John Midas, the main character in Patrick Catling’s children’s classic, The Chocolate Touch, has never heard the axiom “All things in moderation”. He is a chocoholic of the first magnitude who is given the gift of “the chocolate touch”. It doesn’t take John long to learn the same lesson King Midas did - too much of a good thing isn’t such a good thing after all!
This unit begins with a prediction worksheet that the reader can revisit periodically to make adjustments. Every chapter is followed by a set of questions designed to get the student to remember details, understand why events happened, and explain how characters feel. When the student is done reading, he or she summarizes the story’s main events on a story map. A double entry diary worksheet follows on which students are encouraged to make connections between events that happened in their lives with situations presented in the story. These could serve as great sources for group discussions. The next worksheet could serve as an assessment. On it, the student needs to explain how and why John’s attitude towards chocolate changes. Finally, students are encouraged to find a version of the original King Midas fable and fill in a Venn diagram comparing the two. This unit is designed to enhance the reader’s comprehension and enjoyment of this children’s classic. A complete answer key accompanies this download.