Charlotte’s Web – Planning Overview

If you want to bring Charlotte’s Web alive in the classroom, why not start by teaching your students how to write descriptive paragraphs?

Whether it’s a spider web shimmering in the morning dew or Wilbur’s lovably clumsy nature, plenty of vivid details in this classic children’s book can be a powerful learning tool.

In this blog post, we’ll walk through examples of descriptive paragraphs centred around characters and settings from Charlotte’s Web so that teachers can provide their students with stimulating writing activities!

Related: For more, check out our Planning Overview of Hamlet here.

Charlotte’s Web Overview

“Charlotte’s Web” is a beloved children’s novel about a pig named Wilbur and his unlikely friendship with a spider named Charlotte. Along the way, they encounter a cast of memorable characters who all play a role in their journey.

Characters:

1. Wilbur: A young pig saved from being slaughtered by Fern Arable.
2. Charlotte: A wise spider who becomes Wilbur’s friend and helps him avoid being turned into bacon.
3. Fern Arable: The young girl who saves Wilbur from being slaughtered and cares for him throughout the story.
4. Templeton: A sneaky rat who helps Wilbur and Charlotte in exchange for food scraps.
5. Homer Zuckerman: The farmer who owns the barn where Wilbur lives.

Synopsis:

The novel begins with Fern saving Wilbur from certain death on her family’s farm. As he grows up, Wilbur learns that he is destined to be slaughtered for meat, which sends him into a panic. With Charlotte’s help, however, he hatches a plan to convince the humans that he is unique enough to be saved.

Themes:

Here are five themes in “Charlotte’s Web”:

1. Friendship: The novel explores the theme of friendship through the bond between Wilbur and Charlotte, who become unlikely friends despite their differences.
2. Loyalty: Loyalty is a significant theme in the novel, as Wilbur and Charlotte show unwavering loyalty throughout their time together.
3. Life and Death: The cycle of life and death is a recurring theme in the novel, as characters are born, grow old, and pass away throughout the story.
4. Change: Another critical piece in “Charlotte’s Web” is changing, as characters adapt to new situations and learn to cope with loss and uncertainty.
5. Acceptance: Finally, acceptance is a central theme in the novel, as characters know to accept themselves and others for who they are rather than trying to change them.

Teaching Opportunities:

Grammar, spelling, and other literary devices could be taught in many ways through “Charlotte’s Web.” For example, students could learn about descriptive language by analyzing how E.B. White describes different scenes or characters in the book.

They could also examine how dialogue reveals character traits or moves the plot forward. Additionally, teachers could use this book to teach punctuation rules or explore different sentence structures used throughout the story.

Sentence Structures In Charlotte’s Web

One example of how sentence structures are used in “Charlotte’s Web” is compound sentences. Compound sentences are formed when two independent clauses (clauses that can stand alone as complete sentences) are joined together with a coordinating conjunction like “and,” “but,” or “or.”

Here’s an example from the book:

“The barn was huge. It was ancient. It smelled of hay, and it smelled of manure.”

In this example, three short, simple sentences describe the barn. However, they could be combined into a compound sentence to create a more complex structure:

“The barn was huge and very old and smelled of hay and manure.”

Using a compound sentence, the author can convey more information in one sentence while varying the structure to keep the writing interesting. This is just one example of how sentence structures can be analyzed and taught using “Charlotte’s Web.”

Lesson Plan For Charlotte’s Web

Lesson Title: Exploring Friendship and Selflessness in “Charlotte’s Web”

Grade Level: 3-5

Year Group: 3-6

Objective: Students will be able to identify the themes of friendship and selflessness in “Charlotte’s Web” and analyze how they are developed throughout the story.

Materials:

• Copies of “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White
• Chart paper and markers
• Sticky notes

Procedure:

1. Begin by introducing the book “Charlotte’s Web” to students, briefly explaining the plot and the main characters.
2. Ask students to brainstorm what they think makes a good friend, writing their ideas on chart paper.
3. Read the book’s first few chapters aloud to the class, stopping periodically to discuss character development and how Wilbur and Fern’s friendship is evolving.
4. After reading, have students work in pairs or small groups to identify examples of friendship between characters in the story. They can record these examples on sticky notes and place them on a designated chart paper labelled “Friendship.”
5. Next, introduce the concept of selflessness by asking students what it means to put others’ needs before your own. Write their responses on chart paper.
6. As you continue reading the book, ask students to remember moments when characters demonstrate selflessness or sacrifice for others.
7. After completing the book, have students work in groups again to identify examples of selflessness from different characters throughout the story. They can record these examples on sticky notes and place them on a designated chart paper labelled “Selflessness.”
8. As a class, discuss how these themes are developed throughout the story and why they are important lessons for readers.
9. Finally, have each student write a reflection piece about what they learned about friendship and selflessness from reading “Charlotte’s Web.”

