was miserable over the loss of his beloved egg.Very unhappy.
Charlotte's Web
Chapter 10
E. B. White · Scouts 1st–3rd
Copywork
Templeton, of course, was miserable over the loss of his beloved egg. But he couldn't resist boasting.
Read the passage aloud. What does the word "But" tell you about what Templeton does next?
Discussion
Narration Tell what happened in this chapter, in order. Slow down at the moment Avery climbs the fence to hit Charlotte with a stick.
- Charlotte waits head-down day after day for an idea. Was that wise, or was she wasting time? What makes you think so? Character
- Avery wants to capture Charlotte, and Fern says he already has a frog and that should be enough. Is Fern right? Why or why not? Moral reasoning
- Lurvy says, "How I hate a rat!" and buries the broken egg and Templeton's other things. Was that fair? What makes you think so? Inference
- Templeton says, "It pays to save things," in a surly voice. How does he sound to you? What tells you? Tone
- The author spends a whole paragraph on the swing, with "then" over and over. Why might the author make that paragraph so long? Author's choice
Make a Connection Tell about a time something happened by accident that turned out to help someone.
Vocabulary
- miserable
- boasting
But he couldn't resist boasting.
Bragging about yourself.- gullible
that people are very gullible.
Easy to fool.- surly
he said in his surly voice.
Grumpy and rude.- unbearable
The smell is unbearable.
Too bad to put up with.- scuttled
scuttled away into the barn.
Ran off with quick little steps.- heartily
Wilbur ate heartily.
With a big appetite.- relieved
Charlotte felt greatly relieved to see him go.
Glad that a worry is over.- moodily
Charlotte sat moodily eating a horsefly
In a thoughtful, gloomy way.
Critical thinking
- Wilbur has to tell the story "over and over again" to the other animals. Why do you think he tells it so many times? Give two reasons.
- Charlotte has a narrow escape from Avery. What saved her? Give two reasons from the chapter.
- Late at night Charlotte cuts some of her lines and weaves something new. What does that show about her? Give two reasons from the chapter.