Print at 100% scale on letter paper, with no added margins.
Charlotte's Web
Scouts · 1st–3rd
Everyone admires the web and nobody notices Charlotte, yet she feels peaceful and contented. Should she be content, or is she owed more?
The tension Charlotte does the work that saves Wilbur and stays unseen in the ceiling, while the crowd praises the web, the pig and each other.
Notice who is praised in this chapter, who is unseen, and how each of them feels.
At dawn Wilbur wakes to find Charlotte weak and her peach-colored egg sac on the ceiling. Templeton returns from his feast and says Uncle has won first prize. The crowd admires Wilbur and the web, and a loudspeaker calls Mr. Zuckerman to the judges' booth. Charlotte watches unseen, and the family drives off.
Start with Charlotte's egg sac. Ask what Wilbur sees, and how Charlotte answers when he asks about it.
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the egg sac, Templeton's news, the sign HUMBLE, the blue tag, the bath, the loudspeaker, and the drive.
Imitate the author After copying the passage, the student writes two sentences in the same pattern: what everyone did, then what nobody did.
Debate Take sides on the big question: should Charlotte be content, or is she owed more? Each side must use one line from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why a story might let the helper stay hidden while the crowd cheers.
Easier Read the talk about the egg sac aloud together and talk through discussion questions 1 and 2 only.
On level Talk through all six 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 tell the crowd about Charlotte if he could, using what he knows from the chapter.
1. Charlotte tells Wilbur, "Oh, don't pay any attention to me." Why do you think she says that? What makes you think so?Character
What it asks It asks why Charlotte pushes Wilbur's worry away, when he can hear that something is wrong.
She wants Wilbur to enjoy his big day and not fret about her.
But I don't want you to worry about me. This is your big day today.
She is tired, and does not want to talk about it.
I just don't have much pep any more.
I'm not young any more, Wilbur.
A strong answer Charlotte seems to be thinking of Wilbur first: she tells him not to worry because this is his big day. She also says she does not have much pep and is not young any more, so she may be tired and not want to say more. A strong answer picks a reason and uses one thing she says.
2. Templeton tells Wilbur, "I guess you're licked." Was it right to tell him the bad news that way? Why or why not?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks whether bad news should be told bluntly, and what Wilbur owes to hearing the truth.
Yes: it was true, and Wilbur would find out anyway.
I noticed a blue tag on the front of his pen. That means he has won first prize.
No: he said it in a hurtful way, and Wilbur was left trying not to think about it.
He'll take the knife to you, my boy.
Wilbur tried not to think about what the rat had just said.
A strong answer One answer is that Templeton told the truth: he saw the blue tag, and Wilbur would learn about it soon. The other is that he said it harshly, adding that Zuckerman would take the knife to him, and Charlotte tells him to be still. A strong answer takes a side and says what the other side would answer.
3. After Templeton's news, Wilbur decides to change the subject and tells him about the egg sac. Why might Wilbur pick that? What makes you think so?Inference
What it asks It asks why Wilbur turns to the egg sac when he wants to stop thinking about the bad news.
He wants to push the fear away with something happy.
Wilbur tried not to think about what the rat had just said.
He decided to change the subject.
He is proud of Charlotte and wants Templeton to see what he missed.
if you weren't so dopey, you would have noticed that Charlotte has made an egg sac
She is going to become a mother.
A strong answer Wilbur is trying not to think about what the rat said, so a happy subject is a way to push the fear away. He is also proud of Charlotte and calls Templeton dopey for missing the egg sac. A strong answer picks a reason and uses one thing Wilbur says or does.
4. After everyone stares at the blue tag, Mr. Zuckerman says "Bath time!" cheerfully. How does he sound to you? What tells you?Tone
What it asks It asks the student to hear Mr. Zuckerman's voice just after the silence, and decide what is behind it.
He sounds brisk and determined, a man who keeps going.
