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Teaching guide
Novel-study escape rooms for the Chronicles of Narnia
C. S. Lewis's seven Chronicles of Narnia, first published between 1950 and 1956, remain favourites for readers from about grade 4 to grade 8, in classrooms, homeschools and book clubs. This guide covers how to plan a novel study on the series: which order to read in, what to discuss, and how to check reading at the end of each book without burying it in worksheets.
Why Narnia suits grades 4–8
The books are short enough to finish, the adventures are exciting, and the children in them make real choices with real consequences. Lewis also drew on myth, legend and medieval romance (fauns, dryads, giants and talking beasts), so the books make a natural companion to the myths and the grammar-stage classics.
Which order?
The books were first published in one order, beginning with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and many later editions number them in the order of events in Narnia's history, beginning with The Magician's Nephew. Both orders have their defenders. Publication order lets readers discover the world as its first readers did; story order is tidier. The rooms on the site are listed in publication order, but each one stands on its own, so you can use them in either order.
A novel study that leaves room for the book
A good novel study keeps the story whole. Rather than a worksheet for every chapter, try reading in longer stretches, discussing as you go, and checking at the end. Keep a simple chart of characters and places as the series goes on, since several characters return in later books. Map the journeys, which are central to most of the books. Give students time simply to enjoy the story, too: a book that is stopped every few pages for questions is hard to love, and the series is best remembered as a pleasure.
Questions worth asking
The best discussion questions are about choices. Why does Edmund betray his brother and sisters, and what changes him? How does Eustace change in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and why? In The Silver Chair, why is it so hard for Jill and Eustace to follow the instructions they have been given? What does Shasta learn about who he is in The Horse and His Boy? What tempts Digory in The Magician's Nephew, and why does it matter that he resists in the end? Ask students to point to the events in the book that support their answers.
Lewis was a Christian, and many readers find Christian themes in the books. Families and schools differ in how much they make of this; the books can be enjoyed and discussed either way.
Planning the series
The seven books are short enough to read one every few weeks, so the whole series fits into a school year with time to spare. Many teachers read the first book aloud to the whole class and let students read later books on their own or in small groups, with discussion when each group finishes. Others choose one or two books for a term and leave the rest for independent reading. For a written response, a short piece at the end of each book works well: a character's choice and its consequences, or a comparison of how a place changes between two books.
Where the escape rooms fit
On the site there is one self-checking escape room for each book, best used when the book is finished. Students solve seven locks: a crossword of names, places and key words, scrambled names, a coded message, a who's-who, a set of pairs, an odd one out and a final clue. The rooms ask about the characters, places and events in their own words and quote nothing from the books, so they work with any edition, and students need their own copy of the book. Most students take 30 to 45 minutes. See all seven on the C. S. Lewis page. Every room has free taster locks that anyone can try with a class, with no sign-up. Members get all seven locks of every room and a private class link to share.
Not an official resource
Locked Lessons is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by the C. S. Lewis Company or the publishers of the Chronicles of Narnia. These rooms are an independent study resource: they quote nothing from the books, so students need their own copy.
Rooms to try
C. S. Lewis · Book 1The Lion, the Witch and the WardrobeFree taster
C. S. Lewis · Book 2Prince CaspianFree taster
C. S. Lewis · Book 3The Voyage of the Dawn TreaderFree taster
C. S. Lewis · Book 4The Silver ChairFree taster
C. S. Lewis · Book 5The Horse and His BoyFree taster
C. S. Lewis · Book 6The Magician's NephewFree tasterQuestions
What order should we read the Chronicles of Narnia in?
Either publication order, starting with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, or story order, starting with The Magician's Nephew. The escape rooms each stand alone, so they work with either.
What grade are the Narnia escape rooms for?
Readers from about grade 4 to grade 8, in classrooms, homeschools, literature circles and book clubs.
Are the Locked Lessons Narnia rooms official?
No. Locked Lessons is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by the C. S. Lewis Company or the publishers of the Chronicles of Narnia. The rooms quote nothing from the books, so students need their own copy.