*This is the first guide in our Homeschool Book Study Program — free for every family who wants it.*
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**Book:** Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
**Ages:** 6–10
**Reading time:** 2–3 weeks at a relaxed pace
**Chapters:** 22
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## Before You Begin — Setting the Stage
Before reading the first chapter, ask your child: *”Have you ever had a friend who was really different from you? What made the friendship special?”*
Then open the book together.
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## Chapter-by-Chapter Guide
### Chapters 1–3: Wilbur Arrives
**What happens:** Fern saves a baby pig from being killed. Wilbur moves to her uncle’s farm. He begins to feel lonely.
**Discussion questions:**
– Why did Fern’s father want to kill the pig? Was he being cruel, or just practical? Is there a difference?
– Wilbur has everything he needs — food, shelter, warmth — but he’s still unhappy. Why? What does he actually want?
– Have you ever felt lonely even when people were around?
**Vocabulary:** injustice, radiant, humble, gander
**Lesson connection (Life skills):** Talk about where food comes from. Farms aren’t just pretty — they’re working places with hard decisions.
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### Chapters 4–7: Charlotte Appears
**What happens:** Wilbur meets Charlotte, a spider who talks. At first Wilbur is scared. Then they become friends. Charlotte is direct, clever, and kind.
**Discussion questions:**
– Wilbur judged Charlotte before he knew her. Have you ever been wrong about someone at first?
– Charlotte says “I am not sweet. I am a trapper.” What does she mean? Can someone be good without being “nice”?
– What makes Charlotte a good friend — not just a nice one?
**Vocabulary:** versatile, salutations, sedentary, spinnerets
**Lesson connection (Science):** Spiders! Look up orb weaver spiders together. How do they really spin webs? (Charlotte’s species is *Aranea cavatica* — a barn spider.)
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### Chapters 8–12: The Plan
**What happens:** Wilbur learns he’ll be slaughtered at Christmas. Charlotte decides to save him — by writing words in her web. “SOME PIG” appears.
**Discussion questions:**
– Charlotte doesn’t tell Wilbur her plan right away. Why not? Was that the right call?
– The farmers think the web is a miracle. Is it? What really makes something miraculous?
– Templeton only helps if there’s something in it for him. Is that friendship? Can selfish people still be useful?
**Vocabulary:** campaign, hysterics, phenomenon, scheming
**Lesson connection (Writing):** Charlotte chooses her words carefully — HUMBLE, RADIANT, TERRIFIC. Have your child pick three words that describe *them*, then explain why they chose each one.
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### Chapters 13–17: Fame and the Fair
**What happens:** Wilbur becomes famous. The family takes him to the County Fair. Charlotte comes too, even though she is very tired.
**Discussion questions:**
– Charlotte is sick and weak but still helps Wilbur. Why? Have you ever done something hard for someone you love?
– Wilbur wins a special prize at the fair. But what is the real win of the story so far?
– Why do you think the author takes so much time describing the fair? What does it feel like?
**Vocabulary:** exhibiting, languishing, distinguished, perspiring
**Lesson connection (Math/Social Studies):** County fairs! Look up your nearest county fair. What kinds of contests happen there? What do farmers enter?
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### Chapters 18–22: Goodbye, Charlotte
**What happens:** Charlotte lays her egg sac, then dies. Wilbur is heartbroken. In spring, 514 of Charlotte’s babies hatch — but most float away on the breeze. Three stay.
**Discussion questions:**
– Charlotte knew she was going to die. Did that make her sad? How did she face it?
– Wilbur says “I’ll never forget you.” What does it mean to truly remember someone?
– Most of the baby spiders leave. Does that mean Charlotte’s legacy was a failure?
**Vocabulary:** canopy, magnum opus, legacy, languished
**Lesson connection (Nature/Faith):** Talk about life cycles. Talk about what we leave behind. What is *your* magnum opus — your great work?
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## Full Lesson Plan (3 Weeks)
| Week | Chapters | Focus |
|——|———-|——-|
| Week 1 | 1–7 | Friendship, first impressions, farm life |
| Week 2 | 8–15 | Loyalty, words and their power, teamwork |
| Week 3 | 16–22 | Loss, legacy, what makes a good life |
**Daily rhythm suggestion:**
– Read 1–2 chapters aloud (or together)
– Pick 1 discussion question at the table
– 1 vocabulary word per day — have them use it in a sentence before bed
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## Writing Prompts (choose one per week)
1. *Week 1:* If you were Wilbur, write a letter to Fern thanking her for saving your life.
2. *Week 2:* Charlotte needs a new word for Wilbur’s web. Invent three options and explain each one.
3. *Week 3:* Write a short story about what happens to Joy, Aranea, and Nellie (the three spiders who stayed) the following spring.
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## What Your Child Will Learn
– **Reading comprehension** — following a multi-chapter story arc
– **Vocabulary in context** — E.B. White’s language is rich and precise
– **Critical thinking** — nothing in this book is black and white
– **Emotional literacy** — grief, loyalty, friendship, and letting go
– **Science** — spiders, farms, animals, life cycles
– **Writing** — practicing voice, description, and empathy
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## Want More Guides?
[Visit our Book Study Program page](/book-study/) and comment with the next book you’d like a guide for.
*We homeschool on our 5-acre homestead in Lyon County, Nevada. Starnook is where we share everything we’re learning together.*