Fourth-grade students brought the story of “Charlotte’s Web” to life by doing a STEAM project. To step into the shoes of one of the main characters, Charlotte, students made their own webs to trap an “insect.” Using dried beans, dental floss and jar caps, students experienced the amount of effort Charlotte puts into getting her food. A reflection activity followed the STEAM project with students comparing how Charlotte receives her food versus how Wilbur receives his food and how this reflects their character traits. In order to determine whether a bean would stay in place, students tested one another’s webs. Everyone had a great time!

Additionally, students jumped into the shoes of a character through an art project. Just like the character Templeton is assigned to look through magazines to find words that describe welfare, students dug through magazines and looked for words that described themselves. This was a great activity and allowed students to express themselves in a creative manner.