The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Over April break we are doing a parent-child book discussion of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. This is through funding from the New York State Council on the Humanities Together Grant.

I am having a hard time coming up with a hands-on project for the discussion. A couple weeks ago we read Skellig by David Almond and dissected Owl Pellets so hopes are high from the kids. I have go tot top that event!

I am having some success gleaning ideas from birthday party guides online. But if you have any suggestions I could use the help, comment below!

• Serve Turkish Delights (had to buy on Amazon.com, no local stores carried)
• Serve tea sandwiches and lemonade
• Dress as the White Witch
• Kinda lame but I was thinking of putting our coat rack on wheels in front of the entrance to the discussion and filling with coats and jackets so participants will have to squeeze through the coats to make it into the room.
• Decorate cupcakes to look like a lion (Aslan) face
• Narnia Paper craft

Questions

• When Lucy meets Mr. Tumnus in the woods she befriends him despite his appearance. Parents, have you ever been judged or judged someone by their appearance and your frist impression was wrong?
• What makes someone a hero? What about a villain? Which is Edmund?
• Lots of fairytales include some sort of a door from this world into another world. Can you think of any other stories like this? Have you ever imagined being able to step out of this world into another one?
• Why do you think there is a lampost near the wardrobe entrance in Narnia.
• Have you read any other books where one must pass through a magical portal to enter another world?
• Do you think Lucy's brothers and sister should have believed her story about the wardrobe? Would you believe Lucy's story?
• What would you ask for if the queen offered you your favorite food?
• Lewis says that “there’s nothing that spoils the taste of good ordinary food half so much as the memory of bad magic food.” Have you ever spoiled your taste for something by doing something you shouldn’t have done?
• What is the significance of the thaw and the coming of spring?
• When Edmund calls out to the Witch, begging her not to turn the little creatures into stone, Lewis tells us that “for the first time in this story” he “felt sorry for someone besides himself.” Do you know what it’s like to feel so sorry for yourself that you don’t notice anybody else?
• Have you ever tried to tell someone the truth but they didn't believe you? How did this make you feel?
• At the end of the story Lucy, Susan, and Peter forgive Edmund very quickly when they are reunited. Would you be so forgiving?
• The group decides not to tell Edmund about Azlan's sacrifice to free him. Was this the right decision? Would it have hurt or helped Edmund?