Room on the Broom

Product Information

Questions for Philosophical Discussion » Summary Room on the Broom considers questions about friendship, helping others, and teamwork.

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler raises questions about what it means to be a friend, helping others, and teamwork. Throughout the story, many different animals help the witch collect items that she has lost. In return, she makes room for them on her broom. At the end of the book, the animals must unite and work together to save the witch from the mean dragon. Why did the witch let the animals on her broom? Would you have made room on the broom for the animals?

Downloads:

The ‘horrible beast’ that rises from the ditch makes lots of strange noises. Can you think of other animal noises? Can you find other examples of onomatopoeia? Peter Fogarty has kindly contributed a set of Thinking Hat resources linked to the book (see Resources below). Look at the different types of landscapes the witch flies over.Can you find similar landscapes near your local area using a map or an atlas? At the end of the story, the animals unite to save the witch from the mean dragon. Why did they do this and what made them successful? What does it mean to work on a team? What makes a good team? Questions for Philosophical Discussion Friendship

A companion offering to actor Duff’s My Little Brave Girl (2021) with sound, sensitive advice from parents to children on their journey through childhood. The witch is grateful to the animals for saving her life. Think of things that you are grateful for. How could you say ‘thank you’ for these? All of the animals in the story help the witch. Students can have discussions about why we help others. Why did the animals return the witch’s belongings? It could be that the animals care for the well-being of the witch. Or could it be that the animals have a self-interest to go on the broom? Could it be both? Is one reason better or worse as motivation to help others? The dog, cat, frog, and bird all contributed to the statue to scare off the dragon. Would it have mattered if the frog had refused to help? The witch eventually makes room on the broom for a cat, dog, bird, and frog. Are all of these characters considered friends? Students can discuss what makes people friends. Would you have made friends with the witch? How do you treat your friends? Further, because the witch allows everyone on her broom, it snaps in two. Students can consider why the witch continued to make room on her broom when there wasn’t really room.If the animals only helped the witch because they wanted something in return, does this make it a selfish act? This edition features the captivating classic story with a stunning, redesigned cover and beautiful finish, making it a must-have addition to the bookshelves of all Donaldson and Scheffler fans – big and small! The book was made into an audiobook narrated by Josie Lawrence and adapted for the stage by Tall Stories Theatre Company in 2008, and has toured around the United Kingdom and the rest of the world since then. Look at the rhyming words in the book. Is there a pattern to the rhyming? Can you think of other words that rhyme?

Think about a time when you have worked with a team. Were you successful in what you wanted to accomplish? How is the witch in this story different from the other witches you’ve seen? Would you want to be friends with her?The broom broke when the frog “jumped for joy.” Was it the frog’s fault that the broom broke? Who’s fault was it? Read the description of the ‘horrible beast’ that rises from the ditch and use it to draw the creature.