Learning About Spiders

Ick! Eww! A spider!

This may be the reaction of many when they come across the creepy, crawly eight-legged creature, but do your students realize that spiders are an important part of our ecosystem?

EducationWorld has created a list of resources teachers can use when it comes to teaching spiders in the classroom.

The month of October may be one of the best months to teach about spiders, for it is the Halloween season. Check out these resources and wow your squeamish students and your "spider fans."

1. Spiders! Spiders! Spiders!

This WebQuest gives students the opportunity to become spider experts, or Arachnologists, for the day. Students will learn about different five different types of spiders, such as the Black Widow, Tarantulas, and Daddy Long Legs and groups will compare and contrast these types and even have the ability to draw their own type of spider. Each student in the group will have their own specific task as the research assistant, artist, and author. 

2. Spiders Unit:

Through these seven lessons, students will be able to work on their mathematics, science, and language skills while learning about spiders. Students will also gain new vocabulary words, and create their own concept web map during the unit. 

In the first lesson, "Spiders! Scary or Nice?", students will read a book on spiders and have a short discussion about their experiences with spiders. Make sure to include where spiders are found, what they do, and why students shouldn't be afraid of them. 

3. Spooky Spiders and Wacky Webs:

This unit is provided by LessonPlansPage.com, where students will complete seven activities branching across all of the subjects. At the end of this unit, students will be able to:

• Identify a spider according to body parts
• Classify spiders according to likenesses and differences and compare to insects
• Show an understanding of different kids of spider habitats
• Understand the eating habits of spiders
• Observe and understand the potential harm of local poisonous spiders
• Observe the living organism causing no harm and return it to the natural habitat
• Draw pictures of spiders
• Make model spiders
• Follow up discussions with journal entries

4. Spiders Powerpoint:

With this free Powerpoint presentation provided by PPPST.com, teachers can educate their students all about spiders, including their types, what they eat, poisonous spiders, where they live, fun facts, and more. 

5. Parts of a Spider:

After this lesson plan, students will be able to classify spiders according to observable attributes, and explain how characteristics of a spider will help it survive in its environment. In the activity, teachers will give their students Styrofoam balls, pipe cleaners, wiggly eyes, glue, and other art supplies to make their own spiders. 

Teachers will discuss with the class what makes spiders scary and if they are scared of them or not. Then, students will be given photographs of spiders, and will be instructed to observe and sort the photographs into classifications of their choice. Students can then compare and contrast their spiders. At the end of the lesson, students can make their own spider. 

6. Spider Facts: MocoMag: In this video, students will learn fun facts about spiders through this entertaining animated short. 

Article by Kassondra Granata, EducationWorld Contributor