Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl is based on the fantasy idea of a young boy named Charlie who won a golden ticket contest, hosted by none other than the famous Willy Wonka, to attend Wonka’s tour of his chocolate factory.  During his visit, Charlie experiences the children around him and how they react with their parents and is eventually the “last child standing” by the end of the tour.  Wonka eventually invites Charlie and his family to come live with him in his factory to which they agree.  This book feeds on the amazement of just being able to experience what happens in a chocolate factory where the world’s most desired candy is created.  Reading the book, you can automatically place yourself in this fantasy world making it seem so real.  This book was later presented as two feature films, one released in 1971 titled Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and the other titled Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, after the book.  Other books by this same author are The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, and The Gremlins.

Classroom Activities:

1.)  Pick out 5 books from this same author, split your children into even groups, and have them randomly draw a book to use.  Have your children read the books and after reading, have them begin to write ideas to create their own short fantasy novel.  The children can then present their short fantasy novels to the class and if wanted, they can illustrate and show the illustrations according to each area of the novel they are presenting at the time.

2.). Have the children read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory together in class.  After the book has been read in full, have the students put on a play and reenact the entire book.  Allow students to choose whether they wish to narrate, create props or draw for a character to play.  Give the students the freedom to create the scenes the way they pictured in their own minds rather than what they have seen in a movie or such.

Goals:

• Both activities allow children to tap into their own minds giving them full creative freedom to create fantasy how they see it instead of how others see it.

Bibliography:

George, R., & Dahl, R. (1964). Charlie and the chocolate factory a play. North Rocks, N.S.W.: Royal N.S.W. Institute for Deaf and Blind Children.