What's everybody crying about?
Let's get busy! Edith, bring the buttermilk!
He sounds like he is putting on a brave face while everyone else is upset.
Mrs. Zuckerman began to cry.
Nobody said a word. They just stared at the tag.
A strong answer He sounds brisk: he asks what everybody is crying about and says let's get busy. But Mrs. Zuckerman is crying and nobody has said a word, so he may be putting on a brave face. A strong answer reads one line aloud and says which of the two it sounds like.
5. A bystander says Wilbur "isn't as big as that pig next door" but "he's cleaner." Why might people like clean more than big?Theme
What it asks It asks why a crowd might care more about how a pig looks and seems than about how big he is.
People like what looks cared for and pretty.
He isn't as big as that pig next door,
Wilbur grew beautifully white and smooth.
People are moved by the web and its word, not only by the pig.
He's humble, too,
Everyone admired the web.
A strong answer The crowd sees a pig who has been washed and looks white and smooth, so they like clean. They also read the sign on the web and call him humble, so it is not only looks. A strong answer says what people are judging by, and uses one thing a person in the chapter says.
6. Templeton comes back "swollen to twice his normal size." Why might the author write his return that way?Author's choice
What it asks It asks what the picture of the full, boasting rat does for the chapter, set next to Charlotte's weak voice.
It is funny, and lightens the scene after Charlotte's sad talk.
His stomach was as big around as a jelly jar.
I must have eaten the remains of thirty lunches.
It shows what Templeton cares about most: himself.
Don't worry about my stomach,
Oh, it was rich, my friends, rich!
A strong answer The picture of Templeton as big as a jelly jar is funny and breaks up the sad talk with Charlotte. It also shows what he cares about: he talks about his feast and tells Wilbur not to worry about his stomach. A strong answer says what the reader feels and why the author may have written it that way.
1. Charlotte calls her egg sac "the finest thing I have ever made." What does that show about how she feels about it? Give two reasons.
What it asks It asks what Charlotte's words and her care for the sac show about what it means to her.
She is proud, and she has made it strong and safe.
It's made out of the toughest material I have. It is also waterproof.
The eggs are inside and will be warm and dry.
She is proud, but sad too, because her voice is weak and she does not expect to see what comes of it.
Wilbur noticed that Charlotte's voice sounded sad.
I have a feeling I'm not going to see the results of last night's efforts.
A strong answer Charlotte is proud of the sac: she says it is made of her toughest material, waterproof, so the eggs will be warm and dry. But her voice sounds sad, and she says she does not expect to see the results. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and says what the sac means to her.
2. Fern asks for money again and again and is told to wait. What does that show about the grown-ups that morning? Give two reasons.
What it asks It asks what Fern being put off shows about how busy and excited the grown-ups are.
They are so excited about Wilbur that they do not hear Fern.
We have no time to lose!
Can't you see everybody is busy?
They are caught up in small worries of their own.
Does my hair look all right?
You didn't even look at my hair!
A strong answer The grown-ups are so full of the announcement that Mr. Zuckerman says they have no time to lose and Mrs. Arable tells Fern everybody is busy. They are also caught up in small things, like Mrs. Zuckerman's hair. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and says how Fern might feel.
3. Templeton sees the men put Wilbur in the crate and decides to go along. What does that show about him? Give two reasons.
What it asks It asks what Templeton's choice shows about him, when the chapter does not say why he goes.
He is curious and does not want to miss what happens.
He didn't know exactly what was going on, but when he saw the men shoving Wilbur into the crate he made up his mind to go along.
heard the commotion and awoke
He is hoping for more of what the Fair has given him.
I must have eaten the remains of thirty lunches.
he crept into the crate and buried himself in the straw at the bottom
A strong answer Templeton wakes to the commotion and decides to go along without knowing exactly what is going on, so he may be curious. He also had a feast the night before and may want more. The chapter does not say why. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and admits what is not known.