Happy New Year, Mr. Scrooge!

I get to do a lot of fun things with my students over the course of our two years together, but my all time favorite has to be our Happy New Year, Mr. Scrooge party that I do every other Christmas. In December we read the book aloud, and then create characters who have had an encounter with the formerly miserly Ebenezer Scrooge and now are invited by him to a banquet to celebrate his new life.

With the help of parents, I turn the classroom into a banquet hall, and we have a grand processional into the party, with Mr. Scrooge and Governess Isenbarger leading the way. (This year, I played The March from The Nutcracker Suite as we entered - it worked beautifully!)

Governess Isenbarger is escorted by Mr. Scrooge (Curt) at the head of the processional.

I spent my lunch time decorating the room and did not let the children in to see it, so their first glimpse at the grandeur was during the processional. They were so excited and could barely contain their curiosity!

The guests at the banquet - everything from Queen Victoria and Prince Albert to bankers, lawyers, artists, carolers, jewelers, pickpockets, and beggars! Even old Fezziwig showed up!

Entering the room during the processional.

Despite their curiosity and anxiousness to see the banquet hall, the children did a terrific job of staying in character and did not push and crowd their way through the door, instead walking along in a dignified manner.

You can see their seriousness, yet I know them well enough to tell that they are scanning the room and looking at the banquet tables, decorations, and food!

HRH Queen Victoria accompanied by Prince Albert, Royal Consort. (That's the crown Cole was given when he was Prom King at Urbana High School. I keep it in the closet at school and bring it out occasionally for special times like this.)

One of the carolers is escorted by the jeweler.

Another caroler and a wealthy businessman. Don't they look sharp?

LT (a banker) can scarcely contain his excitement as he chats with SY, a bakery assistant.

Governess Isenbarger gives a few directions and then turns the time over to Mr. Scrooge.

JB and TC portrayed lawyers, and brought briefcases with them. (Seems as though Mr. Scrooge is getting a kick out of them!)

TM, NF, and PG caroled We Wish You a Merry Christmas and Deck the Halls. Mr. Scrooge was delighted, and so they sang a second round with everyone in the banquet hall joining in.

Surprise!! EP and NC, bakers, actually baked Mr. Scrooge a Neopolitan cake and presented it to him! Scrooge was delighted.

They insisted I cut a slice for him right away - it was delicious!

He even tried to share with me.

The banquet table.

Dr. Emert volunteered to help serve at the party. We had punch and hot chocolate with peppermint flavored marshmallows to drink.

The party guests. Happy New Year, Mr. Scrooge!

Naturally, HRH Queen Victoria and Prince Albert went through the buffet first. They ARE royalty, after all!

Sugarplums, peppermints, gingerbread cookies, cake, scones, fruit... so much to choose from.

The food went fast - in fact, no one got seconds. I was a little nervous that we did not have enough, but we did. Everybody got some. (To my kids - name that movie quote in the comments section if you recognize it!)

Mr. Scrooge and Governess Isenbarger go through the line last as they are the host and hostess.

Feasting on the largess of Mr. Scrooge. (And, a bunch of parents!)

The boys in white shirts are a far cry from their usual daily wear of tee shirts and sweats or jeans. They looked so nice.

After eating, we resumed our character sketches, and I introduced more of the banquet guests to Mr. Scrooge.

KO and LG were sisters who were beggars. 

AS and KO were scientists who were working on the periodic table. AS did a spot-on British accent when he read his essay to Mr. Scrooge - I had no idea he was going to do that!

WS, the boy in the bottom left corner, is not presenting in this picture, but I include it because the picture made me grin. This guy is ALWAYS smiling. He'd smile if he fell and broke his arm, methinks! He is the best natured kid I have ever taught, and so I should not have been surprised to see him smiling in a random photo.

WS and JO are miners. JO is always thinking, so he has his head up in thought while his "brother," played by WS, reads his essay.

When the character essays had all been shared, we played a game that Mr. Scrooge's nephew, Fred, had sent us. Similies!

 Going over the answers to the similie game together.

Dr. Smith, me, and Dr. Emert. I could not have done the party without these ladies. (They had both taken the day off so they could be with us.)  Each of them have had two children in my class, so they are not just parents of my students, they are friends as well. Neat ladies.

Bah! Humbug!!