Transform your A Christmas Carol unit with this 40+ page Cloze Notes resource for Stave 2! With 189 blanks to complete, this activity keeps middle schoolers engaged while building close reading, vocabulary, and comprehension skills — all without endless prep.

Charles Dickens’ language can be intimidating, but this resource breaks it down into a highly structured, fill-in-the-blank format that challenges students while still supporting comprehension. Teachers love cloze notes because they:

• Encourage active engagement instead of passive reading.

• Reinforce vocabulary in context with Dickens’ original wording.

• Provide built-in differentiation (use with or without a word bank).

• Work across multiple class periods, saving prep and planning time.

With 40+ rigorous student pages, this Stave II resource functions as a mini-unit, giving you plenty of material for your December ELA lessons.

The Contents

This download includes:

• ✅ 40+ student-facing cloze note pages (Stave 2, “The First of the Three Spirits”)

• ✅ 189 fill-in-the-blank answers directly from Dickens’ text

• ✅ Complete coverage of key passages — Fezziwig’s party, Scrooge’s childhood, Belle’s farewell, and more

• ✅ Print-friendly PDF format for easy classroom use

Ideas for Use

• Use as a read-along companion to Dickens’ text.

• Assign in sections for close reading and homework.

• Great for sub plans during December!

• Pair with comprehension questions, essays, or discussions for a deeper dive.

• Works in both homeschool and traditional classrooms as a flexible, no-prep option.

Why You'll Love It

• ✨ Engaging: Keeps even reluctant readers focused on Dickens’ rich language.

• ✨ Rigorous: 189 answers mean true comprehension and accountability.

• ✨ Flexible: Adapt for advanced or struggling readers with optional scaffolding.

• ✨ Time-Saving: 40+ ready-to-go pages = multiple lessons covered instantly.

Additional Details

• Grades: 6th, 7th, 8th

• Pages: 40+ student pages (Stave 2)

• Standards: Aligned with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6-8.1, RL.6-8.2, RL.6-8.4, RL.6-8.10 (textual evidence, theme, vocabulary in context, complex texts)

• Format: PDF download (printable, no-prep)

Related Resources

• [A Christmas Carol Cloze Notes – Stave 1]

• [A Christmas Carol Cloze Notes – Stave 3]

• [A Christmas Carol Cloze Notes – Full Bundle (Staves 1–5)]

• [Christmas Reading Comprehension Bundle – Middle School]

©2025 Light Up Literature. All rights reserved. For classroom use only. This resource may not be distributed or uploaded to public/shared drives.