Print at 100% scale on letter paper, with no added margins.

Chapter 6

Charlotte's Web

Scouts · 1st–3rd

Copywork

He glanced at Fern, then crept cautiously toward the goose, keeping close to the wall. Everyone watched him, for he was not well liked, not trusted.

Read the passage aloud. What does the word "cautiously" tell you about how Templeton moves?

Discussion

Narration Tell what happened when the goose eggs hatched, in order. Slow down at the part where Templeton asks about the other egg.

1. Everyone watches Templeton creep toward the goose. Why does nobody trust him? What in the chapter makes you think so?Inference

2. 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

3. Charlotte says, "A rat is a rat," and laughs a tinkling little laugh. Is she being mean, or only teasing? What tells you?Tone

4. 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

Make a Connection Tell about a time someone was not trusted, and what happened.

Vocabulary

Crossword
123
4
56
78
9
Across
  • Across 1. Slowly and carefully.
  • Across 6. Shocked and disgusted.
  • Across 7. Pleased and thankful.
  • Across 9. Spoke in an angry growl.
Down
  • Down 2. Believed to be honest and safe.
  • Down 3. Without any shyness.
  • Down 4. An animal's hiding place.
  • Down 5. A sense of what is right.
  • Down 8. Too bad to live in.
The words in the chapter
  • cautiously then crept cautiously toward the goose, keeping close to the wall.
  • trusted he was not well liked, not trusted.
  • gratified every one of us here will be gratified to learn that
  • shamelessly nodding and bowing shamelessly.
  • scruples no conscience, no scruples, no consideration
  • appalled Even Wilbur, who could eat almost anything, was appalled.
  • untenable this barn will be untenable.
  • lair rolling it to his lair under the trough.
  • snarled "I won't break it," snarled Templeton.

Critical thinking

1. Wilbur mutters, "Imagine wanting a junky old rotten egg!" What does that show about how Wilbur sees Templeton? Give two reasons from the chapter.

2. The goose says, "Luck had nothing to do with this." What does that show about her? Give two reasons from the chapter.

3. Templeton snarls, "I know what I'm doing." What does that show about him? Give two reasons from the chapter.