SPIDER ACTIVITIES

The following is a list of activities that could be used with a unit of study on spiders.

1. Make a list of ten different types of spiders and write down at least one interesting fact about each.
2. Find a spider web. Preserve the web by spraying it on both sides with either white or black enamel. (Don't get too close or it might break!) Next, carefully mount it on a contrasting color of construction paper, trying to touch all parts of the web to the paper at the same time. Cut the web guy lines with scissors to free it. Lay it flat to dry and spray it with a clear plastic in order to preserve it.
3. Make Fuzzy the Spider using these directions or create your own spider model . Cut four black pipe cleaners about six inches in length. Push a pipe cleaner halfway through each hole of a large four-hole button. Bend and shape the pipe cleaners to look like legs. Make the spider's head and body section from black paper. Glue it to the top of the button. Cut eyes from white paper (or use wiggly craft eyes) and glue them onto the spider's head.
4. Write a report on a spider.
5. Draw and color a picture of a spider. Identify the kind of spider and label its parts.
6. Take a spider discovery walk. Keep a journal of where you went and what you saw. Students may wish to include photographs or drawings of the spiders they see.
7. Write a spider story using one of the following story starters (or choose your own): If I had a pet spider I would .....; As I rang Grandma's doorbell, the biggest spider I ever saw opened the door and said.....; I crawled into bed and awoke in a spider's web. The story should include factual information about spiders. Students may also illustrate their stories.

In my classroom, students must choose at least three of these activites and are evaluated using the following criteria. Students can earn up to three total points for each project.

• Spider List
  • 3 points - Includes 10 or more spiders and accurate information about each one
  • 2 points - Includes at least 10 spiders but does not include information on all spiders listed
  • 1 point - Includes at least 10 spiders but not all information is accurate
• Spider Web
  • 3 points - Preserved using a plastic spray
  • 2 points - Web is preserved and covered with plastic
  • 1 point - Web is not preserved
• Spider Model
  • 3 points - Done neatly and accurately shows the body parts of a spider
  • 2 points - Accurately shows the body parts of a spider but little care has been taken in constructing the model
  • 1 point - The model does not accurately show body parts of a spider
• Spider Report
  • 3 points - Information is accurate and well organized
  • 2 points - Information is accurate but not well organized
  • 1 point - Information is not accurate or organized
• Spider Picture
  • 3 points - Neatly drawn and colored; body parts correctly labeled as well as what kind of spider it is
  • 2 points - Neatly drawn and colored; only the kind of spider labeled or only body parts labeled
  • 1 point - Picture is not neat in appearance; body parts not correctly labeled; kind of spider identified incorrectly
• Spider Discovery Walk
  • 3 points - Neatly written and gives a detailed description of what was observed
  • 2 points - Neatly written but description of what was observed lacks detail
  • 1 point - Poorly written and lacks a description of what was observed
• Spider Story
  • 3 points - Neatly written, well organized and contains factual information
  • 2 points - Neatly written and well organized but lacks factual content
  • 1 point - Poorly written and lacks organization and factual content

Exceeds = 10 or more points
Meets = 7 to 9 points
Does Not Meet = 0 to 6 points

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