The Art of Persuasion-Tell Willy Wonka Why
You Are The Best Choice to Run His Chocolate Factory!
Introduction
The children invited to Willy Wonka’s factory would have certainly tried to use
persuasion to convince Mr. Wonka to choose him or her had they known that he was
looking for a replacement. Ask your students if they have ever tried to persuade
someone to do something? What did they do that was successful? What didn’t work?
Students will write a persuasive letter to Willy Wonka and explain why they are the best
choice as his replacement to run the factory.
Lesson
Orientation Activity
The class as a whole brainstorms several characteristics that Willy Wonka could use for
choosing someone to replace him to run his factory. List these reasons on the board.
Reasons should include such topics as responsibility, being a hard worker, creativity,
innovation, and honesty. Talk with the students and have them brainstorm reasons why
Willy Wonka should choose them specifically. Ask the questions:
1. What would you do if you were the owner?
2. How would you make the company better?
3. Why are you the right choice?
Lesson: Language Arts Grades 4-6
Review the letter format that includes the date, the greeting, the body and the closing.
If needed, provide an illustrate example of the letter format on the board.
Learning Activity
Discuss that a letter must have a beginning, middle and an end. Pre-writing will help
students organize their thoughts so that they can write well. Help students figure out
what to write for their beginning, their middle, and their end. Discuss with students how
to begin their letter with a “bang.” One example might be to have students grab Willy
Wonka’s attention by answering this question:
1. What would you love about owning a chocolate factory (beginning)?
The middle of the letter should have details supporting the student’s opinion. Some
details can be added by answering these questions:
2. Why do you think Willy Wonka should choose you?
3. What have you owned in the past that you have taken good care of?
4. Why should Mr. Wonka choose a kid instead of an adult?
5. What ideas do you have to make the company better?
For the ending, students should restate their opinion in a strong sentence that leaves Mr.
Wonka feeling that there is no doubt that they are the right choice. Have each student
write one sentence that best sums up why Willy Wonka should specifically choose him
or her. Review with students the checklist in Handout C, to aid their understanding of its
use.
Evaluation and Follow-Up
Assessment Tools and Methods
Students should proofread their own work using a checklist to help them.
Teachers can use the checklist as a rubric to grade their persuasive letters. Teachers
can weigh the skills as needed for grading. Additional criteria for evidence of a clearly
stated message may include…
 A response that stays on topic
 The use of a variety of sentence
 The use of details to support the
patterns
topic
 A response that shows an
 An organized and logical
awareness of spelling patterns for
response that flows and has a
commonly used words
beginning, middle and end
 The correct use of capital letters
 The use of a variety of words
and end punctuation
Pre-writing Organize your thoughts!
Tell Willy Wonka what you want! What would you love about owning a chocolate
factory? Use attention grabbing words!
Beginning Middle
Why would Willy Wonka pick a kid like you?
What have you done in the past to prove that you are responsible?
What would you do to make the company better?
Extra Details End
One sentence that tells why you are the best choice!
Checklist
Skill Done
□ I included the date.
□ I included the greeting.
□ My letter states that I want to own the factory.
□ My letter uses persuasion to tell Willy Wonka why I would be the best choice to
run the factory and gives reasons why.
□ My letter has a beginning, middle, and an end.
□ My letter has a closing.
□ My ending sentences strongly restates what I want and why.
□ I used capital letters with proper names at the beginnings of sentences.
□ I punctuated correctly (periods, commas, exclamations points, question marks).
□ I do not start my sentences off with using the same words over and over.
□ I use eye-grabbing words.
□ I included my signature.
□ I reread my letter in my head from start to finish to see if it makes sense!
What’s Your Point, Oompa Loompa?
Critical thinking and writing with poetry
Introduction
Students will discern between the main idea and the supporting details found
within the Oompa Loompa rhymes. Students develop and learn to apply
strategies that help them to comprehend and interpret informational and
literary texts.
Lesson
Orientation Activity
The Oompa Loompas offer their opinions to readers through creative rhymes
about the misfortunes of the children that visit the chocolate factory. Ask the
question, “Why do you think the Oompa Loompas invented such amusing
rhymes to make their point?” Their “point” is called the main idea. Discuss the
difference between the main idea and details (particulars).
Learning Activity
Divide students into four groups and pass out one of the four handouts to each
group. Group members will read the rhyme out loud. Together they will decide
which sentence in the rhyme best states the main idea. The group members will
highlight the main idea sentence in pink. Next, group members will highlight the
details that support or “prove” the main idea in yellow. Group members will then
post their rhymes in a line on the board. Ask them to notice any color patterns
from the highlighted words. Teachers with younger students can have students
chant each of the Oompa Loompa rhymes and then discuss with the students
together what the Oompa Loompas really meant in their rhymes. The students
can highlight certain sentences that are the main idea and then explain what
each sentence means.
