allen-Poe-6097856/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    11:04
    27 February, 2012

    he4therlouise

  • I've just finished and uploaded a task looking at empathy questions set by WJEC board.
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/-A-Christmas-Carol-Empathy-Questions-WJEC-6185170/requestAction/add/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    20:28
    27 February, 2012

    fholt

  • I've just uploaded a revision lesson(s) for the themes of 'A Christmas Carol'
    http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/-A-Christmas-Carol-Themes-Revision-6185176/requestAction/add/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    20:35
    27 February, 2012

    fholt

  • http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/A-Midsummer-s-Night-s-Dream-6185450/

    Various language activities good for a year 8

    The whoosh is a great way of introducing them to the whole play.
    Put them in a circle. Read out the text and every time there's a character, get them to come into the centre and say the words in bold. At every 'whoosh' (end of a scene), they sit down and you continue around the circle with the next student.

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    9:44
    28 February, 2012

    SuePinnick

  • http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-6185472/requestAction/add/

    Student workbook with range of extracts, language and context activities.
    Could be adapted for AQA Literary Heritage Controlled Assessment

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    10:56
    28 February, 2012

    SuePinnick

  • http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Christmas-Carol-Film-Task-6185869/

    S1 task for A Christmas Carol - looking at creating a new film version

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    18:57
    28 February, 2012

    mrwatt1

  • http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/A-Christmas-Carol-chains-task-6185868/

    Another Christmas Carol one hot off the press

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    18:58
    28 February, 2012

    mrwatt1

  • http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Scrooge-Character-Study-6185865/

    ...and another

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    18:59
    28 February, 2012

    mrwatt1

  • http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Romeo-and-Juliet-Prologue-Task-6185982/

    Lesson looking at the Prologue of Romeo and Juliet - used with a Standard Grade class.

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    20:22
    28 February, 2012

    mrwatt1

  • http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Edwin-Morgan-In-the-Snackbar-6172040/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    20:30
    28 February, 2012

    mrwatt1

  • http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Edwin-Morgan-King-Billy-resources-6172041/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    20:30
    28 February, 2012

    mrwatt1

  • http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Edwin-Morgan-Glasgow-5-March-1971-6172042/

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    20:31
    28 February, 2012

    mrwatt1

  • http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Edwin-Morgan-unit-for-Standard-Grade-6172044/

    I'm pretty certain that Edwin Morgan qualifies as Literary Heritage - based on a definition I read in the TES forums- but since I've never heard of this term before (since I teach in Scotland) apologies if his work doesn't qualify!

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    20:33
    28 February, 2012

    mrwatt1

  • http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Romeo-and-Juliet-6186359/requestAction/add/

    Things to do once finished studying 'Romeo and Juliet'

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    15:01
    29 February, 2012

    SuePinnick

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