Disaster Diaries: Spiders!

by R. McGeddon

New student Felicia Forester quickly becomes the star of science class! But she secretly runs dangerous science experiments that soon have the entire town completely overrun with giant, human-eating spiders!

Big Idea

Actions have consequences, and even the most brilliant scientific curiosity must be balanced with responsibility and safety. This story explores the thin line between innovation and chaos.

Discussion Questions

1.Why do you think Felicia Forester kept her science experiments a secret from her teacher and classmates?
2.How does the author use the setting of a science classroom to build suspense as the spiders begin to take over?
3.If you were in Felicia's class, what would you have said to her when you first noticed the spiders growing?
4.What does this story teach us about the importance of following safety rules during science experiments?
5.How does the tone of the book change from the beginning of the story to the moment the town is overrun?

Classroom Activity

The Scientific Responsibility Lab

Students will design a 'Safety Protocol' poster for Felicia's science lab to prevent future spider-related disasters, focusing on identifying risks and proposing responsible solutions.

Lesson Plan

⏱ 45 minutes📦 Poster paper, markers, colored pencils, rulers, and copies of the book for reference.

Learning Goals

Identify the cause-and-effect relationship between Felicia's experiments and the town's spider problem.
Practice persuasive writing by creating safety rules.
Analyze character motivations and the consequences of secret-keeping.
Develop creative problem-solving skills in a scientific context.

Activity Steps

1.Review the plot of 'Spiders!' and identify the specific moment Felicia's experiment went wrong.
2.Brainstorm a list of 'What went wrong?' factors in Felicia's lab.
3.In small groups, draft three essential safety rules that Felicia should have followed.
4.Create a visual 'Safety Protocol' poster that includes these rules and a warning sign.
5.Present the posters to the class, explaining why these rules would have prevented the spider takeover.

Standards Connections

ELA: RL.K.3 (Describe characters, settings, and major events)
ELA: W.K.1 (Use a combination of drawing and writing to compose opinion pieces)
SEL: Responsible Decision-Making
Science: Engineering Design Process

Pace-Write-Read Study with Pace-Write It!

In 'Spiders!' by R. McGeddon, the author masterfully uses pacing to mirror the escalating chaos of a science experiment gone wrong. By starting with the quiet, focused environment of a classroom and rapidly shifting to a town-wide infestation, the book demonstrates how authors control the reader's heart rate through narrative speed. This book serves as an excellent mentor text for teaching students how to build tension. Through the strategic use of page turns and descriptive shifts, McGeddon shows that writing is not just about the words on the page, but about the rhythm of the story's delivery. Students will learn how to manipulate time to keep their readers on the edge of their seats.

Element	How to notice or teach it in the novel
Pace	Notice how the sentences get shorter and more urgent as the spiders multiply.
Plot	The plot follows a classic 'escalation' structure where one small secret leads to a massive problem.
Prosody	Encourage students to read the 'spider attack' scenes with increasing speed and volume.
Word Pause	Use pauses before turning the page to build suspense about what the spiders will do next.
Concept	The core concept is 'unintended consequences' of scientific curiosity.
Voice & World View	The voice is humorous yet cautionary, reflecting a world where science is exciting but dangerous.
Setting & Place	The setting shifts from the controlled science lab to the chaotic, overrun town.
Point of View	Discuss how the story would change if told from the perspective of a spider.
Original Characters	Felicia is a 'mad scientist' archetype; analyze how her personality drives the plot.
Dialogue	Look for how the dialogue becomes more frantic as the town realizes the danger.
Details	Focus on the specific, gross details of the spiders to make the threat feel real.
Descriptions	The author uses vivid adjectives to describe the spiders' size and behavior.
Strong First Lines	The opening introduces Felicia as a star student, setting up the irony of her secret.
Immediacy & Engagement	The immediate threat of the spiders keeps the reader engaged from the first page.
Story Scenes & Summaries & Unique Structures	The book uses a mix of classroom scenes and town-wide summaries to show the scale of the problem.
Flashback & Flash Forward & Cliffhangers	Each page turn acts as a mini-cliffhanger, forcing the reader to see the next disaster.
Tension & Suspense & Surprise	Tension is built by showing the spiders growing just a little bit more on every page.
Page Turns and Chapter Breaks	Use the page turns to reveal the spiders in new, unexpected locations.
Performance	Encourage students to act out the 'spider takeover' with dramatic flair.
Personality	Felicia's ambition is her defining personality trait.
Humor	The humor comes from the absurdity of giant spiders in a normal town.
Pause	Use a long pause after the reveal of the giant spiders to let the shock sink in.
Poetry and Poetic Devices	Look for alliteration in the descriptions of the spiders' movements.
Repetition	The repetition of the spiders appearing reinforces the theme of being 'overrun.'
Rhythm	The rhythm of the text mimics the scurrying of many spider legs.
Punctuation	Exclamation points are used to heighten the panic of the townspeople.
Questions	The book asks the reader to wonder: 'What will Felicia do next?'
Compare-Contrast	Compare Felicia's classroom behavior with her secret lab behavior.
Objects	The science equipment acts as the catalyst for the entire plot.
Threes	Look for the 'rule of three' in the way the spiders invade different parts of the town.
Whitespace & Negative Space	The author uses empty space on the page to make the spiders look even larger.
Art & Graphics	The illustrations provide the visual evidence of the spiders' growth.
Interactives & Gamification	Create a 'spot the spider' game using the illustrations in the book.

Pace-Write It!

Students have 20 minutes to write a 'Breaking News' report about the spider invasion. They must use short, punchy sentences to mimic the fast-paced, chaotic energy of the book's climax.