Inspired by the resounding words of Dickens' Ghost of Christmas Present, 8th grade's submission into HNOM's 2nd Annual Door Decorating Contest included shimmery holly wreaths and garland, as well as a heap of food with a silhouette Spirit welcoming in visitors with the caption, "Come in! And know us better!" 

Be sure to look closely at that heap of food! In addition to coloring in the food items - which only included food specifically mentioned in Stave II of "A Christmas Carol" - 8th graders wrote a fun fact about themselves on the larger templates in the spirit of welcoming others to know them better! 

Read the excerpt below to re-familiarize yourself with the relevant words of Dickens that comes to life on 8th grade's E.L.A. classroom door!


Excerpt from Stave II of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol":

"It was [Scrooge's] own room. There was no doubt about that. But it had undergone a surprising transformation. The walls and ceiling were so hung with living green, that it looked a perfect grove; from every part of which, bright gleaming berries glistened. The crisp leaves of holly, mistletoe, and ivy reflected back the light, as if so many little mirrors had been scattered there; and such a mighty blaze went roaring up the chimney, as that dull petrification of a hearth had never known in Scrooge’s time, or Marley’s, or for many and many a winter season gone. Heaped up on the floor, to form a kind of throne, were turkeys, geese, game, poultry, brawn, great joints of meat, sucking-pigs, long wreaths of sausages, mince-pies, plum-puddings, barrels of oysters, red-hot chestnuts, cherry-cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious pears, immense twelfth-cakes, and seething bowls of punch, that made the chamber dim with their delicious steam. In easy state upon this couch, there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see; who bore a glowing torch, in shape not unlike Plenty’s horn, and held it up, high up, to shed its light on Scrooge, as he came peeping round the door.

“Come in!” exclaimed the Ghost. “Come in! and know me better, man!”

Look closer at that heap of food! In addition to coloring in the food items - which was only food specifically mentioned in Stave II of "A Chirstmas Carol" - 8th graders wrote a fun fact about themselves on the larger templates in the spirit of welcoming others to know them better!