Children's+Literature+Unit

Children's Literature Across the Curriculum Ideas Created by students at the University of North Carolina Charlotte Title: // Charlotte's Web // Author: E.B White Publisher/Copyright: Dell Publishing, 1952 Grade: 3-4 Summary: A timeless story about friendship and relationships. It is the story of Wilber the pig, Fern, and his friend Charlotte the spider. It is a tale about the responsibilities we have for each other and the benefit received when friends help one another. Reading /Writing Connections 1. Preview the book. Show cover and read the chapter titles. Have students look for any clues that might convey what the story might be about. 2. Discuss farm life with the students. Do they have any ideas on what life on a farm is like? Ask if students ever considered an animal more than just a pet? What could they do if they found a pet that was weak or hurt? 3. Read the first chapter. Have students write a letter to Fern's father, Mr. Arable explaining why he should spare Wilbur's life. 4. Write about the meaning of friendship. What makes a good friend? What do like about your best friend? Vocabulary/Spelling anxiety ascend commotion exertion genuine humble injustice litter miraculous phenomenon radiant runt scheme spinnerets triumph trough Language Arts Connection 1. Have students conduct a "pig interview". Brainstorm as a class what questions to ask a pig. Group students in pairs. One takes the role of reporter and one as the pig. Switch roles. Students can give an oral report or write a newspaper article of their interview. 2. Make a story map to determine the setting, characters, problem, and solutions for the story. 3. Make a character web. Have students choose a character from the story and put in the middle of the web. From the spokes of the web write words that describe that character. Library Connection 1. Share other books by E.B White, The Trumpet of the Swan (1970) and Stuart Little. The underlying themes in these books are love and friendship. Find other books in the library that share these qualities and create a book display or a poster advertising these books. 2. E.B White received a special citation from the Pulitzer Prize Committee for his literary contributions. Research what the Pulitzer is and why is it given. 3. Do research on spiders (arachnids). Create a mini book filled with interesting facts and drawings about spiders. Social Studies Connection 1. Have students think about ways city life and country life. Create a Venn Diagram to illustrate their differences and similarities. 2. Students can create 3-D farm scenes with an explanation of what is being illustrated and why it is important. 3. Problem solving- Charlotte worked hard at the problem of how to save Wilber's life. Brainstorm some ways to solve some common classroom problems. Working in groups have students create skits to role play for the class illustrating on how to resolve the conflict. Science Connection 1. Compare the differences in insects and spiders. Design a worksheet that teaches the differences. 2. Make an animal babies booklet for younger students. Make a list of common farm animals. Find the name of the animal baby. (example-horse/foal, cow/calf) Draw pictures of the animals. 3. Brainstorm the ways Fern took care of Wilbur. Have students name their pets. As a whole class or in cooperative groups discuss other ways to care for pets. Have students record on chart organizing the information about the pet, its food, habitat, exercise, and other ways to care for pets. Math Connection 1. Make a timeline to show important events of the story. 2. Create a math game using blue ribbons as the pattern for the game cards. Write word problems about the story on the cards. Design a game board using scenes from the book. 3. Use recipes to create some prize-winning dishes. Brainstorm with the whole class how to plan a lunch for the class. Discuss what will be needed. Make lists of needed items. Give word problems related to the situation. Use conversion of recipes as an activity. Model for students how to convert a lemonade recipe for serving six, to enough for the whole class. Discuss each step. Divide into groups give each group a simple recipe to convert. Review each groups work as a class. Put on the lunch with each group bringing the needed items.