Family Movie Night Activity: James and the Giant Peach
A Movie Night that’s Just Peachy!
James’ picture perfect life is turned topsy-turvy when his parents are killed and he’s sent to live with his two evil aunts. He finds solace in a few bugs that he meets who happen to live inside…a Giant Peach!
Movie Munchies:
*As the name states this film involves a giant peach, so for dinner you might have a wonderful peach infused entre, try this delicious peach Glazed Peach Chicken recipe found here. It will be sure to start your family movie night out right!
*Once James and his “bug” friends assail the seas, they think they are going to die of starvation until James points out that they’ve enough food for five voyages, they can eat the peach. So here’s where you could do Peaches Foster found here. Or a delicious Peach Cobbler found here. Either way, indulge on the wonderful juiciness of the great peach!
*For a mid-movie snack try a float inspired by the film, Peach floats made simply by purchasing some Peach Schwepp’s Ginger Ale, and some vanilla icecream..mmmmm!
Setting the Scene:
*The majority of this imaginative masterpiece takes place inside or on a giant peach. So if you really want to impress the little-uns build a make-shift peach by assembling a fort. If you’ve got orange blankets, use them but your kids won’t mind what kinds of blankets, they’ll just be thrilled to be watching a movie with the whole family inside a giant fort/giant peach.
Must Pause Moments:
*In the beginning of the film we meet James’ new friends, a spider, centipede, cricket, ladybug, worm, and a glow-worm. To get the kids to relate to each of James’ friends play a game called “Who Am I”. Write each bug on a piece of paper and tape it to his or her backs so that they can’t see it. They must now quiz each of their siblings/friends for clues in order to figure out which bug they are.
*After James and the bugs are at sea they must attract the seagulls and the worm does so by wiggling around. Pause the movie at this point and turn some fun music on in order to let the kiddos get their own wiggles out.
*After the film ends you have the wonderful opportunity to have a sleepover on the floor in your homemade Giant Peach/fort. Make a whole night of it with flash lights, and snacks and start reading the novel that the movie is based on (James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl).
Trisha - Trying hard to get the song Peaches out of my head!
Rated PG for some frightening images; 79 min; Directed by Henry Selick