Grab all the kids in grades 3-7 and work on this FREE The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe novel study for homeschool – all together, side by side!
FREE: “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe” Novel study
The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe is a classic novel in the Chronicles of Narnia series by a beloved author, C.S. Lewis. CS Lewis has been a beloved author by Christians the world over.
This book is a must-read with so many lessons to be taught. If you have not already done a unit study with this read you are in for a treat. This page is going to help you so much because most of the homeschool printables and resources listed to help you are totally FREE! It doesn’t get much better than that.
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Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie are 4 siblings who go on an amazing adventure that spans 7 books. It’s a rare person who isn’t familiar with the stories, whether they’ve read them or just heard of them. The Chronicles of Narnia is a classic story, and almost everyone loves to read it: young or old, rich or poor, Christian or not. Plus, the story is now is also a major motion picture! So it makes the best book to create an extended homeschool unit.
How to Study The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe in a Unit
A unit study can consist of anything you want it to! It can be writing responses, arts, crafts, cooking, games, whatever floats your boat! Take some or all of the ideas in this roundup to make one of the most fun study units you’ve ever had, for free! Yes, there are printable units out there that you can buy, and they’re all amazing. But if you don’t feel like buying something – that’s what this list is for. Enjoy! Be sure to watch the movie with your kids when you’ve finished all 7 books!
Background Information:
What is this novel about? When the four siblings step through a wardrobe in their guardian’s house, something magical happens. They enter a magical land called Narnia. The people of Narnia are experiencing an eternal winter, and are under the cruel rule of the White Witch. They are eagerly awaiting the hope of Aslan’s return. Aslan is a powerful lion that demands awe and honor, and his return promises peace and the end of the witch’s eternal winter.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was originally the first book in the series, but chronologically it is considered the second book. However, it’s my favorite of the whole collection, and I think if you only want to read one – this is it. Read this one.
C.S. Lewis’ Parallels for Christians
Within the series of books, and especially in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, there are several parallels to the Christian worldview. This book can bring about valuable conversations about Biblical truths as well as Christian character and morals. Themes such as the battle of good versus evil, selfless sacrifice, and faith are evident throughout.
Free Unit Study Activities and Ideas:
The following are some ideas I’ve found from around the web that are free or frugal. Do some or all of them with your whole family as you read the book together! Or, simply assign some of these activities and lesson goals for your young reader as he/she explores the book.
Literacy
- Homeschool Share has a handy lapbook your child can create to remember important features of the book.
- Use this teacher’s guide on CSLewis.org that is complete with comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking questions.
- Need a good vocabulary list that goes along with the book? Don’t buy one! Just visit this site: Vocabulary.com.
- The free worksheets found at ABCteach are helpful to go along with the reading.
- I love the Co-op lesson plans found at Walking by the Way.
- There are lots of characters so to keep them in order there is an individual character list on Wikipedia.
- Now that you have completely submersed yourself in this magical land…let’s write about the experience. Take a look at the great writing prompts at Book Rags.
- Or, see if your youngster has a good understanding of the novel with these essay questions at Grade Saver.
Arts, Crafts and Games
- Here are a few ideas to do with your kids, including a coloring sheet, a word search puzzle, and posters. Find them at Activity Village.
- Take a look at these coloring pages based on characters and scenes from the book series, found at Hello Kids.
- Make your own crowns: Edmund and Peter become kings and Lucy and Susan become queens. Celebrate the death of the White Witch and have your own coronation! Create your own crowns out of cardstock or construction paper (or repurpose a Burger King crown!). Decorate them with glitter, stickers, gems or other ornaments.
- When Lucy meets Mr. Tumnus he plays a flute to put her to sleep. You could create your own flute like the one at On Top of It Guider.
- Use a recycled K-cup to make a cute lion like Artsy Momma.
- Reenact scenes from the story by building your own diorama such as the one seen at Creekside Learning.
- Make a superhero cape (but use it as a king/queen cape) – see the video below.
Bible
Relate your assignments to the Bible with this Bible study by Youth eSource.
- Here’s a movie lesson on Seedbed that ties in the conflict of deciding to do the right thing in the face of adversity.
- Christian Broadcasting Network published an article that explains the teachable moments in the Chronicles of Narnia.
- The “table” scene is seen as a symbol within the book, explained here by Andrew Corbett.
History and Geography
What about the setting of the book? In Chapter One, we read:
Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy. This story is about something that happened to them when they were sent away from London during the war because of the air-raids.
- What was the history behind why London’s children were sent away? Learn about British children during World War II at Children in History. It’s an old site, but if you can handle the odd text color and background, the information is solid.
- What was an air raid shelter? Read about them with photographs at Primary Homework Help, or the basic historical facts at Wikipedia.
- What would children have done for fun in the 1950s? What games would they have played? Find out the interesting life of the children at Down the Lane.
- For those children (and adults) who are visual learners, a printable map of fictional Narnia is available at Narnia Web.
Science and STEM
Back to Narnia now for a little more learning. Narnia was a place of neverending snow and ice, but no Christmas. Sounds awful in the imagination of a kid, but it also begs for a study of snow and snowflakes, doesn’t it?
“She is a perfectly terrible person,” said Lucy. “… And she has made a magic so that it is always winter in Narnia—always winter, but it never gets to Christmas. ” -CS Lewis
- Learn about the lifecycle of a snowflake. Teaching Mama has a free one that’s awesome.
- Even better, the science and symmetry of snowflakes. SnowCrystals.com has a fascinating write-up including photos.
- Want to make your own? Here you can make salt crystal snowflakes at DTLK. Note: I know from experience that this experiment in Art takes LOTS of salt. But, it’s still fun!
- Or simpler yet, just make some paper snowflakes like the instructions at Martha Stewart‘s site.
Recipes Kids Can Make
- Take a section of text such as this portion and create a tea party with boiled eggs and toast!
And really it was a wonderful tea. There was a nice brown egg, lightly boiled, for each of them, and then sardines on toast, and then buttered toast, and then toast with honey, and then a sugar-topped cake.
- Or, whip up some homemade cocoa (such as the recipe my blogging friend at Incidental Farmgirl makes), and top it with foamy whipped cream, remembering this portion of the text in Chapter 4:
Edmund felt much better as he began to sip the hot drink. It was something he had never tasted before, very sweet and foamy and creamy and it warmed him down to his toes.… The Queen let another drop fall from her bottle on to the snow and instantly there appeared a round box, tied with green silk ribbon, which, when opened turned out to contain several pounds of the best Turkish Delight. Each piece was sweet and light to the very center and Edmond had never tasted anything more delicious.
- But let’s not forget the white witch and her offerings… Did you know you can make Turkish Delight in the microwave? Look at what Sprinkle Bakes did! So fun, and wouldn’t it be fun to try?
After story reflection with this unit study, satisfy your curiosity about the rest of the adventures by reading more. The rest of the books in the Chronicles of Narnia are fantastic reads as well!
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