By: Touché EDI
 2008 Touche’ EDI ·All Rights Reserved ∙The Mr. Arachnid Project ·www.toucheedi.com
Prompt
Mr. Arachnid is a friendly, but misunderstood spider who lives
in the crook of an old oak tree just outside of New York City.
He was very happy there. Everyday was the same as the day
before, and the day before that, and the…well, you see what I
mean. His web shook. He’d wake up. He’d eat a bug. Ah,
yes…life was good for our misunderstood friend. Until one
day, everything changed.
One morning he woke up to a very loud noise. His web shook
like it never had before, but there was nothing trapped inside.
“What is going on?” He thought. Then suddenly, he heard
another loud crash. His web shook even more than the first
time. “What is happening here?” Mr. Arachnid shouted.
Another crash, another thud, then buzz, buzz, buzz…and a
crash, bang, thud. “Oh my! The trees, the trees are falling
down.” One by one, they fell…down, down, down.
As the story goes, Mr. Arachnid packed his bags and stamped
his passport as he headed off on an adventure to find out what
or who is destroying the forest. On his travels, he visits lots of
libraries and classrooms where he reads stacks and stacks of
books. He meets many new friends along the way and learns
many new things. He even becomes the star of the music CD,
“Spiders, Bats, and Wolves…Oh My!” Mr. Arachnid is having
tons of fun… and now you can too!
You can join in the fun by planning your own adventure with
Mr. Arachnid. What will happen when he visits you?
 2008 Touche’ EDI ·All Rights Reserved ∙The Mr. Arachnid Project ·www.toucheedi.com
Teacher Pages
Dear Teacher,
Enclosed you will find the information needed to participate in The Mr. Arachnid Project—a
project based on the factual song and fictional character Mr. Arachnid, created by interactive
learning company, Touche’ EDI.
This fun, engaging, and exciting project integrates science, math, technology, geography,
reading, writing, art, music, speaking and listening into a creative unit of study.
Incorporating these multiple subject areas and curriculum connections is a highly motivational
teaching strategy designed to bring imagination and knowledge together in your classroom,
and can easily be adapted to fit both your needs and the needs of your students.
Also, enclosed in this packet, you will find the information necessary to allow your students to
“experience” learning, as they send Mr. Arachnid abroad. The packet includes a project prompt
and a Mr. Arachnid paper template to get your students started in their Mr. Arachnid learning
adventures.
As a part of this project, students will make their own Mr. Arachnids to send through the mail to
friends, family members, schools, libraries and/or perhaps, even to famous people. Their
learning experiences will depend upon how deeply involved you would like to get in the
project and what direction you, as their teacher choose to take.
The following pages will also include lots of lesson and activity ideas, a reproducible map, a suit
case template, a sample letter to send to participants, journal pages and more… For your
convenience, the teacher pages are color coded with blue headers.
We hope you and your students enjoy participating in this project. Please keep us posted on
your progress….as you head off on your learning adventure.
Sincerely,
Your friends at Touche’ EDI
 2008 Touche’ EDI ·All Rights Reserved ∙The Mr. Arachnid Project ·www.toucheedi.com
Teacher Pages
Story and Project Introduction:
Mr. Arachnid is a friendly, but misunderstood spider who lives in the crook of an old oak tree
just outside of New York City. He was very happy there. Everyday was the same as the day
before, and the day before that, and the…well, you see what I mean. His web shook. He’d wake
up. He’d eat a bug. Ah, yes…life was good for our misunderstood friend. Until one day,
everything changed.
One morning he woke up to a very loud noise. His web shook like it never had before, but
there was nothing trapped inside. “What is going on?” He thought. Then suddenly, he heard
another loud crash. His web shook even more than the first time. “What is happening here?”
Mr. Arachnid shouted. Another crash, another thud, then buzz, buzz, buzz…and a crash, bang,
thud. “Oh, my! The trees, the trees are falling down.” One by one, they fell…down, down,
down.
As the story goes, Mr. Arachnid packed his bags and stamped his passport as he headed off on
an adventure to find out what or who is destroying the forest. On his travels, he visits lots of
libraries and classrooms where he reads stacks and stacks of books. He meets many new
friends along the way and learns many new things. He even becomes the star character of the
music CD, “Spiders, Bats, and Wolves…Oh My!” He’s having tons of fun…
Now, your students can join in the fun by planning their own Mr. Arachnid adventures.
What will happen when he visits your classroom?
 2008 Touche’ EDI ·All Rights Reserved ∙The Mr. Arachnid Project ·www.toucheedi.com
Teacher Pages
Subject Areas:
Science, math, technology, language arts, geography, art, music,
Materials Needed:
 “Spiders, Bats and Wolves…Oh my!” music CD
This music CD by Touche’ EDI is available online at www.toucheedi.com or in local
bookstores). Loaded with vocabulary words and science facts, this is an excellent
teaching tool for use in pre-k thru fifth grade classrooms. To launch this project you
will need the song, “Mr. Arachnid” featured on the CD.
