10 Fun Reading Activities for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
By Lily | Published 4 July 2022 | Goodreads Rating 4.15 | This post may contain affiliate links.
We’ve curated a list of educational games and fun activities inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Be sure to try some (or all!) of these ideas to make reading fun for your child, while creating special memories for your family along the way!
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a fun book, full of imaginative adventures and rich descriptions of delectable delights! Roald Dahl is a beautiful writer whose creative and whimsical ideas leave the reader thinking.It is also a book with many great lessons such as teaching children to be kind, respectful, selfless, generous, and self-controlled.
Here are 10 activities to extend the reading fun of this whimsical book! Check out the book summary for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory if you need a quick refresh on the story!
10 Book-Themed Activities for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
These activities are a great way to engage kids and help them develop a love for reading. They will learn about the story's important lessons and characters while having fun with the family.
Activity 1: Learn how candy is really made!!
As much as we love the idea of candy being made in a mysterious Wonka-like factory, the reality is far from the story! Here are two fascinating videos that your kids will enjoy watching to learn how two popular candies - gummy bears and bubblegum - are made!!
Activity 2: Willy Wonka's Inventing Room - Gummy Bears!
Set aside an afternoon for you and your child to turn your kitchen into a Willy Wonka factory! As a shortcut, pick up a candy chemistry box to get started quicker!
Or, here’s an easy and quick recipe from Tiffin Box to make homemade gummy candy / gummy bear! Simply switch out the gelatin for Agar-agar powder to make it vegan. Fresh fruit juice/ store-bought juice can be used for this recipe like orange juice for yellow gummy, grape juice for red gummy, 7-up for white gummy, and lemon water with food color for green Gummy. Simply adjust sugar according to your taste and sweetness of the juice being used!
Activity 3: Willy Wonka's Inventing Room … with Chocolate!
Bake cookies, brownies, or other chocolate treats with your family. Get creative and add in different candy or flavorings to make them extra special. Or, bake a chocolate cake in the shape of Willy Wonka's top hat or the golden ticket. Decorate together with icing and candies. ere’s a simple fudge recipe from Preppy Kitchen to get you all started!
Then, invite your family and friends over for a tea party inspired by the book. Serve treats like chocolate cake, candy, and tea with a touch of whimsy. And, purchase a variety of different chocolates and have a taste test. Discuss the different flavors and textures, and see if anyone can guess which chocolate is which. Dress up in fancy clothes and have a grand time!
Activity 4: Willy Wonka's Inventing Room … a sugar-free version!
Kids can still have fun using their imagination to invent their own candy or chocolate creation. Provide materials like play-doh, paper, and markers to bring their inventions to life. See who can make the most creative and intricate sculpture and structure! From @Kids Craft, learn how to make these adorable paper candies! From @Lydiality, learn how to make these cute 2D 3D candies using paper only. They are super easy to make and can easily be turned into garlands that are perfect for home decoration.
Activity 5: Golden Ticket Scavenger Hunt
Create your own golden ticket. Kids can design an elaborate ticket to simulate finding a golden ticket to tour the chocolate factory. Hide golden tickets around the house or yard for kids to find. The tickets can be redeemed for prizes like a special treat or a chance to choose the next family movie night.
Activity 6: Watch the movie adaptation … both versions!
Have a family night to watch the movie version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Choose from the original film from 1971 starring Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. Or, the 2005 version starring Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka! Afterwards, compare and contrast the book and the movie and discuss which one you liked better. In our family, I’m a fan of the classic movie adaptation while my kids love the modern version!! ;-)
Activity 7: Make a candy bar card for a special occasion!
This is a fun activity for your child to create a scrumptious card for a special occasion like a birthday or Father's Day, with instrutions from Instructables! Or, use this simple instruction from the colorful blog Oh Joy! to make these awesome candy bars for your kids to make AND give out to family & friends!
Activity 8: Play CANDY-inspired board games & activities as a family!
Have your kids design their own candy-themed board game based on the book. Use candy and chocolate as game pieces and create fun challenges and obstacles for players to overcome. As a short cut, below are some fun candy-themed games to get started immediately!
To really bring the story to life, create a tour of your own home and assign each room a different area of the factory. For example, the kitchen can be the Inventing Room and the living room can be the Chocolate Room. Do a science experiment making fizzy lifting drinks, hair tonic, or something from Wonka's inventing room. Measure, mix and see what you create! Each family member has to go through all the rooms in order and accomplish tasks to win!
Activity 9: Free learning resources to strengthen your child’s comprehension!
This Fun Pack by Puffin Schools includes fantastically fun activity sheets, a book quiz and dress-up ideas!
Roald Dahl’s official website has a fun lesson plan that includes many creative learning activities for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!
Here’s another resource from the scrumpdiddlyumptious world of Roald Dahl.
Check out the free printables from Reading Quests to help with your child’s comprehension of this book and to make reading fun. Great for struggling readers!
Activity 10: Visit the library or bookstore to check out more fabulous Roald Dahl books!
If your child enjoyed reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, be sure to read the below which feature Dahl's unique blend of humor, whimsy, and heart. For the full list, be sure to visit the list of Roald Dahl’s childrens books in order.
Matilda is a book about a young girl with extraordinary intelligence who develops telekinetic powers and uses them to stand up against her cruel headmistress and help her kind-hearted teacher.
The BFG, short for "The Big Friendly Giant," is a heartwarming tale about a young orphan girl named Sophie who befriends a gentle giant and helps him save other children from his less-friendly giant neighbors.
Fantastic Mr. Fox is a fun and adventurous story about a clever fox who outwits three mean farmers that are trying to catch him and his family. The book is fast-paced and full of excitement, and is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats
George’s Marvelous Medicine is a humorous children's book about a young boy named George who creates a magical potion to get back at his mean-spirited grandmother with hilarious and unpredictable results.
REWARD: Celebrate Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!
When your child has finished reading the book and completed any of the above activities, download this FREE book-themed artwork to hang or frame in your child’s room as a keepsake of this special book!