This is a Jackanory-style reading of the chapter Bad News from the classic American children's book Charlotte's Web by E.B. White. It's taken from early on in the story when Wilbur the pig is only just beginning to get to know Charlotte the Spider. There are writing opportunities for developing dialogue with correct punctuation, as well as writing your own animal story. Teachers may also want to use the extract as a prompt to persuasive writing, exploring the pros and cons of eating meat, as of course the bad news is that Wilbur is being fattened up to be killed and eaten. An old sheep is the one who delivers the bad news to Wilbur. He cannot believe that the people he knows and trusts could possibly be thinking of killing him. He has a fit of hysterics proclaiming that he certainly doesn't want to die! By contrast Charlotte the Spider remains calm, and reassures Wilbur that somehow she will save him.

Video Series: Lesson Starters
Release Date 2010