 Mr. Arachnid paper templates (one for each student and one for sending).
 Craft materials for constructing or designing paper Mr. Arachnids.
 Large manila envelopes and postage for mailing Mr. Arachnids.
 A large map for keeping track of Mr. Arachnid’s travels.
 Binders or folders for holding each student’s project materials and handouts.
 Mr. Arachnid Journal paper for sending
 Non-fiction picture books about spiders.
 K-W-L chart (optional)
 Word processing program and computer for publishing Mr. Arachnid’s Adventures.
 Another classroom full of students willing to participate in the exchange of Mr.
Arachnids through the mail or a person (i.e. grandparent, friend or cousin from
another state who is willing to participate in the project).
 Participant letter for sending
 Mr. Arachnid Activity Guide Page
 2008 Touche’ EDI ·All Rights Reserved ∙The Mr. Arachnid Project ·www.toucheedi.com
Teacher Pages
Project Details and Overview:
In the next few pages, you will find suggestions and ideas for taking part in the Mr. Arachnid
Project. Pick and choose what best fits the needs of your students and your classroom.
1. Begin the project by explaining to students that they will be participating in an exciting
project about a misunderstood spider.
2. As a class, use chart paper to complete a K-W-L about spiders. Discuss the characteristics
that are common to most spiders. What do students know about spiders? What do they
want to know about spiders? Later…What have they learned about spiders? How is Mr.
Arachnid different from a real spider? How might he be the same?
3. Play the song Mr. Arachnid by Touché EDI. This will help to introduce the character.
4. *Capture student interest and build motivation by reading the Mr. Arachnid Project
Prompt (student page with the green header).
5. Give each student a copy of the story and the song lyrics to store in their project folders
or binders. Discuss and record on chart paper how spiders might be misunderstood.
Discuss and record how spiders might be helpful creatures to have hanging around.
6. Over the next few days, read a variety of pictures books (about spiders) aloud to the
class. Show students the illustration of Mr. Arachnid on the CD cover and talk about the
similarities he may share with a real spider. Discuss the differences.
7. Introduce the idea of students making their own Mr. Arachnids to send through the mail.
Explain to students, that they are going to write about an adventure they have had with
Mr. Arachnid, and that although their adventure may be fiction or fantasy, you would
like them to include some factual information within their stories or journal pages. (i.e.
Mr. Arachnid played ball with all 8 of his legs. The balls flew everywhere. Or Mr.
Arachnid ate all the pesty insects out of my mom’s garden). What are the facts in the
examples? 1. Spiders have 8 legs. 2. Spiders eat insects. These facts can be found
within the song.
8. Have students highlight spider facts in the Mr. Arachnid song. Encourage them to look
for the same facts in the picture books. This is called crosschecking which is a strategy
that good researchers use when looking for factual information.
 2008 Touche’ EDI ·All Rights Reserved ∙The Mr. Arachnid Project ·www.toucheedi.com
Teacher Pages
Project Task:
1.
After listening to the song and story prompt, have students create their own
Mr. Arachnids (either by drawing their own or using the template provided).
Remind them to dress Mr. Arachnid in clothing that reflects the climate or
weather of the area or region in which they/ you live.
2.
Have students choose the person they want to write to.
3.
Next have students write a letter or story telling about their favorite adventure
they have had with Mr. Arachnid. Encourage students to be as creative as
possible. (You may want to have them share their completed stories with the
class before sending). Provide students with a rubric for evaluation.
4.
Use a map to figure out which direction Mr. Arachnid is going (i.e. Texas to
grandma’s= South of Pennsylvania). Use the paper map reproducible and
instruct students to color and label the city and state from which they are
sending their Mr. Arachnids.
5.
Optional (have students pack a paper suitcase for Mr. Arachnid and label
what’s inside.
6.
Have each student address an envelope for mailing his or her Mr. Arachnid.
7.
As a celebration, be sure to play the Mr. Arachnid song again while collecting all
the envelopes for mailing.
 2008 Touche’ EDI ·All Rights Reserved ∙The Mr. Arachnid Project ·www.toucheedi.com
Travel Journal
Date:
___________________
What did you do with Mr.Arachnid while
he was in your care? Tell us about your
adventure…
City and State:
_______________________
Your Name:
_______________________
Weather:
Other interesting facts…
Photo of you and Mr. Arachnid in your
hometown, or a place where you went to
visit:
 2008 Touche’ EDI ·All Rights Reserved ∙The Mr. Arachnid Project ·www.toucheedi.com
 2008 Touche’ EDI ·All Rights Reserved ∙The Mr. Arachnid Project ·www.toucheedi.com