Charlie and The Chocolate Factory – Planning Overview

Are you a teacher looking for an engaging and exciting way to bring literature lessons to life in your classroom? If so, look no further than Roald Dahl’s classic novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”

This timeless story is about friendship, persistence, hard work, and believing in yourself. It can also be an educational tool for exploring essential topics like science, food production, family dynamics and more!

This article will provide everything you need to turn Charlie into an interactive part of your teaching curriculum.

From lesson plans complete with activities to recommended books tailored specifically around this delightful tale – read on to learn how easy it can be to soothe those chocolate cravings through learning!

Related: For more, check out our article on the BFG here.

Overview of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is a classic children’s novel by Roald Dahl, first published in 1964. The story follows a young boy named Charlie Bucket who lives in poverty with his parents and grandparents.

One day, he finds a golden ticket inside a chocolate bar, granting him access to Willy Wonka’s mysterious chocolate factory.

Along with four other children, Charlie embarks on a factory tour led by the eccentric Willy Wonka himself. They encounter fantastical creations throughout their journey such as lickable wallpaper, chocolate rivers, and Oompa-Loompas.

However, one by one, each child is eliminated due to their bad behaviour until only Charlie remains.

Ultimately, Willy Wonka reveals that he has been searching for an honest and kind-hearted child to take over his factory. He chooses Charlie as his successor, and they ride off into the sunset in the Great Glass Elevator.

“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is a beloved tale of imagination, adventure, and morality that has captured the hearts of generations of readers.

Week	Focus	Objectives	Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction to the Novel	Introduce the novel and its author, Roald Dahl. Set the context for the story.	Read aloud the first chapter. Discuss initial impressions and predictions. Introduce key vocabulary.	Participation in discussion. Vocabulary quiz.
2	Character Exploration	Analyze the main characters and their traits.	Create character profiles for Charlie, Willy Wonka, and other characters. Discuss motivations and behaviors.	Character profile presentations.
3	Setting and Imagery	Understand the significance of the factory setting. Explore Dahl’s use of imagery.	Describe the factory based on text evidence. Draw illustrations of the factory’s different rooms.	Descriptive writing samples. Illustration critique.
4	Themes and Morals	Identify and discuss the themes and morals of the story.	Group discussions on themes like poverty, greed, and reward for good behavior. Create a T-chart of good vs. bad behaviors from the story.	Written reflection on themes. T-chart completion.
5	Language and Style	Examine Roald Dahl’s writing style and use of language.	Identify examples of similes, metaphors, and onomatopoeia in the text. Write a short story using Dahl’s style.	Literary devices worksheet. Peer assessment of short stories.
6	Plot and Structure	Understand the plot structure and sequence of events.	Create a storyboard or comic strip of the story’s plot. Discuss the climax and resolution.	Storyboard or comic strip presentation.
7	Creative Writing	Encourage creative writing by imagining alternative scenarios.	Write an additional chapter or a different ending to the story. Invent a new character that could fit into the story.	Creative writing piece. Character creation and explanation.
8	Cross-Curricular Connections	Connect the story to other subjects, such as science and social studies.	Experiment with making candy or explore the history of chocolate. Discuss the role of manufacturing in the economy.	Science experiment write-up. Social studies research presentation.
9	Reflection and Review	Reflect on the reading experience and review key learnings.	Hold a class debate on the actions of the characters. Write a book review.	Debate participation. Book review submission.

Themes and Characters in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”

Themes

Imagination

Throughout the story, imagination is a prevalent theme. Willy Wonka’s factory is where anything is possible, and the Oompa-Loompas are constantly inventing new and creative ways to make candy.

Charlie’s imagination is also highlighted as he dreams of winning a golden ticket.

Greed

Greed is another central theme in the story. All the children who win golden tickets are motivated by their desire for more chocolate, more fame, or more toys. Their greed ultimately leads to their downfall.

Morality

Morality plays an essential role in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” The misbehaving children are punished for their bad behaviour, while Charlie’s kindness and honesty are rewarded.

Family

Family is also an essential theme in the story. Charlie lives with his parents and grandparents, who love him despite their poverty. Willy Wonka has no family but finds a sense of belonging with the Oompa-Loompas.

Related: For more, check out our article on Charlotte’s Web here.

Characters

Willy Wonka

Willy Wonka is the eccentric owner of the chocolate factory. He is known for his wild inventions and mysterious personality. Despite his quirkiness, he has a kind heart and values honesty.

Charlie Bucket

Charlie Bucket is the protagonist of the story. He comes from a low-income family but possesses a kind heart and vivid imagination. His character arc revolves around learning that good things come to those who are patient, honest, and humble.

Augustus Gloop

Augustus Gloop is one of the five children who win golden tickets to tour Willy Wonka’s factory. He is obsessed with eating and becomes trapped in a chocolate river after trying to drink from it.

Veruca Salt

Veruca Salt is another golden ticket winner whose father buys her everything she wants. She demands that Willy Wonka give her one of his trained squirrels as a pet but ends up being thrown down a garbage chute by them instead.

Violet Beauregarde

Violet Beauregarde wins a golden ticket because she chews gum obsessively. She turns into a giant blueberry after trying an experimental piece of gum that has yet to be perfected.

Mike Teavee

Mike Teavee wins a golden ticket because he loves television. He becomes miniaturized during one of Willy Wonka’s experiments involving teleportation technology.

Related: For more, check out our article on Matilda by Roald Dahl here.

