Charlotte's Web
Chapter 6 — Teaching Companion
E. B. White · Scouts 1st–3rd
Coaching, not a script — and not an answer key: every question here has more than one defensible answer.
This chapter's big question
Nobody trusts Templeton, yet the goose lets him have the egg that did not hatch. Is that a smart way to handle a rat, or a risky one?
The tension The goose and gander know Templeton would hurt a gosling if he could, against the ease with which the goose says he can have the dud egg.
Today's focus
Notice how the animals feel about Templeton, and what the goose does when he asks for something.
Two core ideas
- Trust is a theme in the barn: the animals watch Templeton, warn him, and still give him what he asks for.
- The chapter mixes joy and worry: seven goslings hatch in early summer, and the goose and gander fear the rat.
The shape at a glance
Early summer on the farm is happy and busy. The goose eggs hatch, and Charlotte is the first to announce the goslings. Templeton asks what will become of the egg that did not hatch, the gander warns him away from the goslings, and the goose lets him have it. That afternoon the goose leads her seven goslings out, and Mr. Zuckerman counts them.
A way in
Start with Templeton creeping along the wall. Ask what the animals do when he comes near, and how they feel.
Lesson plan
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the summer days, the goslings hatching, Charlotte's announcement, Templeton and the egg, and Mr. Zuckerman counting seven.
Imitate the author After copying the passage, the student writes two sentences about someone coming near, using the pattern: what the person did, then why everyone watched.
Debate Take sides on the big question: was giving Templeton the egg smart or risky? Each side must use one line from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why a story might put a happy event and a worry about a rat in the same chapter.
Easier Read Templeton's scene 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 Templeton might answer to the gander, using his own words from the chapter.
Discussion
- Everyone watches Templeton creep toward the goose. Why does nobody trust him? What in the chapter makes you think so?Inference
What it asks It asks the student to say where the distrust comes from: what Templeton is said to be, or how he acts.
One reading
From what he is: he has no morals or decency, and everyone knows he would hurt a gosling.
The rat had no morals, no conscience, no scruples, no consideration, no decency
He would kill a gosling if he could get away with it - the goose knew that.
Another reading
From how he acts: he sneaks around and collects strange things.
crept cautiously toward the goose, keeping close to the wall
his little round beady eyes fixed on the goose
Listen for
- Uses something Templeton does or something the chapter says about him.
- Separates what the animals know from what they can see him do.
If stuck
- How does Templeton come toward the goose?
- What does the chapter say the goose knew about him?
- What does he want from her?
A strong answer The chapter gives two kinds of reasons. It says he had no morals, no conscience and no decency, and that he would kill a gosling if he could get away with it, and everybody knew it. It also shows him creeping close to the wall with his beady eyes on the goose. A strong answer says whether the distrust comes from what he is or from how he acts, and gives one example.
- The gander says he will give Templeton "the worst pounding a rat ever took" if he pokes around the goslings. Is that fair? Why or why not?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks whether it is fair to threaten someone for what they might do, when everyone expects the worst of him.
One reading
It is fair: the goslings are small and Templeton is known to be dangerous.
He would kill a gosling if he could get away with it - the goose knew that.
both the goose and the gander were worried about Templeton. And with good reason.
Another reading
It is not quite fair: the goslings have only just hatched and Templeton has not harmed one.
if I ever catch you poking-oking-oking your ugly nose around our goslings
the gander opened his strong wings and beat the air with them to show his power
Listen for
- Says what the gander is protecting.
- Weighs protecting the goslings against judging before anything has happened.
If stuck
- What does the gander say he will do, and when?
- What does the chapter say Templeton would do to a gosling?
- Is it fair to punish someone for what they might do?
A strong answer The gander has a reason: the chapter says everyone knows Templeton would kill a gosling if he could get away with it, and the goose and gander were worried with good reason. But the threat comes before Templeton has done anything to a gosling, and it comes with a show of power. A strong answer takes a side and says what the other side would answer.
- Charlotte says, "A rat is a rat," and laughs a tinkling little laugh. Is she being mean, or only teasing? What tells you?Tone
What it asks It asks the student to hear Charlotte's voice and decide whether her words about Templeton sound unkind or playful.
One reading
She is teasing: her laugh is light and she goes on to joke about a stink bomb.
She laughed a tinkling little laugh.
A rotten egg is a regular stink bomb.
Another reading
She is a little mean: she sums him up in four words and does not give him a chance.
A rat is a rat
Listen for
- Reads Charlotte's line aloud in the voice the student hears.
