📖

Friendship Theme Search

The Big Ideas in Stories

Day 23of 180
Week 5of 36
30Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Identify specific examples of friendship in Charlotte's Web

2

Understand how characters demonstrate theme through actions

3

Practice writing simple theme statements

📖 Scripture Connection

Proverbs 17:17

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”

— Proverbs 17:17 (WEB)

Illustrates the true meaning of friendship explored in the story

📦 Materials Needed

  • Charlotte's Web book
  • Colored sticky notes
  • Theme evidence worksheet
  • Pencils
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather students in a circle and ask them to share what friendship means to them. Briefly review previous discussions about Charlotte and Wilbur's friendship.

💭 Review Question: What makes a true friend?
2Teaching (10 min)

Explain how characters show friendship through their actions in Charlotte's Web. Focus on specific moments of sacrifice and care.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Charlotte risks her life to save Wilbur
  • Wilbur cares for Charlotte's egg sac
  • Different characters show friendship in unique ways
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • How does Charlotte show she is a true friend?
  • What difficult things did Wilbur do for Charlotte?
  • Why is friendship sometimes about doing hard things?
3Activity: Friendship Evidence Hunt (10 min)
hands-on

Students search the book for specific examples of friendship and record them on sticky notes.

📝 Instructions:
  1. Divide book pages among students
  2. Look for actions showing true friendship
  3. Write brief description on sticky note
  4. Share findings with class
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Teacher helps students find first few examples

Challenge: Write full theme statements about each friendship moment

4Closing (5 min)

Reflect on how friendship in the story mirrors God's love for us

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did you learn about friendship today?
  • How can we be good friends to others?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for showing us what true friendship looks like through your love and through stories like Charlotte's Web.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll explore how stories teach us about life and death

💎 Memory Verse

Proverbs 17:17

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”

— Proverbs 17:17 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Friend Chain: Students link hands while reciting verse

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Children are learning to look deeper into stories and understand themes

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Encourage looking beyond surface-level actions
  • Help child understand that themes are lessons, not just plot details
  • Discuss real-life examples of friendship
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might confuse topic with theme

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Ability to point to specific story moments that show friendship

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Draw a comic strip showing a friendship moment from the book
  • Write a letter from Wilbur to Charlotte about their friendship
  • Create a friendship poster with theme statement

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 24 →Back to Literature