Still spinning: Charlotte's Web celebrate Charlotte's 50th anniversary - lessons related to "Charlotte's Web"

Many Ways to Say Hello

In Chapter V of Charlotte's Web (HarperCollins, 1952), Charlotte addresses Wilbur by saying, "Salutations.' Explain to students that salutations are greetings. In Charlotte's words, "When I say 'salutations,' it's just my fancy way of saying hello or good morning." Work together with students to create a chart of different salutations in other languages, such as bonjour, shalom, or buenos dias, as well as gestures such as a high-five, wave, or handshake. Each morning encourage students to greet one another using the salutations on the chart.

Interactive Bulletin Board

Before beginning the book, work together with children to create a bulletin board of a farm scene that includes a barn, a pigpen, and Charlotte's doorway. As you encounter animal characters in the book, add them to the bulletin board. Label each animal with two or three adjectives that describe its character (e.g. Wilbur: loyal, considerate, humble). Discuss how the personalities of each contributed to the harmony (or disharmony) of the community.

Once the book is finished, complete the bulletin board by creating a talk bubble for each animal that contains a quote from the story. Let students try to match the quote to the animal and staple it to the bulletin board above its head.

--Adapted from an idea by Wendy Weiner, Parkview School, Milwaukee, WI

Spider Snack

* Follow these steps to create a snack that teaches students about a spider's body parts:

1. A spider's body has two parts. Place two round peanut butter or cheese sandwich crackers on a plate. The one closest to you represents the cephalothorax (the head and chest), while the other is the abdomen of the spider.

2. A spider has eight legs. Place four pretzel sticks on each side of the abdomen.

3. Many spiders have eight eyes. Place eight raisins on the cephalothorax.

4. A spider's mouthparts include jaws and fangs. Place two chow mein noodles under the eyes.

5. Spiders use spinnerets (tubes that release silk) to make a web or egg sack. Place six sunflower seeds inside the abdomen. Then, call out different body parts for students to eat!

The Friendship Web

Charlotte's Web explores the theme of friendship. Work together with students to create a web that maps out the characteristics of a good friend.

To make the web, draw a circle in the center of a sheet of white mural paper. Around the circle, draw eight spokes. Next, connect each spoke to form an octagon. In the center of the web write "The Friendship Web," and hang it on a wall or bulletin board. Brainstorm words to describe a good friend, such as considerate or loyal, and record them on the spokes. Create spiders from black construction paper by cutting two circles, a smaller one for the head and a larger one for the abdomen. Glue the circles together and attach eight yarn legs. Whenever a student demonstrates a characteristic of a good friend, write his or her name on a spider using chalk or a white paint pen and attach it to the web.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Scholastic, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group