Assessment: 

Assess student understanding through observation during group work and their written reflection pieces.

Extension: 

Students could create their webs using string or yarn representing their friendships with people or animals. They could also write short stories based on one of the themes explored in “Charlotte’s Web.”

Charlotte’s Web – Descriptive Paragraph Examples

1. Wilbur was a small, plump pig with a pink snout and curly tail. His eyes were bright blue and curious, constantly scanning his surroundings for new adventures.
2. Charlotte was a graceful spider with long, thin legs and a round body covered in shiny black hair. Her eight eyes sparkled with intelligence as she spun intricate webs around the barn.
3. Fern was a young girl with wild brown curls and bright green eyes that shone with kindness. She loved spending time in the barn with her animal friends, especially Wilbur.
4. Templeton was a sneaky rat with beady red eyes and greasy grey fur. He hurried around the barn, looking for scraps of food to hoard in his secret hiding places.
5. The Zuckerman family farm was nestled in a cosy valley surrounded by rolling hills covered in lush green grasses and towering trees that rustled gently in the breeze.
6. The county fairgrounds were bustling with activity as farmers gathered to show off their prized animals and compete for prizes.
7. Mr Arable was a kind-hearted farmer with weathered hands from years of hard work on the farm. He had deep wrinkles etched into his face but always smiled warmly for those around him.
8. Avery was Fern’s mischievous younger brother who loved to cause trouble wherever he went. He had messy blonde hair and a mischievous grin that made it hard to stay mad at him for a long.
9. The spider web that Charlotte spun above Wilbur’s pen was a masterpiece of delicate threads woven into intricate patterns that shimmered in the sunlight like diamonds.
10. The moment when Charlotte revealed her message “Some Pig” written in her web to Wilbur caused gasps of amazement from all who saw it, including the sceptical judges at the county fair who were forced to acknowledge Wilbur’s unique qualities thanks to Charlotte’s cleverness and selflessness
11. The Zuckerman family farm is a picturesque landscape in a cosy valley surrounded by rolling hills covered in lush green grasses and towering trees that rustle gently in the breeze. The fields are divided into neat rows of crops, with tall corn stalks swaying in the wind and bright orange pumpkins dotting the ground. A rustic wooden fence surrounds the property, separating it from the neighbouring farms and giving it an old-fashioned charm. In the distance, a babbling brook winds through the fields, providing excellent relief on hot summer days. The farmyard is bustling with activity as animals roam freely about their daily business: cows grazing lazily in the pasture, chickens clucking and pecking at feed scattered on the ground, and pigs snuffling around their pens looking for tasty morsels to eat. The air is filled with a symphony of sounds – birds chirping, insects buzzing, and animals calling out to one another – creating a peaceful harmony that envelops all who visit this idyllic country haven.
12. Wilbur is a lovable and curious pig with a small, plump body covered in soft pink skin. He has bright blue eyes that sparkle with intelligence and wonder. Despite his sometimes naive nature, Wilbur has a heart full of kindness and empathy for those around him. He loves spending time in the corral with his animal friends, especially Charlotte, the spider who becomes his closest companion. Wilbur is also known for his adventurous spirit, always eager to explore new places and try new things. He can be easily scared but has a strong determination that helps him overcome obstacles when needed. Wilbur’s endearing personality and gentle nature make him a beloved character to all who read “Charlotte’s Web.”

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Website Resources

1. E.B. White’s Official Website: This website provides information about the book, as well as the life and works of E.B. White.
2. Scholastic Book Club:  Scholastic is a popular children’s book publisher, and their website has a page dedicated to “Charlotte’s Web”. It includes a summary of the book, reviews, and teaching resources.
3. SparkNotes: SparkNotes is an educational website that provides study guides for literature. They have a comprehensive guide on “Charlotte’s Web”, which includes chapter summaries, analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
4. IMDb: The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on various adaptations of “Charlotte’s Web”, including movies, TV shows, and animated specials.
5. Goodreads: Goodreads is a social media platform for readers to find book recommendations and reviews from other readers. It has an extensive page dedicated to “Charlotte’s Web”, including reader reviews and ratings.

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