The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: Chapter 16

Welcome to Chapter 16: “The Magic Art of the Great Humbug!” This post features printable resources and teaching ideas centered on irony, persuasion, and character development.

New to the series? Start with the Introduction to the Book Study for tips on pacing and classroom setup.

Learn how the Oz novel study is organized, with details on the full unit, free sampler, mentor sentences, and chapter handouts.

Mentor sentence lessons, student practice pages, and grammar-focused writing tasks are included.

Download the free handout for this chapter, complete with instructions and materials for the activities described here.

❤️🦁Chapter Summary

Chapter 16: “The Magic Art of the Great Humbug”

The Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion each approach the Great Oz to claim the gifts he promised for defeating the Wicked Witch of the West. Oz performs theatrical “magic” to fulfill their wishes: he stuffs the Scarecrow’s head with bran, pins, and needles to simulate a brain; he opens the Tin Woodman’s chest and inserts a silk heart stuffed with sawdust; and he pours a green liquid labeled “Courage” into a dish for the Lion to drink.

Each character believes they are now transformed—smarter, kinder, and braver—though the gifts are symbolic rather than magical. Meanwhile, Oz privately worries about how he will help Dorothy return to Kansas, since he has no real magic to offer her.s.

Chapter 16: “The Magic Art of the Great Humbug” Projects

Mentor Sentences

One way to turn classic literature into a powerful teaching tool is to pull mentor sentences straight from the text. Instead of random worksheets, students get to see grammar, punctuation, and style in action—inside a story they’re already reading.

Here are a few examples you can use right from Chapter 16 of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz:

“You must excuse me for taking your head off, but I shall have to do it in order to put your brains in their proper place.”

Focus: Commas with Compound-Complex Sentences

Practice Prompt: Write a sentence that includes a dependent clause and two independent clauses joined by “but.” Use these ideas: I forgot my notebook, I needed it for class, I went back to get it.

Then he entered the back room and took up a measure of bran, which he mixed with a great many pins and needles.

Focus: Prepositional Phrases

Practice Prompt: Write a sentence that includes two prepositional phrases. Use these phrases: with a pencil, in the drawer.

The Lion hesitated no longer, but drank till the dish was empty.

Focus: Verb Tense + Sentence Structure

Practice Prompt: Write a sentence using past tense verbs to describe hesitation followed by action. Use these verbs: paused, answered.

Would You Rather

- Would you rather receive a fake gift that makes you feel confident or wait for a real one that takes longer?
- Would you rather have more brains, more heart, or more courage?
- Would you rather keep the Wizard’s gifts or trade them for the Silver Shoes?

Oz-Themed Student Awards

In Chapter 13 “The Magic Art of the Great Humbug,” the Wizard gives each traveler a special token to represent the qualities they had all along. The Scarecrow receives a diploma, the Tin Woodman a heart-shaped token, and the Lion a medal for courage. To bring this moment to life in your classroom, you can create your own “Wizard Certificates.” These mini mock diplomas will make your students feel like they, too, have been recognized by the Wizard.

Use the certificate templates available in Google Slides to design awards similar to the ones pictured. You’ll find the Google Slides link included in the chapter or unit downloads.

💚 Emerald City & Wizard Awards

Big Heart Award – for kindness (Tin Woodman).
Brain Power Award – for clever thinking (Scarecrow).
Courage Award – for bravery (Cowardly Lion).
Emerald Sparkle Award – for brightening the classroom (Emerald City).
Wizard’s Helper Award – for problem-solving skills.
Glinda’s Wisdom Award – for giving helpful advice.
Wizard of Words Award – for strong communication skills.

🌀 Dorothy’s Journey Awards

Yellow Brick Road Award – for staying on track and working hard.
Traveler’s Spirit Award – for adventurous learning.
Click Your Heels Award – for always finding their way back to the task.
Home Sweet Home Award – for being reliable and loyal.

🌽 Scarecrow & Friends Awards

Patchwork Problem-Solver Award – for creative ideas (Scarecrow).
Harvest Helper Award – for teamwork and cooperation.
Stands Tall Award – for persistence, just like a scarecrow in the field.

🪓 Tin Woodman Awards

Golden Heart Award – for compassion.
Helpful Hands Award – for always helping others.
Steadfast Spirit Award – for resilience.

🦁 Cowardly Lion Awards

King of the Forest Award – for leadership.
Bravery in Action Award – for tackling challenges head-on.
Gentle Giant Award – for showing kindness and strength.

🧙 Witch & Magic Awards

Overcomes Obstacles Award – for perseverance (defeating the Wicked Witch).
Silver Shoes Award – for making magical progress.
Bubble of Goodness Award – for spreading positivity (Glinda).
Wickedly Smart Award – for clever thinking (playful nod to Wicked Witches, but positive spin).

🌸 Adventure & Side Quest Awards

Poppy Power Award – for dreaming big.
China Doll Award – for creativity and artistry (Dainty China Country).
Mighty Mouse Award – for courage in small packages (field mice).
Bridge Builder Award – for connecting ideas or people.
Storm Survivor Award – for resilience (tornado).
Friendship Award – for being a loyal companion (Dorothy’s friends).
Hammer-Head Strong Award – for determination (stubborn but strong).

Focus Skills

Each chapter in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Novel Study includes a constructed response question and a skill-based graphic organizer. These two pieces are part of the full-paid unit, which includes comprehension questions, skill lessons, assessments, answer keys, and Google Slides versions.

The free handout linked below includes the activities from the blog post for this chapter. If you’d like the complete set of constructed responses and skill organizers for all 24 chapters, you’ll find them inside the full unit once it is released.

Constructed Response Skill – Symbolic Gifts & Character Change

This chapter explores how symbolic items – brains, heart, and courage – reshape the characters’ self-perception. Though the gifts are not magical, each character believes in their transformation, which boosts confidence and affirms their growth. Students analyze how belief and symbolism affect character development and predict how Dorothy might receive her promised gift.
Standards: RL.5.1, RL.6.1, RL.7.1

Language Arts Skill – Restrictive vs. Non-Restrictive Clauses

Students identify and punctuate clauses that define or add extra information. Practice includes sorting examples, rewriting sentences for clarity, and using commas correctly with non-essential details.
Standards: L.6.4.b, L.7.1.a

Click here to download the FREE Chapter 16 resource.

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Previous: Chapter 15: The Discovery of Oz, the Terrible

Next: Chapter 17: How the Balloon Was Launched

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