Would you like to engage in discussions and exchange ideas with fellow educators about incorporating children’s literature into your classroom? I’m assembling a community of teachers and homeschoolers who work with students in grades 3-8 and utilize novels in their teaching. I invite you to join us for an opportunity to learn, collaborate, and progress together!
Click hereor on the image below to become a part of my Facebook group, Book Talk with The Teaching Bank!
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a timeless classic that has captivated readers for decades. It is a perfect choice for teachers looking for a book that can both entertain and educate their students. The novel provides a rich source of material that can be used to explore a variety of themes, including friendship, loyalty, betrayal, good versus evil, and the power of imagination.
In addition to its rich thematic content, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is also an excellent tool for teaching literary analysis. The novel contains many elements of narrative structure, including foreshadowing, symbolism, and themes that recur throughout the story. By studying these elements, students can gain a deeper understanding of how literature works and how to analyze it.
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The benefits of using The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in your classroom:
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe has stood the test of time: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was first published in 1950 and has been a favorite among children and adults for over 70 years. The fact that it has remained popular for so long speaks volumes about its quality and relevance. By using a novel that has stood the test of time, teachers can be sure that their students will enjoy it and that it will be a valuable addition to their curriculum.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe incorporate important themes: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe explores important themes such as good vs. evil, redemption, sacrifice, and loyalty. These themes are relevant to students of all ages and can spark important conversations about the world around them.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe can improve reading comprehension: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is written in a way that is accessible to students of all reading levels. By using this novel in the classroom, teachers can improve their student’s reading comprehension and help them develop critical thinking skills.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe can inspire creativity: The world of Narnia is a rich and imaginative one that can inspire creativity and encourage students to think outside the box. By using this novel in the classroom, teachers can foster a love of creativity and encourage their students to explore their own imaginations.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe can encourage empathy: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe encourages empathy through the characters’ experiences, students can learn to understand different perspectives and develop compassion for others.
Try a free sample of the novel study for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is an excellent novel that can be used to teach a variety of themes and literary elements. So go ahead and pick up a copy of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe today – your students will thank you for it!
You can purchase this novel study at the following locations:
Are you interested in reading about and sharing ideas with other educators on using children’s literature in your classroom? My goal is to bring together teachers and homeschoolers who teach grades 3-8 and use novels with their students. I’d love for you to join me to learn, share, and grow together!
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C.S. Lewis’s beloved series, “The Chronicles of Narnia,” includes “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” often mistakenly assumed to be the first book, when in fact, it’s the second installment. The true opener is “The Magician’s Nephew,” followed by #3 “The Horse and His Boy,” #4 “Prince Caspian,” #5 “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” #6 “The Silver Chair,” and concluding with “The Last Battle.”
Within Narnia’s enchanting realm, brimming with magic, mythical creatures, and talking animals, each book centers on children and their pivotal roles in shaping Narnia’s history. These children are magically transported from the real world to Narnia, collaborating with the Narnian lion, Aslan, in safeguarding the land from malevolent forces.
C.S. Lewis artfully intertwines his childhood experiences during World War II and theological insights throughout the series. While a subtle Christian undertone runs through the narrative, it’s not overt, rendering the books suitable for Christian and public educational settings. The foundational theme of the eternal struggle between good and evil offers a compelling narrative ripe for analysis and interpretation across diverse audiences.
Try a free sample of the novel study for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Movies, including some high-budget releases by Disney, have been brought to life based on select books from the series. There’s buzz circulating that Netflix plans to develop a streaming series covering the entire Chronicles of Narnia collection.
For decades, enthusiasts of the fantasy genre have been captivated by the Chronicles of Narnia. Often serving as a gateway, these books ignite a passion for the genre, leading readers to explore more mature works like The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. J.K. Rowling, renowned for the Harry Potter series, has acknowledged the profound impact the Chronicles had on her as a child, shaping her imaginative world and influencing her writing. Expect your students to join the ranks of countless others who have fallen in love with Narnia’s enchanting realm over the past seven decades.
I provide comprehensive novel studies tailored for each book in the Chronicles of Narnia series, designed for classroom or homeschool use. Each unit offers both printable and Google Drive™ formats, accommodating traditional and paperless classroom settings, including compatibility with Google Classroom. The structure of these units mirrors the format demonstrated in the video for The Magician’s Nephew.
You can purchase these novel studies at the following locations:
Are you interested in reading about and sharing ideas with other educators on using children’s literature in your classroom? My goal is to bring together teachers and homeschoolers who teach grades 3-8 and use novels with their students. I’d love for you to join me to learn, share, and grow together!
Looking for an engaging novel that will get your students excited about reading? A Hatchet novel study may be exactly what you need.
Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet has been a classroom favorite for years—and for good reason. This gripping survival story gives students an exciting reason to keep turning the pages while providing teachers with countless opportunities to teach reading comprehension, vocabulary, critical thinking, character development, writing, and literary analysis.
And sometimes, the best way to get a reluctant reader interested in books is to give them a story they simply can’t put down.
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How Hatchet Hooked a Reluctant Reader
One of my biggest frustrations as a parent was watching my oldest son struggle to find enjoyment in reading.
He could read. He did well in school. But reading for pleasure? That was another story.
When he was assigned Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, something completely changed.
He came home from school talking about the book.
He wanted to know what was going to happen next.
He was disappointed when he had to stop reading for the day.
And, most surprising of all, he actually wanted to keep reading.
Every day, he would come home and tell me about the latest chapter. He wasn’t simply completing a reading assignment—he was genuinely invested in Brian’s story.
That experience reminded me of something important:
The right book can completely change a student’s attitude toward reading.
That’s one reason Hatchet is such a powerful choice for an upper-elementary or middle school novel study.
Why Teach Hatchet in the Classroom?
Hatchet follows Brian Robeson, a young boy who finds himself alone in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash. With nothing but a hatchet, Brian must figure out how to survive.
The survival premise immediately gives students something to think about:
What would you do if you were completely on your own?
As Brian faces one challenge after another, students have opportunities to examine much more than survival.
1. Hatchet Encourages Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving
Brian doesn’t have an adult telling him what to do.
He has to observe his surroundings, make decisions, try different strategies, learn from mistakes, and figure out how to solve problems.
That makes Hatchet an excellent book for teaching critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Students can discuss questions such as:
What choices did Brian make?
Which decisions helped him survive?
Which decisions made his situation more difficult?
What could Brian have done differently?
How does Brian respond when his first plan fails?
These types of questions move students beyond simply recalling what happened in the story and encourage them to think deeply about the text.
2. Hatchet Is Perfect for Teaching Perseverance
One of the most valuable themes in Hatchet is perseverance.
Brian experiences fear, loneliness, hunger, frustration, and failure. Yet he continues trying.
When something doesn’t work, he learns from the experience and tries again.
That creates natural opportunities to discuss resilience, determination, perseverance, and overcoming obstacles.
Students can connect Brian’s experiences to challenges in their own lives, making the novel much more meaningful than a simple survival story.
3. Hatchet Builds Reading Comprehension
Because Brian’s survival depends on his ability to observe, remember, and make decisions, Hatchet provides excellent opportunities for reading comprehension instruction.
Students can analyze:
Character
Setting
Plot
Conflict
Cause and effect
Character development
Theme
Problem and solution
Point of view
Text evidence
Chapter-by-chapter Hatchet comprehension questions can help students slow down and think about what they are reading rather than rushing through the novel simply to finish it.
This is especially useful when teaching students how to support their answers with evidence from the text.
4. Hatchet Provides Rich Vocabulary Opportunities
Gary Paulsen’s descriptive writing gives students plenty of opportunities to encounter meaningful vocabulary in context.
A Hatchet novel study can turn those unfamiliar words into an opportunity to build vocabulary rather than allowing students to simply skip over them.
Students can examine words in context, determine meaning, and use new vocabulary in their own writing.
Vocabulary instruction is even more effective when students encounter the words repeatedly while reading the novel.
5. Hatchet Makes Writing More Meaningful
One of the advantages of using a novel for ELA instruction is that students have a shared experience to write about.
Instead of assigning disconnected writing prompts, teachers can ask students to respond to situations, characters, conflicts, and themes they already understand.
Hatchet naturally lends itself to:
Personal response writing
Character analysis
Opinion writing
Text-based responses
Critical-thinking questions
Creative writing
Theme analysis
Problem-and-solution writing
The survival setting also makes it easy to create engaging writing prompts that students actually want to answer.
6. Hatchet Can Hook Reluctant Readers
This may be my favorite reason to teach Hatchet.
A student who doesn’t consider himself or herself a “reader” may be much more willing to pick up a book when the premise immediately grabs their attention.
A plane crash.
A wilderness.
A young boy alone.
A hatchet.
Survival.
That’s a pretty compelling setup.
And once students become invested in Brian’s survival, reading comprehension activities and ELA skills become much less of a chore.
The story becomes the vehicle for learning.
Make Teaching Hatchet Easier with a Complete Novel Study
Of course, finding a great novel is only the beginning.
Teachers still have to figure out:
What am I going to teach with this book?
What comprehension questions should I ask?
What vocabulary should I focus on?
How will I assess whether my students understand the novel?
Instead of spending hours creating worksheets, comprehension questions, vocabulary activities, writing assignments, assessments, and lesson plans, you can have an entire unit ready to use.
What’s Included in the Hatchet Novel Study?
The complete unit includes resources for both teachers and students.
