Introduction: Our story starts off in the 7th grade classroom of Saint Nicholas Catholic School. The students are restless, and their teacher, Mr. Winchell, is as ready for break as they are, but not before he makes sure they complete some extra homework before the holidays. The students decide to tackle their assignment together in a way that Mr. Winchell never could have imagined. In the process, they get a hands-on experience of what Christmas is truly about.
* Class performance Song break for traditional Christmas songs or hymns between scenes if needed*
Scene 1
Students are working around the classroom as their teacher, Mr. Winchell, stops the music and calls the class to attention.
Mr. Winchell: Enough music! Time to clean up everyone! Students, please take your seats… we have a lot of work to do before we leave for Christmas break. And, as an added bonus, I am assigning an essay for you to work on over Christmas break. The topic? The Greatest Christmas Carol Ever Written. Each of you are expected to research and describe why the carol you have chosen is the best choice for celebrating the season.
Abbie: An essay? The week before Christmas?
Brian: Research? I can’t think about research when I am thinking about presents!
Cathy: Can’t we make snowflake decorations instead?
Mr. Winchell: Students, students! This assignment is meant for you to better understand and learn something about the holiday we hold so dear. It will help you focus on the birth of our Lord, the baby Jesus.
Dave: It will make my head hurt! I can’t work on a big assignment with all my shopping and decorating to do!
Abbie: Dave is right. We all have lots to do before Christmas!
Mr. Winchell: Class, we all need to take time from the hustle and bustle of the holiday to reflect on God’s gift to us. I am handing out the guidelines for the assignment, which is due Friday morning. In my day we looked forward to the challenge of a tough assignment. You kids today have it too easy. Good luck everyone, I expect your best work on this.
School bell rings
Brian: I can’t believe it! This assignment is going to take up all my free time! No wonder they call him Winch the Grinch!
Cathy: I know! Five pages? Double spaced?? I think I might be coming down with something. Let me know how your papers came out when I come back next year!
Dave: Oh no you don’t. If I’m stuck doing this, then so are you. You can’t bail out on your friends!
Abbie: Yeah! We’re all in the same boat so we may as well get started. Anyone know what they are going to write about?
Eddie: Well, you know how my dad was the star of the Christmas Play when he went here?
Everyone Else: We know!!
Brian: You have only told us every Christmas since Pre-school!
Eddie: Anyway… I’m going to interview him on his big number he did way back then. He never really says too much about it, but I know he probably brought the house down. I’m named after him you know!
Cathy: It would be nice if we could interview someone. It would sure beat looking everything up or spending every minute doing research.
Dave: I wonder what Mr. Winchell’s favorite song is. He went to school here too. I think he graduated with Abraham Lincoln.
Abbie: Did they have Christmas songs that long ago? I thought they were busy discovering fire.
Brian: He probably doesn’t have a favorite. His favorite thing is piling up assignments that make sure we have no free time for anything fun.
Cathy: Well, it still would be nice to talk to someone about their favorite carol. I would think that would at least help make this assignment more interesting. Everyone must have a favorite song… remember that song we did in 4th grade? Our class had the best part in the play that year.
* Class performance Song break for traditional Christmas songs or hymns between scenes if needed*
Scene 2
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