Teaching Ideas on The Chocolate War
First published in 1974, "The Chocolate War" was written by Robert Cormier. Generally taught to students in grades nine and ten, "The Chocolate War" tells the story of Jerry Renault, a freshman at Trinity, a boys' Catholic prep school. In a bid to sell the most candy at the school's annual chocolate sale, Jerry finds himself stuck between Trinity's acting headmaster, Brother Leon, and the Vigils, a secret student society.
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School Community
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This teaching idea allows students to gain a deeper insight into the setting of "The Chocolate War," the world of a private high school. Start by brainstorming some areas of focus, such as school spirit, cliques, peer pressure and school discipline. Students should write a two-page reflection on the world of their high school and how it relates to that at Trinity. Encourage them to compare the strength and weaknesses of their high school community with Trinity.
Bullying and Harassment
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Bullying and harassment are major themes in "The Chocolate War" and this teaching idea from Paula Stein at the SACSC develops student thinking in these areas. Start by brainstorming different types of bullying and harassment, such as name-calling and violence, and specific examples found in the book. Ask students to write about a bullying situation they have experienced or witnessed. If students feel comfortable, ask them to share with their story with the rest of the class. Also, brainstorm ideas for preventing bullying in schools and have students transfer these ideas onto a poster to be displayed in class.
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Abuse of Power
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In chapter six of "The Chocolate War," acting headmaster Brother Leon compares his classroom to Nazi Germany. To help students understand why he made this comparison, have students spend one lesson researching Nazi Germany. They should pay particular attention to how Nazi leaders inspired both support and fear from ordinary citizens. Encourage students to look for any similarities between Nazi leaders and Brother Leon. Have students present their findings in a short presentation to the rest of the class.
Characters
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Early in the book, Jerry relates to the poster he chose to hang in his locker. In this teaching idea, students choose another character from "The Chocolate War," such as Brother Leon or Archie, and decide what items might be found in the character's locker that would be consistent with that character. Students may write or draw a list but must be prepared to explain or defend their choices in a class discussion.
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References
Resources
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