Online Curriculum Unit

Integrating the Children’s Literature of E. B. White, including

Charlotte’s Web

In the Content Areas of Language Arts/Mathematics/Science/Fine Arts

Designed for 3^rd/4^th graders

By Ruth W. Rose

Featuring child-centered, self-directed, fully-integrated,

technological, hands-on learning

Note: In this novel student-directed approach, the individual student chooses those activities that s/he would like to complete from among a myriad of possible activities in the unit. The student signs a contract with the teacher to earn a total number of 100 points (suggested). The teacher may choose to stipulate the number of points to be earned in each subject area, if desired.
 
 

At the conclusion of this unit, the student will:

1. Have been exposed to the children’s literature of E. B. White and have had the opportunity to make connections between stories, such as Charlotte’s Web, and his/her life through a variety of genre.
2. Have had the opportunity of exploring a variety of number concepts and operations in mathematics.
3. Have been exposed to appropriate websites, and instructed in their use; as well as having been introduced to how to safely navigate the worldwide web and how to use electronic mail.
4. Have had the opportunity for creative expression through fine arts, oral and written language arts, and science activities.

After the completion of this unit, the student will have:

1. Participated in a daily group activity where the teacher reads a portion of the book, Charlotte’s Web.
2. Earned at least 100 points by completing activities of his/her choice.
3. Discussed and written about the themes of "friendship" and "determination," among others found in Charlotte’s Web.
4. Demonstrated an understanding of the story line in Charlotte’s Web by constructing a story map, timeline, poem, acting out a skit, or another creative process.
5. Solved math problems involving patterns, multiples and fractions, among others.
6. Made connections between fictional farm life as portrayed in the book with a real farm, which may be visited on a field trip.
7. Used the computer to research and learn by visiting teacher-approved websites, composing e-mail, as well as having used the word processor and paint artist features.

Computer(s) with Internet accessibility is/are a prerequisite for this unit.

Copies of E.B. White’s books: Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little, The Trumpet of the Swan.

Then there’s the usual: paper, pencil, markers, crayons, chart paper, etc.

And depending on what paths the children take, other possible requirements:

Costumes for skits; transportation for field trips; the sky’s the limit!

The teacher explains the premise that each student has the opportunity to choose the activities he/she desires to complete a total of 100 points for this unit. Some will be group activities (such as the daily reading or field trip) that all will participate in; some will be small-group activities and some will be individual activities. Each student is responsible for choosing and keeping a tally of activities for presentation to the teacher.

On the first day, the teacher introduces the unit by reading the first chapter of Charlotte’s Web to the class. Focus questions asked by the teacher before this reading may include:

You can:

1. Participate in daily group reading of Charlotte’s Web. (2 pts./per day)
2. Read an additional 15 minutes (individually) of another one of E. B. White’s Books, such as Stuart Little or the Trumpet of the Swan. (3 pts.)
3. Complete a story map of Charlotte’s Web in a small group. ( 5 pts.)
4. Construct a timeline for the story. (5 pts.)
5. Write a poem about any of the themes in the book, including friendship, determination, perseverance, etc., by visiting http://www.vsa.cape.com/~powens/Kidnews3.html (5 pts.); Submit the poem for online publication for another 5 pts.
6. Write a letter to any of the main characters (5 pts.)
7. Give a "story talk" to the class about another book by E. B. White (10 pts.)
8. Create a web connecting any of the characters with his/her characteristics, either individually or in a group (5 pts.)
9. Complete a journal entry about the daily reading on a word processor. (5 pts.)
10. Submit a revised written piece about the book for online publication at http://www.kidpub.org/kidpub/ (5 pts.)
11. Participate in reading an interactive story at: http://www.thetemple.com/KidzMagazine/INTERStory/KMInterStory.htm (5 pts.)
12. Write a letter to Mr. Zuckerman, or any of the other main characters, from the point of view of Charlotte, explaining why Wilbur should be saved. (5 pts.)
13. Brainstorm in a small group about what qualities a friend should have. Record these qualities on chart paper to share with the class. (7 pts.)
14. Write a paragraph explaining how Wilbur might be considered an "underdog." (5 pts.)
15. Contribute one page about your favorite character in Charlotte’s Web to be

part of a class book. On your page, you should draw a picture of your character and write a paragraph that describes his/her characteristics. (7 pts.)
16. Complete a crossword puzzle about Charlotte’s Web (there are four in all) at: http://www.2.lhric.org/pocantico/charlotte/puzzles.htm (3 pts. Each)
17. Make your own puzzle about Charlotte and her friends by visiting http://puzzlemaker.school.discovery.com/(5 pts.)
18. Solve the "mystery quotes quiz" about characters from Charlotte’s Web at http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/charlotte/quiz.htm (5 pts.)