Teacher Resources
The teacher packet includes:
Detailed daily lesson plans
Pacing and standards guide
Vocabulary word wall cards
Answer keys
Parent letter
Student Activities
Students receive:
Vocabulary and grammar activities for 60 vocabulary words
Activities that encourage deeper thinking about the novel
The extended writing activities are only included in the complete novel study, making the full unit an especially valuable option.
Assessments
The assessment packet includes quizzes covering both sections of the novel:
Part 1: Chapters 1–9 Part 2: Chapter 10 through the end of the novel
The assessments include vocabulary, reading comprehension, and essay questions, along with answer keys.
Additional ELA Activities
The unit also includes:
End-of-the-book activities
Story Elements Interactive Notebook activities
Common Core State Standards alignment for Grades 5–8
The unit is designed for approximately a 5th–8th grade reading level and can be adapted for whole-class instruction, small groups, one-on-one instruction, independent study, or homeschool use.
The complete Hatchet Novel Study is available in both printable and Google Drive™ formats, making it flexible enough for traditional classrooms, Google Classroom, distance learning, and homeschool environments. The digital version also includes self-grading Google Drive quizzes in multiple-choice format.
Prefer paper?
A printable-only version is also available.
Try the FREE Hatchet Novel Study Sample
Not sure whether this Hatchet book study will work for your students?
Try it before you buy it!
A free sample is available so you can see exactly what the novel study looks like and try the activities with your students. The sample includes one day of activities from the complete unit.
Ready to Turn Hatchet into an Engaging ELA Unit?
Hatchet is much more than a story about a boy trying to survive in the wilderness.
It’s a book about perseverance, problem-solving, resilience, courage, decision-making, and personal growth.
It gives students something exciting to read while giving teachers a natural way to teach important ELA skills.
And when a book can make a reluctant reader come home excited to tell you what happened in the latest chapter?
That’s a book worth teaching.
Connect with Fellow Educators!
Are you teaching Hatchet this school year?
Join our free community, Book Talk with The Teaching Bank, to share ideas, grab freebies, and connect with 3rd–8th grade teachers using novels in the classroom!
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One of my favorite (and my students’) themes to explore every year was the Chocolate Theme. We would read The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling:
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Throughout the theme unit, we incorporated geography by mapping the different countries where the different ingredients of candy bars originate. We worked on letter writing by writing to different chocolate and candy companies with questions. This activity was particularly exciting because many of the companies would respond back to the students with offerings of trial samples or coupons to get free candy! Students learned the power they had as a consumer who shares feedback!
I always started the unit out with The Chocolate Touch written by Patrick Skene Catling which was first published in 1952. The story of loving chocolate never ages! John Midas loves chocolate and sweets more than anything and a wish turns his wildest dreams into a reality. Like King Midas before him, his touch is magic! This book leads to some great comparison activities with the King Midas story. Like King Midas, John soon learns that having too much of a great thing might not be as wonderful as he thought it would be!
I offer a complete novel study to accompany The Chocolate Touch for use in the classroom or homeschool. The unit includes both a printable format and a Google Drive™ format for use in a paperless classroom or with Google Classroom.
Try a free sample of the novel study for The Chocolate Touch
You can purchase this novel study at the following locations:
Chocolate Fever written by Richard Kimmel Smith in 1972, is a more humorous and adventurous tale of young Henry Green whose dream of eating nothing but chocolate comes true. Henry soon discovers that his new ability can be dangerous so he escapes and goes on the run!
I offer a complete novel study to accompany Chocolate Fever for use in the classroom or homeschool. The unit includes both a printable format and a Google Drive™ format for use in a paperless classroom or with Google Classroom.
Try a free sample of the novel study for Chocolate Fever
You can purchase this novel study at the following locations:
In my opinion, the best is saved for last, Roald Dahl’s 1964 classic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. This story has everything; a character to empathize with, several characters to learn from, humor, and imagination, it really has it all. Singing the Oompa Loompa songs together is always a fun time that ends in fits of giggles!
I offer a complete novel study to accompany Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for use in the classroom or homeschool. The unit includes both a printable format and a Google Drive™ format for use in a paperless classroom or with Google Classroom.
Try a free sample of the novel study for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
You can purchase this novel study at the following locations:
Tying different areas of the curriculum together, and enjoying three wonderful novels together, the Chocolate Theme is a fun learning experience for all. It was truly one of the most favorite times I had with my students and it was something past students brought up as a favorite of their 4th-grade year with me. I encourage you to give it a try!
Are you interested in reading about and sharing ideas with other educators on using children’s literature in your classroom? My goal is to bring together teachers and homeschoolers who teach grades 3-8 and use novels with their students. I’d love for you to join me to learn, share, and grow together!
Connect with Fellow Educators!
