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Lesson: "The Very Busy Spider"

Introduction

This is a lesson about Eric Carle's 'The Very Busy Spider.' This lesson would be good to use with younger grades (preschool, kindergarten, or first grade). I used it in a kindergarten class and the kids loved the activity. This also might be a good lesson to do about this time of the year with Halloween approaching.

Supplies Needed

"The Very Busy Spider" by Eric Carle
Tape
Paper Plates
Yarn
Spider Rings

Objectives

Students will be able to:
- predict what the story will be about using observations of the cover.
- actively listen to a read aloud.
- predict what will happen in the story using the repetition in the story.
- respond to questions asked about the reading using what they have heard.

Lesson Sequence

Before
- We will go over or learn repeated words that occur in the story (answer, busy, pesty, spider, web, etc.). We will talk about what they mean, what they look like, how they are pronounced, and practice writing them.

During- While Reading the Story
1. Students will feel the web as it progresses throughout the story.
2. Students will predict what will happen with the spider.
- Example: Will she answer the animal?
3. Students may also want to make the noises of the animals throughout the story to further engage them.

After
- Students will make a web with paper plates and yarn.
1. Show example of paper plate web.
2. Hand out paper plates and yarn.
3. Help students weave the yarn through the slits in the paper plates to create a web.
4. When students feel that their web is complete, I will give them a spider ring to place in their web.
- If time remains, students will share their experiences with spiders.
1. Are you afraid of spiders? Why or why not?
2. What kind of experiences have you had with spiders?
- Students may also want to draw flies or other bugs on the plate in their webs.

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