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Charlotte's Web
Scouts · 1st–3rd
Wilbur asks the goose, the lamb and Templeton to play, and each one says no with a reason. Are they being unkind to him, or only being themselves?
The tension Wilbur's need for a friend on a lonely, rainy day, against three animals who each have their own reasons, and their own natures, for saying no.
Notice how Wilbur asks three animals to play and how each one answers him.
Rain spoils Wilbur's plans for the day, and he feels lonely and friendless. He asks the goose, the lamb and Templeton to play, and each says no. After Lurvy forces medicine down his throat, a small voice speaks to Wilbur from the dark and offers to be his friend.
Start with Wilbur's plans for the day. Ask what he likes best about them, and what the rain takes away.
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the rain, the plans, the goose, the lamb, Templeton, the medicine, and the voice.
Imitate the author After copying the sentence, the student writes one sentence of their own that starts with three feeling words, then says what someone did.
Debate Take sides on the big question: were the animals unkind, or only being themselves? Each side must use one line from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why a story might let its hero be turned away three times before someone says yes.
Easier Read the three refusals aloud together and talk through discussion questions 1 and 2 only.
On level Talk through all four 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 one of the animals, using words that fit what he feels in the chapter.
1. The goose says she is sitting on eight eggs and cannot play. Is that a good reason to say no to Wilbur? What makes you think so?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks whether a good reason is enough when someone is lonely, and what the goose owes Wilbur against what she owes her eggs.
Yes: the eggs need her, and she says plainly why she must stay.
I'm sitting-sitting on my eggs. Eight of them. Got to keep them toasty-oasty-oasty warm.
I do not play when there are eggs to hatch.
Not quite: she answers Wilbur lightly and does not seem to notice how lonely he is.
Sorry, sonny, sorry
"Well, I didn't think you were expecting woodpeckers," said Wilbur, bitterly.
A strong answer The goose has a real reason: she says she has eight eggs to keep warm and does not play when there are eggs to hatch. That is hard to argue with. Still, Wilbur answers her bitterly, so her no hurts him anyway. A strong answer says whether a good reason is enough, and what the goose could have done differently.
2. The lamb gives two reasons for not playing with Wilbur. What is different about the first reason and the second?Character
What it asks It asks the student to notice that one reason is about what the lamb cannot do and the other is about what the lamb does not want.
The first is a fact the lamb cannot help, but the second is a choice.
In the first place, I cannot get into your pen, as I am not old enough to jump over the fence.
In the second place, I am not interested in pigs.
Both are honest, so the lamb is only telling Wilbur the truth, even if it is blunt.
Pigs mean less than nothing to me.
Oh, be quiet!
A strong answer The first reason is about the fence: the lamb says it is not old enough to jump over. The second is about the lamb's own wish: it is not interested in pigs, and pigs mean less than nothing. The first reason is no one's fault, but the second is a choice and sounds blunt. A strong answer says which reason would sting more, and why.
3. Templeton says he hardly knows the meaning of the word "play." How does he sound when he says it? What tells you?Tone
What it asks It asks the student to hear Templeton's voice and decide whether he sounds scornful, bored, or just plain about himself.
He sounds scornful: he looks down on Wilbur and on play.
since you haven't got sense enough to eat it yourself
replied the rat, sourly
He sounds plain and honest: he says what kind of rat he is and does not pretend.
I prefer to spend my time eating, gnaw-ing, spying, and hiding.
I am a glutton but not a merry-maker.
A strong answer Templeton sounds sour: the author says he replied sourly, and he says Wilbur has not got sense enough to eat his own breakfast. But he is also plain about himself, saying he is a glutton and not a merry-maker. A strong answer reads one line aloud and says whether the voice sounds mean, honest, or both.
4. The chapter ends with a small voice in the dark that Wilbur cannot see. Why might the author keep the speaker hidden?Author's choice
What it asks It asks what the reader feels when a friendly voice has no face, and why the author ends the chapter that way.
It makes the reader curious, wanting to read on to find out who is speaking.
But I can't see you,
Go to sleep. You'll see me in the morning.
It gives Wilbur something good to hope for: a friend, after a day of nobody wanting to play.
Do you want a friend, Wilbur?
I'll be a friend to you. I've watched you all day and I like you.
A strong answer The hidden speaker gives the chapter a small mystery: Wilbur says he cannot see the voice, and it tells him to go to sleep and see in the morning. It also answers his need at once, offering to be a friend after a day when everyone said no. A strong answer says what the reader feels, and why leaving the speaker unseen makes the ending work.
1. Templeton eats Wilbur's breakfast while Wilbur watches, and Wilbur sobs. Why does this hurt so much? Give two reasons from the chapter.
What it asks It asks the student to weigh why one more small loss is so hard for Wilbur on this day.
It hurts because of the day he is having: it is dreary and nobody will play with him.
on this dreary, rainy day to see his breakfast being eaten by somebody else
Sadly, Wilbur lay down and listened to the rain.
It hurts because even a kind thought does not help him: he knows the rat is getting wet, and still feels worse.
He knew Templeton was getting soaked, out there in the pouring rain, but even that didn't comfort him.
Friendless, dejected, and hungry, he threw himself down in the manure and sobbed.
A strong answer It hurts because it comes at the end of a bad day: Wilbur has been turned down by the goose and the lamb, the rain is pouring, and now even his breakfast is gone. The chapter also says that knowing Templeton is getting soaked does not comfort him. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and a reason.
2. Lurvy tells Mr. Zuckerman something is wrong with the pig, and Mr. Zuckerman says to give him sulphur and molasses. Did they understand what was wrong? Give two reasons.
What it asks It asks whether the men saw what Wilbur needed, or only what they could see: a pig that will not eat.
They saw part of it: they noticed something was wrong and tried to help.
He noticed that something was wrong with the pig.
I think there's something wrong with that pig of yours. He hasn't touched his food.
They did not understand: the medicine makes Wilbur's worst day worse, and he did not want food.
Wilbur didn't want food, he wanted love.
This was certainly the worst day of his life.
A strong answer Lurvy sees that the pig has not touched his food, and Mr. Zuckerman acts at once, so they notice that something is wrong. But the chapter says Wilbur wanted love, not food, and the medicine is forced down his throat on what he calls the worst day of his life. A strong answer says what they saw, what they missed, and gives two pieces of evidence.
3. The chapter begins with rain falling on the barn roof, the barnyard, the windows, and the sheep. Why might the author begin with so much rain? Give two reasons.
What it asks It asks why the author opens with rain falling everywhere, before Wilbur has said or done anything.
The rain sets a gloomy mood that matches how Wilbur will feel.
The next day was rainy and dark.
His yard was cold and wet.
The rain prepares us for the ruined plans, so we feel the loss when Wilbur sees it.
Rain upset Wilbur's plans.
He awoke at six, and saw the rain, and it seemed as though he couldn't bear it.
A strong answer The author fills the first paragraph with rain on the roof, the barnyard, the windows, and the sheep, so the reader feels the dark, wet day before Wilbur does. Then the very next sentence says rain upset Wilbur's plans, and we see why the weather matters. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and says what the reader feels.