Christmas Classroom Stories

Dickens and Scrooge

1. 100 Which Charles Dickens novella was first published in London in 1843? Response: A Christmas Carol A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, commonly known as A Christmas Carol, is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843 and illustrated by John Leech. Source: Wikipedia, “A Christmas Carol”
2. 200 Who wrote the novella? Response: Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, commonly known as A Christmas Carol, is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843 and illustrated by John Leech. Source: Wikipedia, “A Christmas Carol”
3. 300 Which London publisher first published Dickens's Christmas ghost story, and in which year? Response: Chapman & Hall in 1843 A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, commonly known as A Christmas Carol, is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843 and illustrated by John Leech. Source: Wikipedia, “A Christmas Carol”
4. 400 Who illustrated A Christmas Carol when it was first published in 1843? Response: John Leech A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, commonly known as A Christmas Carol, is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843 and illustrated by John Leech. Source: Wikipedia, “A Christmas Carol”
5. 500 Which ghost, Scrooge's former business partner, visits before the three spirits? Response: Jacob Marley It recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. Source: Wikipedia, “A Christmas Carol”

The Christmas Ballet

1. 100 Since the late 1960s, what has been true of The Nutcracker? Response: The Nutcracker has been danced by many ballet companies Since the late 1960s, The Nutcracker has been danced by many ballet companies, especially in North America. Source: Wikipedia, “The Nutcracker”
2. 200 About what share of their yearly ticket revenue do major American ballet companies make from The Nutcracker? Response: around 40% Major American ballet companies generate around 40% of their annual ticket revenues from performances of the ballet. Source: Wikipedia, “The Nutcracker”
3. 300 The Nutcracker's score is famous for which bell-like instrument? Response: the celesta Among other things, the score is noted for its use of the celesta, an instrument the composer had already employed in his much lesser known symphonic ballad The Voyevoda (1891). Source: Wikipedia, “The Nutcracker”
4. 400 The Nutcracker adapts a story by Alexandre Dumas, which retells a story by which earlier author? Response: E. T. A. Hoffmann The plot is an adaptation of Alexandre Dumas's 1844 short story The Tale of a Nutcracker, itself a retelling of E. T. A. Hoffmann's 1816 short story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. Source: Wikipedia, “The Nutcracker”
5. 500 Who was The Nutcracker's first choreographer, and who assisted him? Response: Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov The ballet's first choreographer was Marius Petipa, with whom Tchaikovsky had worked three years earlier on The Sleeping Beauty, assisted by Lev Ivanov. Source: Wikipedia, “The Nutcracker”

Rudolph's First Booklet

1. 100 Which fictional reindeer leads Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve? Response: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a fictional reindeer created in 1939 by Robert L. May. Source: Wikipedia, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
2. 200 Who created Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer? Response: Robert L. May Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a fictional reindeer created in 1939 by Robert L. May. Source: Wikipedia, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
3. 300 In which year was Rudolph created? Response: 1939 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a fictional reindeer created in 1939 by Robert L. May. Source: Wikipedia, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
4. 400 Which department store published Rudolph's first booklet? Response: Montgomery Ward Rudolph first appeared in a 1939 booklet written by May and published by Montgomery Ward, the department store. Source: Wikipedia, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
5. 500 Where does Rudolph stand among Santa's reindeer, and what does he use to guide the sleigh? Response: the ninth and youngest reindeer with a luminous red nose Rudolph is usually depicted as the ninth and youngest of Santa Claus's reindeer, using his luminous red nose to guide the reindeer team as the leader of Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve. Source: Wikipedia, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”

The Grinch's Book

1. 100 Which children's book follows a solitary creature trying to stop Whoville's celebration? Response: How the Grinch Stole Christmas! How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is a children's Christmas book by Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel written in rhymed verse with illustrations by the author. It follows the Grinch, a cranky, solitary creature who attempts to thwart the public's Christmas plans by stealing Christmas gifts and decorations from the homes of the nearby town of Whoville on Christmas Eve. Source: Wikipedia, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”
2. 200 Under what pen name did Theodor Geisel write his Grinch book? Response: Dr. Seuss How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is a children's Christmas book by Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel written in rhymed verse with illustrations by the author. Source: Wikipedia, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”
3. 300 How is the Grinch book written, and who drew its pictures? Response: rhymed verse with illustrations by the author How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is a children's Christmas book by Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel written in rhymed verse with illustrations by the author. Source: Wikipedia, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”
4. 400 Which publisher released the Grinch story as a book, and in which year? Response: Random House in 1957 The story was published as a book by Random House in 1957, and at approximately the same time in an issue of Redbook. Source: Wikipedia, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”
5. 500 What does the Grinch book criticize? Response: commercialization of Christmas and the holiday season The book criticizes the commercialization of Christmas and the holiday season. Source: Wikipedia, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”

A Wordless Snowman

1. 100 Which British wordless children's picture book was first published in 1978? Response: The Snowman The Snowman is a wordless children's picture book by British author Raymond Briggs, first published in 1978 by Hamish Hamilton in the United Kingdom, and published by Random House in the United States in November of the same year. Source: Wikipedia, “The Snowman (picture book)”
2. 200 Which British author made the wordless picture book The Snowman? Response: Raymond Briggs The Snowman is a wordless children's picture book by British author Raymond Briggs, first published in 1978 by Hamish Hamilton in the United Kingdom, and published by Random House in the United States in November of the same year. Source: Wikipedia, “The Snowman (picture book)”
3. 300 What is unusual about the text of the 1978 snowman picture book? Response: it is entirely wordless The book is entirely wordless, and illustrated with only coloured pencils. Source: Wikipedia, “The Snowman (picture book)”
4. 400 Which two publishers first released The Snowman in 1978, in the United Kingdom and in the United States? Response: Hamish Hamilton and Random House The Snowman is a wordless children's picture book by British author Raymond Briggs, first published in 1978 by Hamish Hamilton in the United Kingdom, and published by Random House in the United States in November of the same year. Source: Wikipedia, “The Snowman (picture book)”
5. 500 The Snowman picture book is illustrated with only which art material? Response: coloured pencils The book is entirely wordless, and illustrated with only coloured pencils. Source: Wikipedia, “The Snowman (picture book)”

Final round: Page to Stage

How is Tchaikovsky's score for The Nutcracker regarded today? Response: One of his most famous compositions Tchaikovsky's score has become one of his most famous compositions. Source: Wikipedia, “The Nutcracker”