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Charlotte's Web
Scouts · 1st–3rd
Wilbur says he is only average, yet Charlotte says her opinion is what counts. Whose word should count more: Wilbur's honesty about himself, or his best friend's praise?
The tension Wilbur's plain statement that he is not terrific, against Charlotte's loyal answer that he is terrific as far as she is concerned.
Notice how Wilbur and Charlotte talk about the word "terrific" and who gets to say what is true.
Charlotte calls the animals together in the barn cellar and says her trick seems to be working. She asks for a new word to weave, and the goose suggests "terrific." The old sheep persuades Templeton to bring a magazine clipping, and Charlotte tells a worried Wilbur that he is terrific as far as she is concerned.
Start with Charlotte calling the roll. Ask what the animals do, and how she answers them.
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the roll call, Charlotte's news, the suggestions, Templeton and the old sheep, and Charlotte's last words to Wilbur.
Imitate the author After copying the sentence, the student writes one sentence in the same pattern: what someone said, who said it, how, and then what the person added.
Debate Take sides on the big question: whose word should count more, Wilbur's honesty about himself or his best friend's praise? Each side must use one line from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why a story might let a friend call someone terrific when he says he is only average.
Easier Read the scene with Templeton and the old sheep aloud together and talk through discussion questions 1 and 3 only.
On level Talk through all five discussion questions, then have the student answer one critical-thinking question aloud with two reasons from the chapter.
Harder Ask the student to say what Wilbur might answer to Charlotte's last words, using what he says about himself in the chapter.
1. Charlotte says Templeton is "always looking out for himself." Is that fair? What makes you think so?Character
What it asks It asks whether Charlotte's opinion of Templeton fits what he says and does at the meeting.
Fair: he does not care about Wilbur and he finds the meeting boring.
Meetings bore me.
Let him die,
Not quite fair: he does agree to help, even if he grumbles.
Maybe you're right," he said gruffly.
I'll bring back a magazine clipping if I can find one.
A strong answer Charlotte has some reason: Templeton says meetings bore him and says Wilbur can die. But in the end he says maybe you're right and promises a magazine clipping, so he is not only looking out for himself. A strong answer takes a side and uses one thing he says early and one thing he says later.
2. Charlotte mutters, "You sound like three ganders." How does she sound as she calls the roll? What tells you?Tone
What it asks It asks the student to hear Charlotte's voice and decide whether she is cross, amused, or both.
Cross: she is tired of the repeating.
Why can't you just say 'here'? Why do you have to repeat everything?
Charlotte glared at her.
Amused: she makes a joke about it.
This is getting to be quite a meeting," said Charlotte.
Anybody would think we had three ganders, three geese, and twenty-one goslings.
A strong answer At first she sounds cross: she mutters, asks why they have to repeat everything, and glares at the goose. Later she jokes that anybody would think there were three ganders, three geese and twenty-one goslings, which sounds more amused. A strong answer reads one line aloud and says which voice it hears.
3. Wilbur says twice that he is not terrific. What do you think he is feeling? What makes you think so?Inference
What it asks It asks what is behind Wilbur's words when Charlotte says she will write "terrific" about him.
He is shy and embarrassed by the praise.
Wilbur blushed.
He is uneasy about a word that does not seem true of him.
But Charlotte," said Wilbur, "I'm not terrific.
I'm just about average for a pig.
A strong answer Wilbur blushes, so he may be shy about being praised. He also says plainly that he is just about average for a pig, so he may be uneasy about a word that does not seem true of him. A strong answer picks the feeling that seems stronger and uses one thing he says or does.
4. Charlotte ends the meeting and tells Wilbur, "Now stop arguing and go get some sleep!" Is that a kind way to end it? Why or why not?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks whether Charlotte's last words are kind to Wilbur, or whether they brush aside what he said.
Kind: she tells him he is her best friend and sends him to rest.
You're my best friend, and I think you're sensational.
replied Charlotte, sweetly
Not so kind: she cuts him off when he is worried.
Now stop arguing and go get some sleep!
Wilbur blushed. "But I'm not terrific, Charlotte.
A strong answer She is kind in what she says: he is her best friend and she thinks he is sensational. But she also cuts off his worry with stop arguing, which might leave him feeling unheard. A strong answer takes a side and says what the other side would answer.
5. The author lets the gander spell "terrific" in a long, silly string. Why might the author put that joke into a meeting about saving a life?Author's choice
What it asks It asks what a joke does in the middle of a serious meeting, and what the gander's spelling shows about him.
It makes the meeting funny and keeps the mood light, even though Wilbur's life is at stake.
I would have to have St. Vitus's Dance to weave a word like that into my web.
This is getting to be quite a meeting,
It shows the gander cannot help repeating himself, which is part of who he is.
It's my idio-idio-idiosyncrasy,
Sorry, sorry, sorry,
A strong answer The long spelling is funny, and it keeps the meeting lively even while Charlotte is trying to save Wilbur's life. It also shows the gander as he is, repeating everything, since he says it is his idiosyncrasy. A strong answer says what the reader feels and why the author may have put the joke here.
1. Charlotte turns down "Pig Supreme" and picks "terrific." How does she choose her words? Give two reasons from the chapter.
What it asks It asks what Charlotte looks for in a word to weave, and what she thinks about when she picks one.
She chooses the word that will best impress the people who read it.
It sounds like a rich dessert.
I think 'terrific' might impress Zuckerman.
She chooses a word she can actually weave into a web.
Cut that down to one 'terrific' and it will do very nicely
I would have to have St. Vitus's Dance to weave a word like that into my web.
A strong answer Charlotte thinks about the readers: she says Pig Supreme sounds like a rich dessert and that terrific might impress Zuckerman. She also thinks about her own work, since she cannot weave a word as long as the gander's spelling. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and says which one matters more to her.
2. The old sheep tells Templeton about a zero morning next January. How does she get him to agree? Give two reasons from the chapter.
What it asks It asks what the sheep says that moves a rat who said "Let him die."
She shows him he would lose his food.
Wilbur's leftover food is your chief source of supply, Templeton.
Wilbur's food is your food
She gives him a picture so scary he cannot shrug it off.
you'll grow so thin we can look right through your stomach and see objects on the other side
Templeton's whiskers quivered.
A strong answer The sheep speaks about Templeton's own food: she says Wilbur's leftovers are his chief source of supply. She also paints a picture of a rat so thin you can see through his stomach, and his whiskers quiver. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and says which one seems to move him more.
3. Charlotte calls the meeting to get suggestions for new words. What does that show about how she works with the others? Give two reasons.
What it asks It asks whether Charlotte treats the animals as helpers or only as an audience.
She listens and welcomes their help.
I need new ideas for the web.
Good idea," said Charlotte.
She still makes the choices herself.
No good," said Charlotte.
I've got to tear my web apart and write 'Terrific.
A strong answer She listens: she says she needs new ideas and she says good idea when the sheep offers one. But she says no good to the lamb and she decides what to write, saying she must tear her web apart and write terrific. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and says what kind of leader she is.