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Charlotte's Web
Scouts · 1st–3rd
Charlotte works all night to weave the word, and Wilbur stands in the morning swelling out his chest. Does Charlotte seem to mind, or does she seem content?
The tension Charlotte does the hard, tiring work while the others sleep, and Wilbur gets the praise; yet she loves to weave and looks at him with affection.
Notice who does the work in this chapter and who gets the praise.
Charlotte weaves the word TERRIFIC in her web at night. Next morning Mr. Zuckerman and the visitors read it, and he orders clean straw and a crate for the County Fair. That afternoon Templeton fetches words from the dump, Charlotte tests Wilbur's action, and at bedtime she tells him stories and sings him to sleep.
Start with the morning when Lurvy sees the web. Ask who is looking at the word, and who made it.
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the night of weaving, the morning of the word, the new orders, Templeton's three finds, Wilbur's action, and the bedtime stories and song.
Imitate the author After copying the sentences, the student writes two sentences of their own: one that ends with a feeling word like affection, and one that begins with Well.
Debate Take sides on the big question: does Charlotte seem to mind the work, or does she seem content? Each side must use one line from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why a story might show a friend working quietly while someone else is praised.
Easier Read the morning scene aloud together and talk through discussion questions 1 and 4 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 Charlotte might answer if Wilbur asked her whether she was tired, using what she says and does in the chapter.
1. Templeton grumbles, "What do you think I am, a messenger boy?" Why does he keep fetching words for Charlotte anyway?Character
What it asks It asks why a rat who complains so much still goes back to the dump, and what that shows about him.
He gives in when Charlotte asks politely.
Just once more - please!
I'll tell you what I'll do,
He is a little proud of his finds and wants to hear that they are good.
There!" he said, triumphantly. "How's that?
A strong answer Templeton grumbles that he will not spend all his time at the dump, but when Charlotte says please, he offers to bring a piece of the soap flakes package. He even says "There!" in a triumphant way, so part of him seems pleased with his find. A strong answer says what makes him give in and uses one thing he says.
2. Charlotte says, "I'm not sure Wilbur's action is exactly radiant," but she will use the ad anyway. Is that all right? Why or why not?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks whether it is right to use a word that may not be quite true, and what Wilbur's own words add.
All right: it is for a good cause, and Wilbur himself says he feels radiant.
Actually," said Wilbur, "I feel radiant.
I'm in this thing pretty deep now - I might as well go the limit.
Not quite: she herself is not sure it is true.
I'm not sure Wilbur's action is exactly radiant, but it's interesting.
A strong answer One answer is that it is all right: the word is for a good cause and Wilbur himself says he feels radiant. The other is that Charlotte admits she is not sure it is exactly true. A strong answer takes a side and says what the other side would answer.
3. While she weaves, Charlotte talks to herself: "Whoa, girl! Steady now!" How does she sound to you? What tells you?Tone
What it asks It asks the student to hear Charlotte's voice as she works, and decide whether she sounds like a coach or like someone under strain.
She sounds like a coach, cheering herself on.
she began to talk to herself, as though to cheer herself on
Good girl!
She sounds careful and a little tense, because the work is hard.
the spider worked at her difficult task
Easy, keep those lines together!
A strong answer She sounds like a coach: the author says she talks to herself as though to cheer herself on, and she ends with Good girl! But the lines are short and quick, and she says Easy, keep those lines together, so she also sounds careful, since the task is difficult. A strong answer reads one line aloud and says which voice it hears.
4. Wilbur pushes the clean straw aside and lies in the manure. What does that tell you about him on his first day of being terrific?Inference
What it asks It asks what Wilbur's choice of bed shows about him, now that people call him terrific.
He is still the same pig, who likes what he knows.
The straw seemed scratchy - not as comfortable as the cow manure, which was always delightfully soft to lie in.
He is just tired and new things take getting used to.
It had been a busy day - his first day of being terrific.
Now he was tired.
A strong answer He seems to be the same pig as before: the straw seems scratchy to him, and the manure is delightfully soft. It could also be that it was a busy day and he is too tired to get used to anything new. A strong answer picks one reading and says what it shows about how Wilbur has or has not changed.
5. Wilbur asks, "Then what happened?" and Charlotte answers, "Nothing," twice. Why might the author end the story that way?Author's choice
What it asks It asks what the plain answer does after a story full of fighting, and why the author lets it fall flat.
It is funny: Wilbur wants more and Charlotte keeps it short.
Then what happened?" asked Wilbur.
Nothing," said Charlotte.
It shows the battle was the exciting part and what came after was ordinary spider business.
The fish lost the fight. My cousin wrapped it up so tight it couldn't budge.
when she got good and ready, she ate it
A strong answer The fight is told blow by blow, so a flat Nothing after it is funny. It also shows that what came next was just ordinary spider business: the cousin wrapped the fish up and ate it when she got good and ready. A strong answer says what the reader feels and why the author might end it that way.
1. After TERRIFIC appears, Mr. Zuckerman gives Lurvy new orders. What do they show about how he now sees Wilbur? Give two reasons.
What it asks It asks what the clean straw, the crate and the fair show about how Mr. Zuckerman now sees Wilbur.
He sees Wilbur as a very special animal who deserves the best care.
I have a terrific pig. I want that pig to have clean, bright straw every day for his bedding.
There is to be no more cow manure thrown down into that pigpen.
He sees a pig to show off to everyone.
I have decided to take the pig to the County Fair on September sixth.
They should say Zuckerman's Famous Pig.
A strong answer Mr. Zuckerman wants the best for Wilbur: no more manure, and clean, bright straw every day. He also wants to show him off, with a large green crate with gold letters that say Zuckerman's Famous Pig. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and says whether he sees a special pig, a famous one, or both.
2. Charlotte turns down "Crunchy" and "Pre-shrunk." What does that show about how she picks words? Give two reasons.
What it asks It asks what Charlotte looks for in a word, from why she says no to two of Templeton's finds.
She thinks about what a word will make Mr. Zuckerman picture.
He might start thinking about crisp, crunchy bacon and tasty ham.
We want Zuckerman to think Wilbur is nicely filled out, not all shrunk up.
She wants words that praise Wilbur himself, not only his body.
We must advertise Wilbur's noble qualities, not his tastiness.
A strong answer Charlotte is careful about what a word will make Mr. Zuckerman picture: crunchy might make him think of bacon, and pre-shrunk makes Wilbur sound small. She also wants words that praise Wilbur's noble qualities, not his tastiness. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and says what Charlotte is trying to prevent.
3. At bedtime Wilbur asks for a story and a song, and Charlotte, though tired, gives both. What does that show about her? Give two reasons.
What it asks It asks what Charlotte's stories and lullaby show about how she cares for Wilbur at the end of a long day.
She puts Wilbur's wishes first, even when she is tired.
So Charlotte, although she, too, was tired, did what Wilbur wanted.
Tell me another story!
She wants him calm and unafraid before he sleeps.
Be not afraid and be not lonely!
Sleep, sleep, my love, my only,
A strong answer Charlotte is tired herself, but the chapter says she did what Wilbur wanted: she tells a story, then another, then sings a lullaby. The song itself tells him to be not afraid and not lonely, so she cares about how he feels as well as what he asks. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and a word for how she cares.