We will start the new year off with Charlotte's Web, a humourous story about and unusual friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a spider named Charlotte.
Book Study
1. What does E.B. stand for?
2. If Mr. White was born in 1899 and suffering from Alzheimer's disease died in 1985, how old was he when he passed away?
3. If Mr. White was still alive today, how old would he be?
4. If Mr. White married his wife in 1929, how old was he when he married her?
5. If his wife Kathryn died in 1977, how many years longer did he live than her?
6. Predict what you think the story might be about? Explain your prediction.
7. If the book was published in 1952, how old is the story?
2. If Mr. White was born in 1899 and suffering from Alzheimer's disease died in 1985, how old was he when he passed away?
3. If Mr. White was still alive today, how old would he be?
4. If Mr. White married his wife in 1929, how old was he when he married her?
5. If his wife Kathryn died in 1977, how many years longer did he live than her?
6. Predict what you think the story might be about? Explain your prediction.
7. If the book was published in 1952, how old is the story?
Chapter I – Before Breakfast
1a.In your own words explain why you think Fern became so upset when her mother says, one of the pigs is a runt. It’s very small and weak, and it will never amount to anything. So your father has decided to do away with it”?
b. Do you think this is something her mother should have told her? Explain your answer.
2. What does Mr. Arable mean when he says that a “weakling makes trouble”? How is this possible?
3. Why are some of the words in this chapter in italics?
4. Explain what the author means when he writes, the grass was wet and the earth smelled of springtime”? Use examples to support your answer.
5. What does Fern mean when she says, “this is the most terrible case of injustice I ever heard of?
6. Explain the meaning of Avery’s comment “that’s a fine specimen of a pig – it’s no bigger than a white rat”. Why is the word fine italicized?
7.Define the following words: runt specimen, distribute, injustice, sopping?
8. How many minutes are in a half hour? How many seconds are in a minute?
9. Complete the beginning part of a plot diagram for the story.
10. Charlotte's Web is an example of a narrative. List three characteristics of a narrative. Explain why this story is a narrative.
11. Did you find anything odd or funny in this opening chapter? If so, describe what it was and explain why you found it odd or funny.
b. Do you think this is something her mother should have told her? Explain your answer.
2. What does Mr. Arable mean when he says that a “weakling makes trouble”? How is this possible?
3. Why are some of the words in this chapter in italics?
4. Explain what the author means when he writes, the grass was wet and the earth smelled of springtime”? Use examples to support your answer.
5. What does Fern mean when she says, “this is the most terrible case of injustice I ever heard of?
6. Explain the meaning of Avery’s comment “that’s a fine specimen of a pig – it’s no bigger than a white rat”. Why is the word fine italicized?
7.Define the following words: runt specimen, distribute, injustice, sopping?
8. How many minutes are in a half hour? How many seconds are in a minute?
9. Complete the beginning part of a plot diagram for the story.
10. Charlotte's Web is an example of a narrative. List three characteristics of a narrative. Explain why this story is a narrative.
11. Did you find anything odd or funny in this opening chapter? If so, describe what it was and explain why you found it odd or funny.
Chapter II – Wilbur
1.Outline Wilbur’s travels starting in the barn.
2. Why do you think the author chose to write the sentence, “While Fern was a school, Wilbur was shut up inside his yard”? What is he trying to say.
3.Define the following: waded, amused, carriage
4. How many pigs were in the original litter including Wilbur?
Science Link
1.Research the life cycle of a market pig… what is a pig called at each stage and how much approximately do they weigh?
2. What is the average size of a litter of piglets?
2. Why do you think the author chose to write the sentence, “While Fern was a school, Wilbur was shut up inside his yard”? What is he trying to say.
3.Define the following: waded, amused, carriage
4. How many pigs were in the original litter including Wilbur?
Science Link
1.Research the life cycle of a market pig… what is a pig called at each stage and how much approximately do they weigh?
2. What is the average size of a litter of piglets?
Chapter III – Escape
1.Based on the description in the book, draw what you think the barn looks like?
