📖

Meet Charlotte and Wilbur

Characters: The Heart of Every Story

Day 6of 180
Week 2of 36
30Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Identify the main characters in Charlotte's Web

2

Make initial observations about character personalities

3

Understand how characters' actions reveal their nature

📖 Scripture Connection

1 Samuel 16:7

“But Yahweh said to Samuel, 'Don't look on his face, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for Yahweh sees not as man sees. Man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart.'”

— 1 Samuel 16:7 (WEB)

Just like God looks at a person's heart, we can learn about characters by understanding their inner qualities, not just their appearance

📦 Materials Needed

  • Charlotte's Web book
  • Character observation worksheet
  • Colored pencils
  • Notebook
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather students in a circle and show the book Charlotte's Web. Ask students what they know about farm animals and stories about animals.

💭 Review Question: What makes a good friend?
2Teaching (10 min)

Read the first chapter of Charlotte's Web, pausing to highlight Wilbur and Charlotte's initial interactions.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Notice how characters first appear in the story
  • Listen to how characters speak and act
  • Pay attention to characters' feelings
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • How does Wilbur feel at the beginning of the story?
  • What do we learn about Wilbur's personality?
  • How might Wilbur and Charlotte become friends?
3Activity: Character First Impression Sketch (10 min)
hands-on

Students create a two-column worksheet to draw and describe their first impressions of Wilbur and Charlotte.

📝 Instructions:
  1. Fold paper in half
  2. Draw Wilbur on one side
  3. Draw Charlotte on the other side
  4. Write 3-4 words describing each character
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Use pre-drawn character outlines

Challenge: Include specific quotes that reveal character

4Closing (5 min)

Share character sketches and discuss initial observations.

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did you learn about Wilbur today?
  • How might Wilbur's feelings change during the story?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for creating us with unique personalities. Help us to see the good in others, just like you see the goodness in our hearts.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll explore more about Wilbur's character traits!

💎 Memory Verse

Proverbs 22:11

“He who loves purity of heart and has gracious speech will have the king as his friend.”

— Proverbs 22:11 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Heart Trace: Trace a heart while reciting the verse

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

This lesson introduces character analysis through Charlotte's Web, focusing on observational skills and empathy.

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Encourage listening carefully during reading
  • Help children look beyond physical descriptions
  • Validate different interpretations of character
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might focus only on physical traits instead of personality

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Ability to describe character feelings and motivations

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a character trait journal
  • Draw a comic strip of Wilbur's first day
  • Write a letter from Wilbur's perspective

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 7 →Back to Literature