1. Write the products you get when you multiply the number of legs Charlotte has by the numbers 1 through 10. (5 pts.)
2. Divide a circle into equal parts, which equal the number of legs spiders have. How big is each fraction of the circle? How many equal parts would be in two circles if you divided them this same way? (5 pts.)
3. Visit http://www.wwinfo.com/edu/flash.html for practice with online flashcards. (5 pts.)
4. Solve two problems found at http://www.webcom.com/hardy/cuis2/kids.html (5 pts.)
5. With a partner, share a math game with the class that you both enjoyed at http://www.cs.uidaho.edu/~casey931/conway/games.html. (5 pts.)
6. Find a geometric shape that reminds you of one of the webs Charlotte spun at http://www.nyu.edu/pages/mathmol/library/math/index.html (5 pts.)
7. Find a math problem at http://euclid.math.fsu.edu/science/math.html that you can solve to share with a classmate. (5 pts.)
8. Write an acrostic that spells any of the character’s names in Charlotte’s Web AND relates to math concepts (5 pts.) Here’s an example:


W ONDERFUL

I NTERESTING

L ESS THAN

B ILLION

U NEQUAL

R OMAN NUMERAL
 

9. Survey the members of the class to find out who everyone’s favorite character is. Construct a bar graph showing this information. (10 pts.)
10. Keep a running total of all the points you earn on this assignment, making sure you have completed 100 points by the end of the unit. Present to the teacher in a chart you have constructed. (10 pts.)

1. Find out three facts about spiders from http://www.beakman.com/spider/spider.html to share with the class. (5 pts.)
2. Visit the animal photo library at http://www.si.edu/organiza/museums/zoo/photos/phoset.htm and draw three animals that you think you might see on our field trip to the farm.
3. Learn about how to draw insects at http://www.life.uiuc.edu/Entomology/insectgifs.html . Draw your favorite to hang in our classroom (5 pts.)
4. Read about farm animals at http://www.kidsfarm.com/ in preparation for our visit to a real farm. (5 pts.) Do you see any on this site that are also in Charlotte’s Web? Make a list of these to earn another 3 pts.
5. Check out this site about wildlife around the world: http://www.wwf.org . What animals do you see here that you probably wouldn’t find on a farm like Wilbur’s? Make a list of these to earn 5 pts.
6. Write a paragraph that describes your favorite "Barnyard Buddy" found at http://www.execpc.com/~byb/kidindx.html . ( 5 pts.)
7. Visit http://www.yahooligans.com/Science_and_oddities/Animals/ Find out everything you can about pigs (what they eat, where they live, what they look like). Share with the class, along with your best picture of Wilbur. (8 pts.)
8. Investigate the setting of "Barns" in preparation for our field trip at http://www.campbellusd.k12.ca.us/Charlotte’s_Web_Page/index.html#InvestigatingSetting . Compare and contrast the barns and find the one that looks most like the one in the book. Draw your own picture. (7 pts.)
9. Join the class on a field trip to a local farm. (5 pts.)

1. Create a spider web from yarn, which you’ll glue on to a piece of paper. Include in it a word that Charlotte may have used to describe Wilbur. (5 pts.)
2. Create a skit in a small group (3-4 students) about your favorite part of Charlotte’s Web. Perform it for the class. (10 pts.)
3. Draw your own barnyard on mural paper, including the main characters from Charlotte’s Web. (7 pts.) (Work in groups of 2-4).
4. Using "Paint Artist" on the computer, make a picture of your favorite character from the book. ( 5 pts.)
5. View the "Children’s Art Gallery," online at http://redfrog.norconnect.no/~cag/ (5pts.) Present one of your own pieces to the teacher to submit to the gallery for an additional 5 pts.
6. Visit http://www.eduweb.com/pintura to learn how classic artists choose color and style to illustrate their subjects in their artwork. Write about your favorite artist or piece of art in your journal. (7 pts.)
7. Draw a big web on chart paper with the name of your favorite character in the center. Write at least 8 descriptive words (adjectives) all around the web that tell about your character. (10 pts.)

1. Find out what the following technical words mean in "Computer Language." You can use a dictionary, the worldwide web, books from the library, or you can interview someone you think may know. (10 pts.) Write the meanings in your journal. The words are:

Bit Browser Byte Cookie

Cyberspace E-Mail FAQ Software

Hardware Home Page Hit Network

WWW URL Screen name Monitor
 
 

2. Visit one or more of these sites to learn about safety on the web:


http://www.safekids.com/

http://www.microsys.com/cyber/default.htm

http://www.netnanny.com/

http://www.winwhatwhere.com/

Make a list of three things you should do to navigate safely on the web. Share with class (10 pts.)

3. Participate with the whole class in a brainstorming session about how we can all use computers and the Internet safely (10 pts.) Share this information with your families (5 pts.)
4. Send an e-mail message to all class members and the teacher about your favorite part of Charlotte’s Web. (5 pts.)

These lessons can be modified to fit the individual interests and needs of each student and classroom. Extensions such as field trips are at the discretion of the teacher. Each individual teacher may want to stress particular subject areas or concepts within those subjects in which the class needs reinforcement or direct instruction. The value/point system can be modified accordingly.

There are lots of opportunities throughout the course of this unit for evaluation of student work. The teacher will observe/monitor the participation during brainstorming and large group time as well as during small group time and individual work time. Assessment of independent written and creative works is also possible in many of the language arts, math, science and art projects. Collaborative group skills can also be monitored and reinforced as students work together in small and large groups.
 
 

The author of this curriculum unit is Ruth W. Rose. She is very involved in curriculum issues, among other concerns, as a Board of Education Member, a position she has held for the past 12 years. As well as being a free-lance writer and mother of three, she is currently a full-time college student earning her certification in Elementary Education at SCSU. She’d love to hear your comments at RuthRose57@aol.com