Archway Trivium Travels Though the Wardrobe to Narnia

When the third graders at Archway Trivium complete their curricular read of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, they celebrate with a special visit from Mr. Tumnus and a host of magical characters from the book in an immersive experience they will remember throughout their days at Great Hearts.

“Tea with Tumnus is one of the most beloved events at our school,” explained third-grade Assistant Teacher Lisa Regan, dressed as the Mother Christmas character from the book. “Even the seniors look back and they remember it as their very favorite experience at Archway Trivium and Trivium Prep.”

The classic is the first of seven in The Chronicles of Narnia series. The books are set in the fictional land of Narnia, a land of talking animals and mythical creatures that is visited by English children through a magic wardrobe they find in a spare room.

The doorways into the classrooms are made to look like the titular wardrobe complete with “hand-carved’ trim and hanging coats that students must brush through to enter a snowy scene, complete with the iconic lamppost from the story. It’s from the scene described in the book that Lucy, the first child to enter Narnia, sees upon her entry into the snowy woods. “It will not go out of my mind that if we pass this post and lantern, either we shall find strange adventures or else some great changes of our fortunes.” ―Lucy Pevensie from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Thanks to the hard work and imagination of the third-grade teaching team and parent volunteers, it truly feels like students are transported into the land of Narnia. The transformation happens literally overnight. “The teachers were here quite late into the night and arrived very early this morning as well to prepare our hallway to turn into Narnia,” admitted Regan.

The lights of the classrooms were dimmed to let the glow of twinkle lights highlight the fake snow and pine trees throughout each classroom. The desks were pushed together to form long tables carefully covered with white tablecloths and formally set with English teacups. While most third graders are not avid tea enthusiasts, the cups are filled with hot cocoa.

Tumnus is a favorite character for many of the students. He is a faun in the book, which is a half human, half-goat creature that appears in Greek and Roman mythology. C.S. Lewis once wrote that the image of a faun carrying an umbrella and parcels through the snowy wood became the initial inspiration for the entire Narnia series. While the part of Mr. Tumnus is played by a different faculty member each year, it was Grant Stambaugh, a fourth-grade teacher at the school who filled his shoes, or hooves, this time, complete with the signature red scarf.

Mr. Tumnus visits each classroom with furry pants to mimic the lower half of a goat, goat horns and floppy ears on his head, with packages and a lantern in hand as he enters. During his brief visit, students have the opportunity to ask their burning questions from the book. These carefully curated inquiries really display the students’ deep understanding of the story’s plots and themes, giving Mr. Tumnus the important job of giving thoughtful answers consistent with the story.

While the event has grown more elaborate over the years, Tea with Tumnus remains a beloved tradition at Archway Trivium. It is a celebration that brings literature to life for third graders and creates memories that students carry with them long after they leave the snowy woods of Narnia behind.

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