Evaluation and Follow-Up
Assessment Tools and Methods
Visit each group during the learning activity to check for understanding. After
groups have posted their rhymes on the board, ask the following questions to
the class:
1. Do you notice any patterns in the rhymes?
2. Do you notice any similarities about where the main idea sentence is
placed in the rhyme?
3. How might the patterns you have chosen help you find the main idea in
other Oompa Loompa rhymes?
4. In one sentence, describe what advice the Oompa Loompa’s are trying
to explain.
5. Where do you usually look for a main idea in a paragraph?
6. Where do you usually look for details in a paragraph?
Students create and write their own Oompa Loompa rhyme that provides
advice about citizenship issues such as generosity, responsibility, and manners.
Poetry
Directions
1. Highlight the main idea in pink.
2. Highlight the details that support or “prove” the main idea in yellow.
#1 OOMPA LOOMPA, DOOMPADEE DOO
WE HAVE A PERFECT PUZZLE FOR YOU.
OOMPA LOOMPA, DOOMPADEE DEE
IF YOU ARE WISE YOU WILL LISTEN TO ME.
WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU GUZZLE DOWN SWEETS,
EATING AS MUCH AS AN ELEPHANT EATS?
WHAT ARE YOU GETTING BUT TERRIBLY FAT?
WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL COME OF THAT?
I DON’T LIKE THE LOOK OF IT.
OOMPA LOOMPA, DOOMPADEE DAH
IF YOU’RE NOT GREEDY, YOU WILL GO FAR.
YOU WILL LIVE IN HAPPINESS TOO.
LIKE THE OOMPA LOOMPA DOOMPADEE DO.
#2 OOMPA LOOMPA, DOOMPADEE DOO
I’VE GOT ANOTHER PUZZLE FOR YOU.
OOMPA LOOMPA, DOOMPADEE DEE
IF YOU ARE WISE, YOU WILL LISTEN TO ME.
GUM CHEWING’S FINE WHEN IT’S ONCE IN AWHILE.
IT STOPS YOU FROM SMOKING AND BRIGHTENS YOUR SMILE.
BUT IT’S REPULSIVE, REVOLTING, AND WRONG.
CHEWING AND CHEWING ALL DAY LONG.
THE WAY THAT A COW DOES.
OOMPA LOOMPA, DOOMPADEE DAH
GIVEN GOOD MANNERS, YOU WILL GO FAR.
YOU WILL LIVE IN HAPPINESS TOO.
LIKE THE OOMPA LOOMPA DOOMPADEE DO.
#3 OOMPA LOOMPA, DOOMPADEE DOO
WE HAVE A PERFECT PUZZLE FOR YOU.
OOMPA LOOMPA, DOOMPADEE DEE
IF YOU ARE WISE, YOU WILL LISTEN TO ME.
WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOUR KID IS A BRAT?
SPOILED AND PAMPERED LIKE A CHINESE CAT.
BLAMING THE CHILD’S A LIE AND A SHAME.
YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHO TO BLAME...
THE MOTHER AND THE FATHER.
OOMPA LOOMPA, DOOMPADEE DAH
IF YOU’RE NOT SPOILED, YOU WILL GO FAR.
YOU WILL LIVE IN HAPPINESS TOO.
LIKE THE OOMPA LOOMPA DOOMPADEE DO.
#4 OOMPA LOOMPA, DOOMPADEE DOO
WE HAVE A PERFECT PUZZLE FOR YOU.
OOMPA LOOMPA, DOOMPADEE DEE
IF YOU ARE WISE, YOU WILL LISTEN TO ME.
WHAT DO YOU GET FROM A GLUT OF T.V.?
A PAIN IN THE NECK AND AN I.Q. OF THREE.
WHY DON’T YOU TRY SIMPLY READING A BOOK?
OR, COULD YOU JUST NOT BEAR TO LOOK?
YOU’LL GET NO COMMERCIALS.
OOMPA LOOMPA, DOOMPADEE DAH
IF YOU’RE NOT GREEDY, YOU WILL GO FAR.
YOU WILL LIVE IN HAPPINESS TOO.
LIKE THE OOMPA OOMPA LOOMPA DOOMPADEE DO.
Now, see if you can come up with an Oompa Loompa-type rhyme of
your own.