- Uses her laugh or what she says next.
If stuck
- What does Charlotte do right after she says it?
- What does she warn about next?
- What does Templeton say back?
A strong answer Her voice is light: she laughs a tinkling little laugh and goes on to joke that a rotten egg is a regular stink bomb, which sounds like teasing. But "A rat is a rat" also says Templeton will always be what he is, and he answers her with a snarl. A strong answer reads the line aloud and says which of the two it sounds like.
- The author says the rat had "no morals, no conscience, no scruples" and keeps going. Why might the author make the list so long?Author's choice
What it asks It asks what a very long list does to the reader, and why the author did not stop after one or two words.
One reading
It makes us sure the goose and gander have good reason to worry.
And with good reason.
He would kill a gosling if he could get away with it - the goose knew that.
Another reading
It is partly funny: the list goes on until it ends with "no anything."
no milk of rodent kindness
no friendliness, no anything
Listen for
- Says what the reader feels as the list gets longer.
- Notices how the list ends.
If stuck
- How many things does the list say Templeton does not have?
- How does the list end?
- What does the next sentence say about the goose?
A strong answer The long list leaves no doubt why the goose and gander were worried, and the sentences after it say he would kill a gosling if he could get away with it, and everybody knew it. But it also ends with "no anything," and "no milk of rodent kindness" is a joke, so the author may be having fun too. A strong answer says what the list makes the reader feel and why the author keeps it going.
Critical thinking
- Wilbur mutters, "Imagine wanting a junky old rotten egg!" What does that show about how Wilbur sees Templeton? Give two reasons from the chapter.
What it asks It asks what Wilbur's muttering shows about how he sees Templeton: as disgusting, or only as strange.
One reading
He finds Templeton disgusting: even Wilbur, who eats almost anything, is shocked.
the entire company watched in disgust while the rat rolled it away
Even Wilbur, who could eat almost anything, was appalled.
Another reading
He finds Templeton strange: he cannot understand why anyone would want such a thing.
Templeton had a habit of picking up unusual objects around the farm and storing them in his home. He saved everything.
Listen for
- Two separate pieces of evidence, not one said twice.
- A reason, not only a word like yucky.
If stuck
- What does the chapter say Wilbur could eat?
- What did everyone do while the rat rolled the egg away?
- What does Templeton keep in his home?
A strong answer Wilbur is shocked: the chapter says even he, who could eat almost anything, was appalled, and the whole company watched in disgust. He may also simply not understand Templeton, who picks up unusual objects and saves everything. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and a reason.
- The goose says, "Luck had nothing to do with this." What does that show about her? Give two reasons from the chapter.
What it asks It asks what the goose's answer to Charlotte shows about how she sees herself and her work.
One reading
She is proud of what she did and wants credit for it.
It was good management and hard work.
nodding and bowing shamelessly
Another reading
She is patient and caring, and her pride comes from real effort.
she could hear their weak voices calling from inside the egg
So she sat quite still, and talked less than usual.
Listen for
- Two separate things the goose says or does.
- Says whether the pride seems earned.
If stuck
- What does the goose say it was, if it was not luck?
- How does she act when Charlotte congratulates her?
- What did she do the day before the goslings came?
A strong answer The goose says it was good management and hard work, and she nods and bows shamelessly, so she is proud and wants credit. But the chapter also shows her sitting very still and listening to the weak voices in the eggs, so the pride rests on real patience. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and says whether her pride seems fair.
- Templeton snarls, "I know what I'm doing." What does that show about him? Give two reasons from the chapter.
What it asks It asks whether Templeton's snarl shows a rat who is sure of himself, or one who feels everyone is against him.
One reading
He is confident: he has done this kind of thing before and does it well.
I handle stuff like this all the time.
He pushed and nudged till he succeeded in rolling it to his lair under the trough.
Another reading
He is touchy: nobody likes or trusts him, so he snaps when he is warned.
he was not well liked, not trusted
snarled Templeton
Listen for
- Two separate things Templeton says or does.
- A reason for the snarl.
If stuck
- What does Charlotte say just before he snarls?
- How does he get the egg to his lair?
- How do the other animals feel about him?
A strong answer Templeton sounds sure of himself: he says he handles stuff like this all the time, and he succeeds in rolling the egg to his lair. But he also snarls right after Charlotte warns about a stink bomb, and the chapter says he was not well liked or trusted, so he may be snapping because nobody believes in him. A strong answer gives two pieces of evidence and says which reading fits better.