GUIDE: The Very Busy

Spider
Educators,
Here is how I use the wonderful book, ‘The Very Busy Spider’! I
absolutely love to bring this book out during the beginning of the year
and often times the first or second week of school. I read this story to
them and I explain that we are going to be very busy spiders this year
and we are going to learn so much, it might not be easy but we will
finish our webs of knowledge by the end of the year. I find that this
really inspires my students to work hard and to try their best to focus.
Teaching the book this way is empowering not only for my class but
also for me as their teacher! Throughout the year I remind myself to
keep ‘spinning’.
When I notice my students start to struggle or get into a rut, I bring
this book back out and I ask them if they remember the story. I then
explain to my students that our webs are only halfway done and we
need to keep ‘spinning’ those webs! I explain to them that it’s okay to
feel discouraged but we need to try our very best to be that spider to
finish that web! This again encourages them to get those webs
spinning.
Finally, at the end of the school year I bring the book back out and I
explain to them, “remember when we didn’t have a web yet?
Remember when we didn’t want to finish those webs?” Well look
how far we have come, we have spun our webs of knowledge and we
know more now, then we did at the beginning of the year and we
were the busiest spiders ever! Once they understand this that
lightbulb shines bright and I see their smiles and it warms my heart to
see the lesson come full circle!
-I am a toddler teacher however, using the correct terminology for your students you
should have no problem explaining this to students anywhere from 18 months to 10 years
old! -
Sequence: 'The Very Busy Spider'
Directions: Place the animals/insect in the order they
appear in the booklet, 'The Very Busy Spider'.

Name:__________________________ Date:_________

1 2

3 4

5 6

7 8

©Emilyleteaches 2020
Sequence: 'The Very Busy Spider'
Directions: Cut along the dotted lines and paste the
animals in the correct order they appeared in the
booklet, 'The Very Busy Spider'.

©Emilyleteaches 2020
 The Very Busy Spider

Interpreted By: Emily Iden

Original By: Eric Carle

©Emilyleteaches 2020

The Very Busy Spider

Interpreted By: Emily Iden

Original By: Eric Carle

©Emilyleteaches 2020
 Early one morning the wind blew a spider
through a field. A thread attached to the spider
followed. The spider landed on a fence by the
farm...

©Emilyleteaches 2020

That spider began to spin her web.

©Emilyleteaches 2020
''NEIGH!" Said the horse. "Want to go riding?"

©Emilyleteaches 2020

The spider didn't answer she was too busy

spinning her web.

©Emilyleteaches 2020
"MOO!" Said the cow. "Want to eat the grass?"

©Emilyleteaches 2020

The spider didn't answer she was too busy

spinning her web.

©Emilyleteaches 2020
"BAA!" Said the sheep. "Want to run and play?"

©Emilyleteaches 2020

The spider didn't answer she was too busy

spinning her web.

©Emilyleteaches 2020
"OINK!" Said the pig. "Want to play in the mud?"

©Emilyleteaches 2020

The spider didn't answer she was too busy

spinning her web.

©Emilyleteaches 2020
"CHIRP!" Said the chick. "Want to play with me?"

©Emilyleteaches 2020

The spider didn't answer, she just finished

making her web.

©Emilyleteaches 2020
"CLUCK!" Said the chicken. "Help me catch that
fly!"

©Emilyleteaches 2020

Then the spider caught that fly...SNAP!

©Emilyleteaches 2020
"HOOT!" Said the owl. "Where did that web come
from?"

©Emilyleteaches 2020

The spider didn’t answer, she was fast asleep. For

she had a busy day!

©Emilyleteaches 2020
 Very Busy Spider
Characters

Ways to use:
• Stick Puppets
• Add to Sensory Bins &
Bags
• Animal Identification
• Animal Noises
• Story Retelling
• Sequencing

Stick Puppet Supplies: Sensory Bin Supplies:​

• 9 Popsicle Sticks •​Laminate & Laminator
• Scissors •Bin
• Hot Glue •Green Paper Shreds
• Laminate & Laminator •3D Farm Animals
(optional) •3D Spiders

Puppet Assembly: Cut Assembly: Cut around each

around each image.
Laminate for durability and
cut once more. Hot glue
each animal to a popsicle
stick. Use to retell the story
without the book or use in
conjunction with the
booklet in the pack!
image. Laminate for
durability and cut once
more. Combine all items
listed above or anything
your heart desires and
voila! A sensory bin.

@Emilyleteaches 2020
 Very Busy Spider
Characters
Sensory Bags Supplies:​
•Ziplock Bags, Empty
Bottles
•Washi Tape
•Glitter
•Laminate & Laminator
(optional)​
•​ (Bags: Hair Gel)
•(Bottles: Water)
Bag Assembly: Cut around
each image. Laminate for
durability and cut once
more. Fill ziplock bags with
gel, glitter and characters!

@Emilyleteaches 2020​
Very Busy Spider
Characters

@Emilyleteaches 2020​
Very Busy Spider
Characters

@Emilyleteaches 2020​
Very Busy Spider
Characters

@Emilyleteaches 2020​
Very Busy Spider
Characters

@Emilyleteaches 2020​
 THANK YOU!
Your purchase means so much to me!

Along with this pack you will also find how I use
this booklet to teach your students perseverance
and persistency.

OR

You can choose to use this as a sequencing

activity, animal identification lesson,etc.The
possibilities are endless!

If you already own the original copy of 'The Very

Busy Spider' I highly encourage you to bring
this book out as a visual and to even use to
compare and contrast the two stories!

CREDITS:
Farm Animal Clip Art -
@TheDigitalDownloadShop
Spider/Fly Clip Art - @mfCRAIEation cliparts
Owl Clip Art - @CreativeClips
Border Clip Art - @ClipArt by Carrie Teaching
First

This was created by @Emilyleteaches

If you use my products and enjoy them please
share with me on instagram @emilyleteaches
and be sure to leave your feedback on TPT!