Exploring the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Primary Grade Educators Reading and Questioning Resource
Oct 15, 2009
Students’ senses will be stirred up during this program. Auditory skills will be enhanced as they listen to their teacher read each chapter. They will experience happy and sad moments as they travel with the Pevensie siblings throughout their journey in the land of Narnia. The author’s descriptions in this story will give students' imaginations a clear picture of what it's like in this “land frozen” in winter.
Introducing Fantasy to Primary Grades – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Educators will be required to read the novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. (Clive Staples) Lewis [HarperTrophy 1950]. Throughout each chapter it will be necessary to write out notes that will be used later to form questions that will be put into a workbook. There are options for teachers on how to present this workbook to the students. It could be used for open group discussion with the class. It could also be prepared as a workbook that each student could write out their answers in.
Some ideas to base questions on:
- Family dynamics of the Pevensie siblings
- The White Witch's evil ways
- Good versus evil theme
Group Reading Method for Educators of Small Children – Quiz Technique for Primary Teachers
Teachers will be required to read a chapter or two in a group setting. This is open to modification depending on the age level of students. Short attention spans need shorter reading sessions. Tone of voice will affect the program's success as well. When taking on a character's voice use actions and facial expressions to create personification. Afterward the educator will question their students on the important parts to that or those particular chapters. Suggested number of questions per chapter is two. Too many drills will also affect the desired result.
Outcome:
- The children should have answered these questions to the best of their ability.
- The children will have had the opportunity to ask questions throughout discussion periods and hopefully have done so.
Evaluation:
- How well the children respond to the questions will reveal how much they're retaining from the story.
- Look for signs of excitement from the children's voices and expressions during each chapter. This will show if they're enjoying the fantasy genre and if they're anxious to find out more in the upcoming chapters.
- Evaluate if the children grasp that good wins over evil always.
- Check if they make the connection to the importance of family ties.
This program will introduce children to high fantasy i.e. where they enter into a whole new world that's very different than their own. While there they will meet talking animals who show human traits. During their time there they can escape everyday stresses with family, school, peers, among others. C.S. Lewis’ second book in the Chronicles of Narnia series is the perfect book to educate primary grade children on the fantasy genre.
Check out these related articles Teach Students to Create a Book and Literature Based Arts and Crafts Program.
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