The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe tells the story of four siblings: Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. After World War II breaks out in London, the siblings go to the English countryside to live with Professor Digory Kirke. The children discover a wardrobe in the professor’s home that takes them to the magical land of Narnia.
In Narnia, the Pevensie children help save a talking lion named Aslan from an evil White Witch. The White Witch has taken over the land of Narnia and causes the kingdom to have everlasting winter with no Christmas. As the children help to break the spell of the evil witch, the snow begins to melt, and Father Christmas arrives.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Activities
Book Unit Samples
This sample contains…
- Vocabulary Practice for Chapter 1
- Character Traits Constructed Response Question
- Problem and Solutions Constructed Response Question
- Setting Constructed Response Question
Teaching Idea #1 ~ Problems and Solutions Anchor Chart
Scholastic makes great book trailers. This short video is no exception. First, show the short video. Next, students complete a chart based on the details provided in the video. Students will most likely need to watch the video a second time to catch all the details.
This is a great hook activity to build interest before starting the novel. Completing the chart will also help students remember the main characters, settings, and their biggest conflicts. With three stories, this can be confusing.
Teaching Idea #2 ~ Narnia Day at School
Check out these wonderful photos of Narnia Day sent to me by Amanda. Here is what she had to say.
We had a Narnia Day where we did a room transformation and students went “through Narnia”. Students entered through the wardrobe, went through winter, the stone table, and then Spring, doing different activities along the way. One highlight was having “Tea with Tumnus.” The 3rd grade had just finished reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
This must have been great fun. I wish I had been there to participate.
Teaching Idea #3 ~ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Printable Anchor Chart
This anchor chart can be printed poster-sized for a class activity or on a standard piece of printer paper for an individual activity. This activity is included in the unit sample. If you missed the link above, here it is again.
Books in the Series – Which do I read first?
There has been much dispute over the reading order of the seven books that make up The Chronicles of Narnia. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was the first book published in the series. Due to this, a reader can pick up this book and not have to read background information to “catch up” with what is taking place in the story.
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950)
- Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia (1951)
- The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)
- The Silver Chair (1953)
- The Horse and His Boy (1954)
- The Magician’s Nephew (1955)
- The Last Battle (1956)
Teaching Idea #4 ~ Comparing the Book to the Movie
Comparing the book to the movie is always a fun activity for students. In 2005, Walt Disney Pictures created a movie based on the book. This successful film even won an Academy Award for Best Makeup. This book-movie pairing shares the same plot. Students will have to be extremely observant to find the differences.
Similarities
The overall plot is the same for both the book and the movie. The four Pevensie siblings go to Narnia. They must free the kingdom from a hundred-year spell cast by the White Witch. The siblings become kings and queens of Narnia.
Father Christmas brings gifts to help the characters win the battle.
Differences
The way the children discover the magical (portal) wardrobe is different.
In the movie, the dogs reach the beaver’s house before the children leave making an interesting escape scene.
The rescue of Edmund is different.
Teaching Idea #5 ~ The Secret Door Foldable
See the product that inspired this post.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Novel Study includes vocabulary practice, comprehension questions, constructed response writing, and skill practice.
