Come join me to do some fun investigating! In this class, we’ll take a close look at the illustrations in Charlotte’s Web (drawn by Garth Williams). We’ll concentrate on these three characters:
Wilbur -  Charlotte - Fern

And we’ll explore these three interpretations:
stability – energy - fragility

I think you’re going to be surprised by how much there is to discover in these wonderful illustrations.

Please read more below for class details. I hope you’ll sign up for the class!

--Dr. Jennifer

P.S. If you have a copy of the book, great. If not, that’s OK, too—I will share the images we’ll be looking at on our class slides and on the Reference Sheet.
P.P.S. You might enjoy this class best if you’ve already read Charlotte’s Web, but either way, you’re welcome to join!

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Charlotte’s Web was written by E.B. White. The illustrations were drawn by Garth Williams.

When we read an illustrated book, part of what we often love is the pictures. Through a book’s illustrations, we learn about the characters, the situations they are in, and the emotions they are experiencing. These emotions are what moves the story forward.

In the case of Charlotte’s Web, Garth Williams’ illustrations show us important truths about Wilbur, Charlotte, Fern, and the rest of the characters on the farm. 

In this class, we’ll spend time looking at some of the key illustrations in Charlotte’s Web. We’ll also…
+ learn some image-investigation strategies 
+ practice skills like observing, describing, and gathering evidence
+ enjoy thinking about how the illustrations support the story

I have a PhD in German and 25+ years of experience teaching, so I really know my stuff. I'm also a former homeschool mom who is warm and encouraging. I’m a careful explainer, and I provide lots of straightforward, clear examples.

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The class offers approximately 60 minutes of learning material

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This is a self-paced class, which means there are no live meetings on Zoom. Instead, you work your way through the pre-recorded, pre-written learning materials posted in the classroom (videos + worksheets).

You can go through the class at whatever pace works best for you.
- If you finish early, great—you can move on to another class!
- If you need more time, no problem. Just let me know.

If you have questions as you are working on the material, you can message me at any time.

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Here’s what you’ll do in the class:

1 – You’ll watch a video introducing the book’s illustrations, characters, and plot (10 minutes)

2 – You’ll watch a video introducing you to the idea of being an “image investigator” (10 minutes)

3 – You’ll watch 3 interactive videos. Each video focuses on one of the beautiful illustrations from Charlotte’s Web. And each video gives you the chance to practice your skills in observing, describing, and gathering evidence. (10 minutes each)

4 – You’ll complete 3 worksheets as you watch the 3 videos, to help you keep track of your investigations.

You’ll also get a Reference Sheet to remind you of the steps in the image investigator strategy.

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Families: This class is best-suited to learners who have already read Charlotte’s Web, but all are welcome. If you have a reluctant reader, who knows? The ideas in this class may make them interested enough to pick up the book. I think it’s worth a try.

This class may be an especially welcome English Language Arts (ELA) experience for students who are gifted, talented, 2e, art fans, or budding literary critics. Our discussions of the Big Ideas in the book are a good next step for learners ready to move toward the exhilarating worlds of artistic and literary analysis.