Charlotte's Web Discussion Guide

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Introducing the Book

Here are a few strategies for introducing the book to the class.

· Spiders

Tell students that one of the characters is a spider. Ask students what they know about spiders. Start a K-W-L (Know, Want to Know, Learn) chart to tap prior knowledge. In the first column list what students already know or think they know. In the second column list what they would like to find out. After reading Charlotte's Web, revisit the chart and complete the third column.

What We Know      What We Want to Know      What We Learned

They have 8 legs.

They make webs.

They eat flies.

· Friendship

Charlotte's Web is a story about friendship and the commitment that helps it endure many trials and tests. Talk with students about some of the things that are pleasurable and difficult about friendships. Set up a chart like the one shown and list students' ideas. Use the ones given as examples to encourage students to contribute their own experiences.

FRIENDSHIP

Fun Things

Difficult Things

telling secrets

not always agreeing

playing games

if your friend always wins

Follow up by asking students to look for the ways that Charlotte is a friend to Wilbur in the story.

· Book Flips

Explain that one of the things readers do before reading a book is to flip through it. Show students what you can glance at—table of contents, illustrations, bits of text—by flipping the pages of Charlotte's Web. Have students flip through the book then comment on what they think will happen in the story.

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