(Parent Note – this is an adaptation of the school booklet from the Roald Dahl Museum. My adapted homeschool booklet and the original booklet are below. The week can be accompanied by other activities such as drama, and music, as well as a reading of the novel and watching both of the movies. Each session is about 1 hour depending on the age of the child and is adapted here to be self-led learning).
Session 1 – Identity
INTRODUCING AUGUSTUS GLOOP
1. Read the first extract in which we are introduced to the first Golden Ticket winner, Augustus Gloop. Think carefully about the description.
2. Sketch an image of the boy on a blank page based upon Roald Dahl’s description. Which words and phrases are the most effective and which features of language does Roald Dahl use to build an image of Augustus? The author’s use of clever and descriptive similes paints a very clear picture in the reader’s mind.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
3. Why do you think Roald Dahl chose the name AUGUSTUS GLOOP? What about Veruca Salt. What do you think Veruca might be like? Read extract two, in which we meet Violet Beauregarde for the first time. This extract is about her habits and behaviour. What do you think of Violet? The name ‘Beauregarde’ has been made up of two French words meaning ‘pleasant’ and ‘look’. Do you think Dahl has done this on purpose? Why?
4. Roald Dahl often used names to create an impression of a character. You are going to create your own character, starting with a name. Choose a first name and a surname card from page WHAT’S IN A NAME?
5. Now come up with one or two suggestions as to habits, behaviours or physical features which the new character may display. Did the names help form your ideas? Choose a behaviour or habit for your character.
DEVELOPING THE ACTIVITY: DAHLICIOUS DESCRIPTIONS
6. Watch this video about similes. Take a look at this page. If you still need to look at these activities and do the quiz. Now you have a name and a behaviour, you should be starting to build a picture of your character in your mind. Dahl used of similes to describe Augustus Gloop. Can you apply a simile to your own character? Use your booklet to make notes and a detailed description about your character, include a simile.
Session 2 – Masters of Invention
CREATIVE CANDY
1. Read the first extract and list Willy Wonka’s inventions on a blank page. Which one would you choose to eat and why? The best names are those which are particularly descriptive and appealing, and which might include powerful adjectives or even alliteration. Of course, Roald Dahl was a master of inventing names.
2. Read extract two. Imagine you are applying for a job as a sweet inventor in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. You’re going to have to be very imaginative to come up with a sweet that is interesting enough for Mr Wonka!
3. Decide upon the sweet you want to invent. Willy Wonka’s sweets have a special feature. They either contain a surprise or they perform a function. Your sweets will have to do the same! First decide what function your sweet will perform. Here are some examples:
- a sweet to make people more confident
- a sweet to turn bullies’ tongues black
- sweet to make people listen when people are talking
Once you have decided upon your sweet’s function you need to give it a name and a description.
4. Complete ‘Which words will wow?’ in your workbook Check up on nouns, verbs and adjectives here.
5. Look at these delicious chocolate candies for ideas. What would your candy look like? How would it taste? Use your candy recipe plan to plan out your candy recipe.
6. Design your candy.
Session 3 – Masters of Invention
POWERS OF PERSUASION
1. Now you have a name, a function and some descriptive vocabulary for your sweet, you should be ready to design your packaging. Look at some packaging at home and here. What are the features of good packaging? It has to be eye-catching, feature the name of the product, and be practical. Design their packaging.
2. Time for you to write the final presentation and persuade Willy Wonka to give you a job! Before writing your short presentation. Recap on nouns, verbs and adjectives here or here (whatever floats your boat). Your presentation needs to be ‘punchy’ – i.e short, snappy and, above all, persuasive!
Session 4 – Masters of Invention
CRAZY COOKING
You are going to experiment and create a chocolate or a candy or several of each. You kitchen is going to become a chocolate factory today. I hope you have prepared all the ingredients you will need. It’s up to you.
1. Make your candy.
2. Photograph your finished candy.
Session 5 – Masters of Invention
FANTASTIC INVENTIONS
1. Look at these inventions. Some are useful and some are weird. Some are weirdly useful.
2. These early endeavours into flight are even weirder but without their fails we would not be flying today. Look what we have Now in flight. Without so many early (failed) inventions these awesome machines could not exist.
3. Design your own invention.
Session 6 – The Danger of Television
TV OR NOT TV?
1. Read extract one, from the Oompa-Loompas song about Mike Teavee. What is their advice? To whom? Why? Do you agree with the Oompa-Loompas? Can you think of one reason for television and one reason against it?
2. Choose a character card. Decide whether your character is for TV or against TV!
3. Write your notes on TV OR NOT TV? THAT IS THE QUESTION!
Session 7 – Rich and Poor
1. Read extract one. Wow! What self-restraint! Why do they think Charlie makes his chocolate last so long? Charlie’s family is very poor.
2. Now read extract two. What can we infer about the Salt family from the text. Underline the evidence?
3. Now let’s consider another character in Veruca’s father’s story: the woman in his peanut factory who found the Golden Ticket. Watch this. Now you get to choose:
- You can be a reporter and complete AN INSIGHTFUL INTERVIEW, which asks you to decide which questions you would pose.
- You can be the factory woman and complete THE PEANUT SHELLER, which asks you to write a diary extract from the week of the ticket hunt.
Session 8 – Rewarding Positive Behavior
ACE REPORTING
1. Read extract one. What a surprise! Why do children think Charlie was given the factory and not one of the other children? How is positive behaviour rewarded at home?
2. You are going to write a newspaper article based on Charlie’s story. First, you must identify the features of writing for a newspaper. Look at ACE REPORTING (1) . Identify the main features of a newspaper: headline, opening paragraph, quote and caption. Next, consider the article itself. Whilst it includes all the right features, does it really grab the reader’s attention? Does it have an exciting headline? Does it contain lots of information? Does it give the reactions of the people involved?
3. Now you have seen what a dull and poorly written newspaper report looks like, it’s time to try writing your own! You can either write a newspaper article about:
- how Charlie finds the Golden Ticket
OR
- AN ALTERNATIVE ARTICLE presenting a different point of view.
4. Wrap up!
Have you finished the bonus activities and completed your wrap up?
As a reward choose this or this or this? Good luck.
Good job this week!
Workbooks below.
