Charlie and the Chocolate Factory



Last updated Friday, July 24, 2020

Author: Roald Dahl
Illustrator: Quentin Blake
Date of Publication: 2001
ISBN: 0375815260
Grade Level: 5th    (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: May 2005

Synopsis: (from the publisher) Willy Wonka's Famous Chocolate Factory is opening at last! But only five lucky children will be allowed inside ... and what Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, Mike Teavee, and Charlie Bucket find is even wilder than any of the wild rumors they've heard!

Note to readers:
•  This is a chapter book that you won't be able to finish. Aim to read through the end of chapter 5 (although you do not need to reach that point), and tell the children that the book will be placed into their library if they would like to check it out and read the rest.
•  Hear and see the first six chapters of this book read aloud by one of our volunteers on YouTube, including a craft at the end.
•  The rest of the book can be heard at this YouTube playlist.

Discussion topics for before reading:
•  Have you seen the movie made from this book? Sometimes the book can have more details or a different version of events than the movie.
•  What is something that you only get once a year, but would like to have more often? What would you want a lifetime supply of?
•  How many of you love chocolate?
•  How many people live in your house?

Discussion topics for during/after reading:
•  Chapter one: Why did Charlie only get chocolate once a year? What did Charlie and his family eat? Why was Sunday special to them? What do you think the factory is like?
•  Chapter two: How old is Grandpa Joe? What effect did Charlie's presence have on his grandparents? What kind of inventions did Willy Wonka come up with?
•  Chapter three: Why do you think no workers have entered or left Willy Wonka's factory? How can it operate?
•  Chapter four: Why did Willy Wonka close his factory? Authors are very careful in choosing names for their characters. What are the names of the "bad characters" in this chapter? What exciting event happened at the end of the book?
•  Chapter five: What happens when a kid finds a golden ticket? Do you think Charlie has a chance to find the ticket? Why?
•  What do you think is going to happen next?
•  Who do you think will find the tickets? Who do you want to find a ticket?

Craft ideas:
•  Draw what you think the Wonka Chocolate factory looks like on the inside. Make a pamphlet about the factory describing it and what it makes.
•  Come up with a new kind of candy (as Willy Wonka would) and design the wrapper.
•  Draw an ad for one of Willy Wonka's inventions (or for one of your own).

*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions. You can use them, but you don't have to use them. You can expand upon them, or add your own twist. Remember, though, that the focus of your time should not be on the development and execution of a craft; the focus should be on the read-aloud and the enjoyment of the book!