Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Hundreds of different candies exist of all different flavors and types. What is your favorite candy, and why? What do you associate with popular sweets like chocolate, lollipops, and taffy?

Teaching Suggestion: Charlie’s only birthday gift each year is a single bar of Wonka chocolate; he savors it year-round because it is the only luxury he receives. As students begin to generate ideas, consider encouraging them to think about the Magic and Wonder surrounding chocolate and other types of candy. You might remind students that there is even a holiday in the United States during which children go door to door to receive candy (i.e., Halloween).

• National Geographic offers insight into the history of chocolate and chocolate production.
• This article from Collider discusses the real-life rivalry between two British chocolate manufacturers that inspired this book.

2. Roald Dahl, the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, is one of the most popular authors of children’s fiction. What qualities make a children’s author successful? What topics, genres, or stylistic choices appeal to children?

Teaching Suggestion: Students can name a wide variety of adjectives here, but this encourages them to think critically about the craft of writing, especially for children. To encourage student engagement and to help students generate ideas, consider creating a list of the class’s favorite books; students might then identify and discuss why those stories appeal to them.

• This website lists all of Dahl’s works; it can serve as a starting point for better understanding his approach to writing.
• Publishing Central offers some tips for aspiring children’s writers. It discusses sources of inspiration, as well as the difference between writing for children and writing for adults.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

Candy can often hold a nostalgic place in someone’s heart. What specific memories come to mind when you think about candy? Are they associated with people, events, or holidays?

Teaching Suggestion: Chocolate is very important to Charlie, and in this novel, it comes to represent not only a special occasion but also a fresh start for him and his family. Consider encouraging students to think critically about the memories that they have surrounding their chosen candies. For example, you might ask the class to reflect on why a specific memory is special to them, or you could have students share their memories with each other and ask them to discuss why they are important.

Differentiation Suggestion: Visual learners and artistically inclined students might find it easier to draw their memory out rather than describing it. Advanced students and those in need of a challenge could analyze a specific advertisement related to their candy of choice, especially if it relates to one of their memories.