2. Create and complete a chart that highlights the 5 senses in this barn on the Arable farm?
3. The following paragraph is well done. Explain what Wilbur is really saying, “
"There's never anything to do around here," he thought. He walked
slowly to his food trough and sniffed to see if anything had been
overlooked at lunch. He found a small strip of potato skin and ate it.
His back itched, so he leaned against the fence and rubbed against
the
boards. When he tired of this, he walked indoors, climbed to the top of
the manure pile, and sat down. He didn't feel like going to sleep, he
didn't feel like digging, he was tired of standing still, tired of lying
down. "I'm less than two months old and I'm tired of living," he said.
He walked out to the yard again.
"When I'm out here," he said, "there's no place to go but in. When I'm
indoors, there's no place to go but out in the yard."
4. Why did the animals become excited when they discovered that Wilbur had escaped?
5.Define the following: orchard (18), slops (22), fetched (23), appetizing (23).
6. Why does Lurvy say, “he’s quite a pig”?
7. What are some of the literary devices that the author used to create excitement in this chapter?
2. Create and complete a chart that highlights the 5 senses in this barn on the Arable farm?
3. The following paragraph is well done. Explain what Wilbur is really saying, “
"There's never anything to do around here," he thought. He walked
slowly to his food trough and sniffed to see if anything had been
overlooked at lunch. He found a small strip of potato skin and ate it.
His back itched, so he leaned against the fence and rubbed against
the
boards. When he tired of this, he walked indoors, climbed to the top of
the manure pile, and sat down. He didn't feel like going to sleep, he
didn't feel like digging, he was tired of standing still, tired of lying
down. "I'm less than two months old and I'm tired of living," he said.
He walked out to the yard again.
"When I'm out here," he said, "there's no place to go but in. When I'm
indoors, there's no place to go but out in the yard."
4. Why did the animals become excited when they discovered that Wilbur had escaped?
5.Define the following: orchard (18), slops (22), fetched (23), appetizing (23).
6. Why does Lurvy say, “he’s quite a pig”?
7. What are some of the literary devices that the author used to create excitement in this chapter?
Science Link
1. Create a food web for farm life.
2. In terms of classification, what types of animals are: a spider, pig, rat, goose, lamb.
3. Draw and label the life cycle of one of the following: a pig, rat, goose, lamb, and/or a spider.
4. What is a group of the following animals called: geese, pigs, spiders and rats.
5. In an essay format, explain how life on a farm is different and/or similar than life in the city?
1. Create a food web for farm life.
2. In terms of classification, what types of animals are: a spider, pig, rat, goose, lamb.
3. Draw and label the life cycle of one of the following: a pig, rat, goose, lamb, and/or a spider.
4. What is a group of the following animals called: geese, pigs, spiders and rats.
5. In an essay format, explain how life on a farm is different and/or similar than life in the city?
Chapter IV - Loneliness
Chapter IV – Loneliness
1.The beginning of this chapter is rich in description, create a chart that includes evidence of all of the sense.
2. Explain how the rain “upset” Wilbur’s plans.
3. Create a planner that outlines the activities in Wilbur’s daily routine.
4. The following is one of Miss Davies’ favourite quotes using evidence to support your answer explain why this quote might be funny …
Wilbur next tried one of the lambs.
"Will you please play with me?" he asked.
"Certainly not," said the lamb. "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. Pigs mean less than nothing to me."
"What do you mean, less than nothing?" replied Wilbur. "I don't think
there is any such thing as less than nothing. Nothing is absolutely the
limit of nothingness. It's the lowest you can go. It's the end of the
line. How can something be less than nothing? If there were
something
that was less than nothing, then nothing would not be nothing, it would
be something - even though it's just a very little bit of something. But
if nothing is nothing, then nothing has nothing that is less than it
is."
"Oh, be quiet! " said the lamb. "Go play by yourself! I don't play
with pigs."
5.Define the following words:
frolic, goslings, clover, merry, sobbed, sourly, gnawing.
6. What does Templeton mean when he says that he “hardly knows the meaning of the word” play?
7. How would you describe the lamb that spoke to Wilbur?
Science Link
1.What do you call animals like Templeton that sleep during the day and are awake at might? What about animals that are awake during the day and sleep at night?
