Charlotte's Web Novel Study- chapters 10 - 15

The last time we blogged we knew that Charlotte was going to develop a plan to protect Wilbur from becoming Christmas dinner, and that Wilbur boasted he could do anything and tried to spin a web, but failed.

We have read 6 more chapters of Charlotte's Web. Comment with a brief summary (5-8 sentences) about what's happened in the last 6 chapters.

Skim over the chapters by reading their titles, looking at the illustrations and remembering what they were about. Then comment with your summary.

How to Eat Fried Worms

In after school tutoring we recently finished reading "How to eat Fried Worms." The book was written by Thomas Rockwell in 1973. It is the story of 10-year-old Billy who makes a bet with his friend Alan that he can eat anything! So Alan bets him $50 to eat 15 worms in 15 days, one worm a day. Billy wins the bet by eating the worms covered in all kinds of sauces and fried.

This book has often been censored and protested because of its content. Some people believe that it is disgusting. It appears on the American Library Association's List of Most Commonly Challenged Books in the U.S. of 1990-2000. It is number 96 on the list. "Most Commonly Challenged" means that many people have argued that it shouldn't be read, shouldn't be in our schools, or in our libraries. What do you think, does How to Eat Fried Worms deserve to be on this list? Give details to support your answer.

More "food" for thought: Shel Silverstein's collection of poems "A Light in the Attic" is also on the list.

Charlotte's Web Novel Study- chapters 6 - 9

We have been reading a lot recently. Review what we read over the past week by reading these summaries and then answer the questions below.

In Chapter 6, Summer Days, Fern is out of school and visits the farm daily. One day the goslings hatch. Templeton notices that one egg did not hatch. The goose and gander allow Templeton to keep the egg in his collection of weird things. Templeton rolls the dud away into his lair.

In Chapter 7, Bad News, the grouchy sheep tells Wilbur that he will be the Christmas ham once winter comes. Wilbur becomes very upset, but Charlotte tells him that she has a plan and he will not die.

In Chapter 8, A Talk at Home, Fern's parents grow worried about the amount of time she spends at the Zuckerman's farm. When she tells her parents about the conversations the animals have and about Charlotte the spider her mom becomes increasingly nervous. Fern's father however, thinks she just has an active imagination.

In Chapter 9, Wilbur's Boast, Wilbur attempts to spin a web by jumping off the manure pile with a piece of string tied to his tale. Of course he is unable to spin a web, as Charlotte explains, he lacks spinerettes.

Comment with your answers to the following questions. Type complete sentences. (Remember to capitalize and punctuate!)

1. In chapter 6, how many goslings were born? (Right There question)

2. List two character traits for Wilbur. Use story details to explain why these traits are appropriate.

3. List two character traits for Charlotte. Use story details to explain why these traits are appropriate.

Go Green!

We won most recycling for the month of April!

We are very proud of ourselves for helping to keep Earth healthy.

What are some things you should recycle?

Charlotte's Web Novel Study- chapters 4 and 5

In chapter four Wilbur wallows in his loneliness all day. It is rainy on the farm, which ruins his plans of digging a hole and napping in the sun. He asks different animals to play with him, but they all turn him down and he is left feeling friendless. Before bedtime a tiny voice says to Wilbur, “I’ll be a friend to you. I’ve watched you all day and I like you.” Wilbur goes to sleep dreaming of his new friend.

In chapter five Wilbur wakes up early. He had a mostly sleepless night because of the excitement of a new friend. The next day he discovers his new friend is Charlotte, the spider that lives in the corner of the doorway. He learns how Charlotte eats bugs that have gotten stuck in her web. She wraps them up with threads of silk and then bites to knock them out. Wilbur feels woozy from the idea of sucking blood from a bug for a meal, but is glad to have a new friend.

After reading the summaries above comment with your answers to the following questions. Type complete sentences.

1. The words friendless and sleepless have the same suffix –less. What does this suffix mean?

2. Reread pages 28-29. Put the characters that Wilbur asks to play with in order from first to last.

3. In chapter five Charlotte speaks to Wilbur and begins by saying, “Salutations!” What does salutations mean?

4. How does Wilbur’s mood change from the beginning of chapter four to the end of chapter five? Use story details in your answer.

Charlotte's Web Novel Study, chapter 2 and 3

In chapter 2 Fern and Wilbur enjoy their time together. At the end of chapter 2 Fern's father tells her that Wilbur has grown too big and has an appetite too large to be kept in the Arable's yard. Fern sells Wilbur to her Uncle Homer.

In chapter 3 we learn that Fern visits Wilbur at the Zuckerman's farm every day after school. One day when Wilbur was feeling bored and lonesome he took the advise of the goose and nudged his way through the loose board in the fence and scampered out into the orchard. Wilbur was running around following the confusing instructions of all the barnyard animals. Mr. Zuckerman lures him back into the pigpen with a bucket of slops. Wilbur feels happy to be home again.

Comment with your answers to the following questions. Remember to use full sentences.

1. How much did Fern charge her uncle for Wilbur? (Chapter 2)

2. How do you think Fern feels at the end of Chapter 2? Explain.

3. When Fern visits Wilbur at the Zuckerman's farm where does she sit?Why does she sit there? (Chapter 3)

4. What happens when Wilbur escapes?

5. What is different about this photo from the movie than from the information in the book?

Charlotte's Web Novel Study, chapter 1

In chapter one Fern stops her father from "doing away with" a runt pig. Fern had a strong feeling that killing the pig because it was weak and small was an injustice. Her father agrees to let her keep the pig, as long as she takes on the responsibility of caring for it. She happily agrees and names the pig Wilbur.


Comment with your answers to the following questions. Type your answers in complete sentences.


1. How did Fern find out that her father was going to kill the pig?


2. What example did Fern give her father to prove that killing the pig was an injustice?


3. Why did Fern answer "Wilbur" when the teacher asked her a question?


4. List and explain two character traits that describe Fern.