Upper elementary · Grades 3–5
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Homeschool Literature Study Guide
For grades 3–5 · 6-week family study
by C. S. Lewis
Prepared by StudyGuide Pro · Updated
About the book
What this guide helps your family notice
Four siblings step through a wardrobe into Narnia, a land held in winter by the White Witch and waiting for Aslan's return.
Why we place this guide in grades 3–5
The book's clear mythic structure invites children to notice recurring images, motives, and turning points while still giving them a propulsive adventure to follow.
Placement reflects the independence, evidence, vocabulary, content, and project expected by this guide. It is a teaching recommendation, not a claim that every child reads at the same pace.
Free sample lesson
Week 1 · The wardrobe
Read Chapters 1–3
Why does Lucy believe Narnia before the others do?
Parent answer guidance
A strong answer should name a specific choice, detail, or line from Chapters 1–3; explain what it shows about the wardrobe; and make room for a different answer when the child can support it from the story. Prompt once with “What in the chapter makes you think that?” before supplying an interpretation.
Edition-independent chapter map
A 6-week reading schedule
The plan follows chapters or named sections rather than page numbers, so it stays usable across common paperback, hardcover, and ebook editions. If an edition numbers supplemental material differently, match the chapter title or stopping event.
Week 1 · Chapters 1–3
The wardrobe
Why does Lucy believe Narnia before the others do?
Activity: Draw the wardrobe threshold and map the first setting.
Week 2 · Chapters 4–6
Betrayal and winter
What does Edmund want, and how does the Witch use it?
Activity: Track winter imagery and its effect.
Week 3 · Chapters 7–9
A growing alliance
How do the siblings begin to act as a team?
Activity: Compare two acts of courage.
Week 4 · Chapters 10–13
The deeper magic
Why does Aslan accept a cost for Edmund?
Activity: Write a short response about responsibility.
Week 5 · Chapters 14–15
A turning point
How does the story's mood change after the Stone Table?
Activity: Add the major turning points to the map.
Week 6 · Chapters 16–17
A changed kingdom
What do the children understand differently when they return?
Activity: Finish the Narnian story map.
Learning objectives and extra prompts
What students will practice
- Use the text to practice character development.
- Use the text to practice symbolism.
- Use the text to practice setting.
- Use the text to practice theme.
More sample questions
- 01How does each sibling respond differently to Narnia?
- 02What does winter suggest about the Witch's rule?
- 03How does Edmund's betrayal change the story?
Extension activities
- Map Narnia
- Track seasonal imagery
- Compare two acts of courage
Content notes for parents
Know what to expect before you begin.
War displacement, betrayal, imprisonment, and sacrificial imagery; frightening scenes are brief and purposeful.
Children practice: Character development · Symbolism · Setting · Theme
Final reflection
Finish with a final project.
Create a Narnian story map with six turning points and a paragraph explaining one recurring symbol.
Final-project rubric
Four things to look for
01
Understanding
Accurately represents the book’s characters, events, setting, or central ideas.
02
Text evidence
Uses specific moments, details, or language from the reading to support choices.
03
Communication
Explains the project clearly in words suited to the student’s grade band.
04
Reflection
Connects the finished work to a theme, change, question, or insight from the book.
Use the rubric descriptively: beginning, developing, clear, or especially strong. It is answer support for family feedback, not a standardized assessment.
Editorial and worldview note
What kind of guide this is
Written for Christian homeschool families: literary analysis stays grounded in the book, with room for biblical reflection at home. These are literature guides, not Bible curriculum.
Prepared by StudyGuide Pro; reviewed September 1, 2026. Read the editorial method →
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