2.In terms of classification, what kind of animal is a rat?
3. Create a life cycle for a rat? How does it compare with the life cycle of a pig?
1.The beginning of this chapter is rich in description, create a chart that includes evidence of all of the sense.
2. Explain how the rain “upset” Wilbur’s plans.
3. Create a planner that outlines the activities in Wilbur’s daily routine.
4. The following is one of Miss Davies’ favourite quotes using evidence to support your answer explain why this quote might be funny …
Wilbur next tried one of the lambs.
"Will you please play with me?" he asked.
"Certainly not," said the lamb. "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. Pigs mean less than nothing to me."
"What do you mean, less than nothing?" replied Wilbur. "I don't think
there is any such thing as less than nothing. Nothing is absolutely the
limit of nothingness. It's the lowest you can go. It's the end of the
line. How can something be less than nothing? If there were
something
that was less than nothing, then nothing would not be nothing, it would
be something - even though it's just a very little bit of something. But
if nothing is nothing, then nothing has nothing that is less than it
is."
"Oh, be quiet! " said the lamb. "Go play by yourself! I don't play
with pigs."
5.Define the following words:
frolic, goslings, clover, merry, sobbed, sourly, gnawing.
6. What does Templeton mean when he says that he “hardly knows the meaning of the word” play?
7. How would you describe the lamb that spoke to Wilbur?
Science Link
1.What do you call animals like Templeton that sleep during the day and are awake at might? What about animals that are awake during the day and sleep at night?
2.In terms of classification, what kind of animal is a rat?
3. Create a life cycle for a rat? How does it compare with the life cycle of a pig?
Chapter V - Charlotte
Chapter IX - Wilbur's Boast
Discussion Questions:
1. Explain the meaning of the sentence, "Let's see you do it," said Charlotte. Fern chuckles softly, and her eyes grew wide with love for the pig." (pg. 56)
2. Why is "Ooomp!" is quotations and why did the author use an exclamation mark? Explain in your own words. (pg. 57)
3.Explain why Templeton is grinning when Wilbur landed with a thud? (pg. 58)
4. Find the meaning of the following words:
oblige (pg. 57), seized (pg. 57), hitches (pg.57), fond (pg. 57), know how (pg. 59/60), sedentary (pg. 60), and delectable (pg. 61)
1. Explain the meaning of the sentence, "Let's see you do it," said Charlotte. Fern chuckles softly, and her eyes grew wide with love for the pig." (pg. 56)
2. Why is "Ooomp!" is quotations and why did the author use an exclamation mark? Explain in your own words. (pg. 57)
3.Explain why Templeton is grinning when Wilbur landed with a thud? (pg. 58)
4. Find the meaning of the following words:
oblige (pg. 57), seized (pg. 57), hitches (pg.57), fond (pg. 57), know how (pg. 59/60), sedentary (pg. 60), and delectable (pg. 61)
A bit About Spiders
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Chapter X - An Explosion
Questions:
Looking at the illustration above, do you think it is useful as the first page in this chapter. Explain your answer.
Looking at the illustration above, do you think it is useful as the first page in this chapter. Explain your answer.
In your own words, explain what is going on in this illustration.
Chapter XI - The Miracle
Chapter XII - A Meeting
Before reading, based on the title of this chapter, what do you think is going to happen. Explain your answer.
Chapter XIII - Good Progress
Art Connection
How To Create
1.Type out the title and author of the book on a piece of blank paper.
2.Then type of your favourite part of the story and print it out.
3. Use the following cut out to trace around the words you have printed.
4. Glue the pig onto your page with the title and author.
1.Type out the title and author of the book on a piece of blank paper.
2.Then type of your favourite part of the story and print it out.
3. Use the following cut out to trace around the words you have printed.
4. Glue the pig onto your page with the title and author.
E.B. WhiteE.B. White is the author of a number of children's fiction books including Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, and the Trumpet of the Swan.
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Norfolk County FairCharlotte's Web includes a setting at a Fall Fair and hence it is only appropriate for us to visit the Norfolk County Fair.
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Mathematics and Spider WebsDid you know that a spider's web includes math...
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