Matilda by Roald Dahl is a wildly imaginative and beloved children’s novel set in a small English village. This classic novel is perfect for upper elementary readers. Its humor, memorable characters, and themes of courage, justice, and self‑empowerment make it ideal for teaching character traits, theme, author’s craft, and figurative language.
Reading Level
Lexile 840L
Interest Level
Grades 3-7
Length
256 pages
Award
Children’s Book Award
Jump to Section
⭐ About the Book
The story follows Matilda Wormwood, an extraordinary young girl with a brilliant mind, a love of reading, and parents who barely notice her. Despite their neglect and her father’s dishonesty, Matilda teaches herself everything she needs to know and soon discovers she has a gift far beyond academics.
When Matilda begins school, her teacher Miss Honey immediately recognizes her remarkable abilities. Unfortunately, the school’s headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, is a terrifying bully who rules with fear. As Matilda faces challenges at home and school, she learns to stand up for herself, help others, and use her intelligence (and her mysterious powers) for good.
⭐ Book Details
| Publication Date | October 1, 1988 |
| Reading Level | Lexile 840L • Guided Reading Level S |
| Interest Level | Grades 3–7 |
| Awards | 1989 Children’s Book Award |
| Length | 256 pages (approx. 78,080 words) |
| Estimated Reading Time | About 5 hours and 12 minutes |
| Audiobook Length | 4 hours and 18 minutes |
| Genre | Children’s Literature • Fantasy • Coming-of-Age |
| Setting | A small English village |
| Themes | Education, Supernatural Abilities, Fear, Family, Youth, Violence, Freedom, Good vs. Evil |
| Point of View | First-person peripheral narrator |
| Memorable Quote | “You are not alone.” |
| First Line | “It’s a funny thing about mothers and fathers…” |
Activities for Matilda by Roald Dahl
Book Unit Samples
This sample includes
- Vocabulary Practice for Chapters 1-2
- Comprehension Questions for Chapters 1-2
- Constructed Response Question – Point of View
Teaching Idea #1 ~ My Favorite Books
Your students will enjoy putting this booklet together. Each page has a new task.
Students:
List their favorite books.
Write a paragraph explaining why their #1 choice is their favorite.
Compare the main character of their favorite book to Matilda.
Contrast their favorite character to Matilda.
Draw an illustration of their favorite scene.
Teaching Idea #2 ~ Videos
Video #1 – This video contains the full audiobook. Better yet, the text is displayed as the book is read.
Video #2 – Movie Clips
Teaching Idea #3 ~ Resources on the Web
Twinkl – This website has a number of Roald Dahl resources. For the book Matilda, you will find character maps, word-find puzzles, and other book-related materials.
Teaching Ideas – This website has a great list of book-related activities broken down by subject areas.
Reading is Fundamental (RIF) – Students will enjoy these crossword and word search puzzles.
Teaching Idea #4 ~ Reader’s Theater
Having students read this script can be a fun way to engage students with the story.
Check out this reader’s theater version of Matilda’s confrontation with Miss Trunchbull. This reader theater can help students understand the importance of standing up for what’s right.
This second script can help students understand the importance of standing up for their beliefs and the value of true friendship.
The scripts are on editable Google Slides. You can get it here.
Teaching Idea #5 ~ Vision Board
Creating a vision board is a fun and creative way for students to visualize their goals. They can help motivate students to follow their dreams. Vision boards serve as a reminder of what students want to achieve in life.
Have students create their own vision boards inspired by Matilda’s positive outlook on life. Topics can include empathy, self-confidence, and resilience.
Instructions:
Materials:
- a poster board or canvas
- magazines, newspapers, or printed images
- glue or tape
- markers, colored pencils, or pens (optional)
Steps:
Decide on a theme.
Gather your materials. Look for images, words, and phrases that represent your theme. You can use magazines, and newspapers, or print out images from the internet.
Cut out the images and words that resonate with you. You can also use markers, colored pencils, or pens to add your own drawings or quotes.
Arrange the images and words on the poster board or canvas. Experiment with different layouts until you find one that feels right.
Glue or tape the images and words onto the board or canvas. Make sure everything is securely attached.
Hang your vision board somewhere you will see it every day.
See the product that inspired this post.
Matilda Novel Study includes vocabulary practice, comprehension questions, constructed response writing, and skill practice.
