Fun Book Themed Activities for Charlotte’s Web

By Lily | Published 7 November 2022 | This post may contain affiliate links.

If you’re looking for a great way to inspire your child to read, Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White is a great book to start with. This timeless story of friendship between a baby pig named Wilbur and a clever spider named Charlotte is filled with memorable characters, life lessons, and heartwarming moments.

But how do you take this chapter book from the page to real life? With a little creativity, you can turn Charlotte’s Web into an interactive adventure that your kids will never forget.

Here are some fun ways to bring the story to life. These activities are simple, engaging, and perfect for busy parents who want to make reading a great time for the whole family.

10 Fun Activities for Enjoying Charlotte's Web

Activity 1: Visit a local farm to learn more about daily life on a farm

Visiting local farms is a fun way for families to learn where food comes from and connect with nature. Many farms offer activities like fruit picking, feeding animals, and tours about sustainable farming. It’s also a great way to support small businesses, enjoy fresh produce, and encourage healthy eating.

Kids at a farm

Activity 2: Create a Story Bag

A story bag is a great way to make the book tangible for younger children. Fill a bag with items that represent key elements of the story. For example:

  • A ball of yarn to represent Charlotte’s web.

  • Plastic spiders for Charlotte.

  • Pom pom balls or a small stuffed animal for Wilbur.

  • Colorful pipe cleaners to create your own miniature farm animals.

  • Scraps of paper with complimentary words like Some Pig or Terrific.

As you read each chapter, pull out the items and discuss how they relate to the story. This hands-on approach helps kids connect with the characters and events in a fun way.

Activity 3: Watch the movie version of Charlotte’s Web!

Charlotte’s Web is a lovely family movie with great special effects that mix real actors and CGI characters like Charlotte and Templeton. Paramount Studios has kept the setting true to the book, resembling the 1930s to 1950s, without adding modern trends. This film captures the essence of the story. Be sure your kids read the book before watching the movie!

Activity 4: Make Charlotte's Web-inspired paper crafts

From @mytwobitts is this cute little Charlotte's Web inspired paper pig and spider! This fun paper craft is easy to make and requires a minimal amount of materials … perfect for home or school! Here is template for this DIY Paper and Spider Craft.

Activity 5: MORE Charlotte’s Web craft activities!

Charlotte’s web is central to the story, and making your own web can be a fun way to explore the parts of a spider and its web. Here’s a simple craft:

1. Use a ball of yarn to create a web on a flat surface or between two chairs.

2. Add plastic spiders for decoration.

3. Write new words or vocabulary words from the book on small pieces of paper and attach them to the web, just like Charlotte did with her messages.

For younger kids, you can simplify this by drawing a web on construction paper and gluing on pom pom balls or plastic spiders. This activity is perfect for sparking creativity and reinforcing key themes from the book.

Activity 6: Spin your own web!

Spider web

Activity 7: Visit the library or bookstore to find more animal stories!

If your child enjoyed reading Charlotte's Web, below are several animal-themed books that they might enjoy also. All of these books share some of the same themes as Charlotte's Web, including the importance of friendship, the power of love, and the value of perseverance.

Stuart Little by E.B. White

Like Charlotte's Web, this book is also written by E.B. White and features a lovable animal protagonist on a quest for adventure.

The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White

Another E.B. White classic, this is the story of a swan who learns to play the trumpet in order to communicate with humans.

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

The Tale of Despereaux follows the adventures of a brave mouse named Despereaux who sets out to rescue a princess.

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

This heartwarming story of a young girl named Opal and her dog Winn-Dixie as they make new friends in a small town.

Celebrate the end of the book with a Charlotte’s Web-themed party. Here are some ideas:

  • Decorate with spider webs made from yarn and plastic spiders.

  • Serve farm-themed snacks like popcorn (for the barnyard) and pig-shaped cookies.

  • Play games like a spider web discussion activity, where kids take turns sharing their favorite parts of the story.

  • Award a blue ribbon to each child for participating, just like Wilbur won at the fair.

This is a great way to make the story come alive and create lasting memories.

Activity 8: Host a Book-Themed Party

Book themed party

After reading about Wilbur and Charlotte's friendship, kids can make their own friendship bracelets. They can give these bracelets to a friend or family member to symbolize their friendship. Check out @Audrey’s Jar for three simple bracelet styles: twisted, striped, and chevron.

Activity 9: Make friendship bracelets!

Activity 10: Free reading resources!

  • Vocabulary.com is a great site to test your child's knowledge and spelling of new words from Charlotte’s Web.

Reflect on the Story’s Themes

At the end of the book, take time to reflect on its great themes, like friendship, loyalty, and the cycle of life. Use a spider web discussion activity to encourage kids to share their thoughts. For example:

  • What did you learn from Charlotte and Wilbur’s friendship?

  • How did the story make you feel?

  • What would you have done differently if you were a character in the book?

This activity is a great way to wrap up the story and reinforce its lessons.

Final Thoughts

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White is more than just a great book—it’s a gateway to creativity, learning, and meaningful conversations. Whether you’re a classroom teacher, a homeschooling parent, or just looking for fun ways to inspire your child to read, these activities are designed to be easy to implement and much fun for all age groups.

So grab a copy of Charlotte’s Web, gather your pom pom balls and plastic spiders, and get ready to bring this timeless story to life. Your kids will thank you—and who knows, you might just rediscover the magic of E.B. White’s masterpiece yourself

REWARD: Celebrate the book!

Download FREE artwork to hang or frame in your child’s room as a memento of this special book!