The theme of morality in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”

The theme of morality in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” revolves around the idea that good behaviour is rewarded while bad behaviour is punished.

Throughout the story, each of the children who win golden tickets displays a flaw in their personality that leads to their downfall.

For example, Augustus Gloop’s gluttony causes him to become trapped in a chocolate river, Veruca Salt’s greed results in her being thrown down a garbage chute by squirrels, Violet Beauregarde’s competitiveness leads her to turn into a giant blueberry, and Mike Teavee’s obsession with television causes him to be miniaturized.

On the other hand, Charlie Bucket is portrayed as honest, kind-hearted, and patient. He wins Willy Wonka’s favour because of his excellent behaviour and ultimately inherits the chocolate factory at the end of the story.

The message is clear: Good things come to those who behave well and treat others with respect.

Through these character arcs, Roald Dahl emphasizes the importance of morality and encourages readers to strive for honesty and kindness in their own lives.

Charlie’s Character Traits

Charlie Bucket is the protagonist of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and possesses several admirable character traits.

Firstly, Charlie is incredibly patient. He lives in poverty with his parents and grandparents but never complains or becomes bitter about his circumstances.

Instead, he is content with what he has and remains optimistic about the future.

Secondly, Charlie is honest. When he finds money on the street, he brings it to his family instead of using it himself. He also tells the truth even when it may not be easy or convenient.

1. When Charlie finds money on the street, he immediately brings it home to his family instead of keeping it for himself.
2. Charlie admits to Willy Wonka that he has never tasted any of his chocolates because he can’t afford them.
3. When Mr Beauregarde offers to buy one of Willy Wonka’s inventions from him, Charlie speaks up and tells him that it wouldn’t be fair to take something that someone else created without their permission.
4. After drinking the Fizzy Lifting Drinks, Charlie admits to Willy Wonka that he broke the rules and apologizes for his mistake.

These instances demonstrate Charlie’s commitment to honesty, even in difficult or tempting situations. His honesty sets him apart from the other children in the story, who are likelier to lie or cheat through challenges.

Thirdly, Charlie is kind-hearted. He cares deeply for his family and shows compassion towards others throughout the story.

For example, when Violet Beauregarde turns into a blueberry, Charlie expresses concern for her well-being despite their previous competition for the golden ticket.

Lastly, Charlie has a vivid imagination. He dreams of winning a golden ticket to Willy Wonka’s factory and uses his vision to picture all the beautiful things that could happen if he wins.

Charlie’s character traits make him an admirable and relatable protagonist who serves as a role model for readers, young and old alike.

Lesson Plan: Exploring Character Traits in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”

Objective:

Students will be able to identify and analyze character traits exhibited by the characters in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”

End Goals:

1. Students will understand the importance of character traits in literature.
2. Students will be able to identify character traits demonstrated by different characters in the story.
3. Students will be able to analyze how these character traits affect the plot and other characters in the story.

Materials Needed:

• Copies of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl
• Chart paper or whiteboard
• Markers

Procedure:

Introduction (10 minutes):

1. Begin by asking students if they have read “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” or seen any movie adaptations.
2. Ask them to describe their favourite characters from the story and what they liked about them.
3. Explain that today’s lesson will focus on exploring different character traits exhibited by various characters in the book.

Activity 1: Identifying Character Traits (20 minutes)

1. Divide students into small groups, assigning each group a different character from the book (e.g., Charlie Bucket, Willy Wonka, Augustus Gloop, etc.)
2. Instruct each group to read through their assigned book chapters, focusing on specific actions or dialogue that reveal their character’s personality.
3. Have each group create a list of at least three character traits for their assigned character on chart paper or whiteboard.

Activity 2: Analyzing Character Traits (25 minutes)

1. After each group has compiled their character traits, bring everyone together as a class.
2. Using a large piece of chart paper or whiteboard, create a Venn diagram with two overlapping circles labelled “Positive Traits” and “Negative Traits.”
3. Ask students to share some of the traits they identified for their respective characters, recording them in either circle depending on whether they are positive or negative.
4. As a class, discuss how these traits impact the individual characters and others around them.

Closure (5 minutes):

1. Summarize some key takeaways from today’s lesson about character traits in literature.
2. Ask students to think about which character trait is most important for a protagonist like Charlie Bucket to possess.
3. Assign homework where students write an essay discussing why it is essential for protagonists like Charlie Bucket to possess specific admirable characteristics.

Assessment: The teacher can assess student understanding through participation during the class discussion as well as evaluating essays written as homework assignments based on specific criteria such as content organization and writing mechanics, among others

FAQ

Website Resources:

The first website, puffinschools.co.uk offers a KS2 resource pack for “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” that includes activities such as comprehension questions, creative writing prompts, and design challenges.

The pack also includes teaching notes and lesson plans to help teachers integrate the book into their classrooms. (https://www.puffinschools.co.uk/resources/ks2-resource-pack-charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory/)

The second website, teachingideas.co.uk, provides lesson plans and activity ideas for “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”

These include character analysis worksheets, creative writing prompts, and discussion questions to help students engage with the text. (https://www.teachingideas.co.uk/library/books/charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory)

The third website, tes.com, offers 27 lesson plans specifically designed for “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” for Year 4-6 English classes.

These include activities such as analyzing characters’ motivations, writing descriptive paragraphs about settings in the story, and exploring themes such as greed and temptation.

Each lesson plan includes objectives, resources needed, and step-by-step instructions. (https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/27-lessons-charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory-by-roald-dahl-year-4-5-6-english-planning-12235434)