A young girl, Alice, follows a rabbit into a hole in the ground and begins an amazing adventure that leads to a grinning cat, a sensitive mouse, a spacey caterpillar, a highly unusual tea party, playing card people and ever so much more. The book has been a special favorite of kids all over the world for more than a hundred years and still holds a wonderful, mysterious appeal that can never quite be explained. Is it because it’s filled with games, & puzzles? Something that kids love. Or it is the lessons that these games and puzzles impart that make it such a timeless story.
Games: Alice learns rules at every turn in this book. She learns what happens for learning or not learning the rules. Games are a constant part of life in Wonderland, and every new encounter is something of a game for Alice. Mastering each challenge is a theme and we witness Alice growing wiser and more adaptable throughout the story. Some of the games that demonstrate this are the croquet match, the Caucus race, and the living deck of cards that makes up the royal court. Games in this book can be seen as a metaphor for how children learn to adapt to new social situations as they grow older.
Puzzles: Lewis Carroll, the author, presented a series of puzzles for Alice to encounter that have no clear solutions. These encounters demonstrate how life can be frustrating by having certain expectations. A good example is when Alice tries to solve the Mad Hatter’s riddle. Alice learns that she cannot expect to find logic or meaning in all the situations she encounters.
Come and enjoy Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland with me and see if you can find all the games and puzzles. I have all 12 chapters on my video playlist. I have also created Five Fabulous Pages of fun activities Download Alice guide around the theme of Alice in Wonderland for you to enjoy. They use your imagination and allow you to create with things you probably have around your house.
Here is a sample coloring sheet of Alice and the Mad Hatter, and you can find more at my Fun Activities button, under the drop down menu called “coloring sheets”. Download Alice coloring sheet
TRIVIA BREAK: Mad Hatter Day is the "second silly day" of the year (the first being April Fool's Day) and is celebrated on 10/6 (October 6 in the United States; June 10 in Britain).
Story Specific Study Questions:
- Discuss the significance of the Queen of Hearts in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
- What role does the garden play in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland?
- Name some of the themes in the story?
- What is the significance of Alice’s fluctuations in size and shape?
- Alice uses the words Curious, Nonsense, and Confusing throughout her journey. Give some examples where she does this and why?
Recent Comments