Spiders

This unit was a lot of fun.  The students did three part cards during our work cycle on spiders to familiarize themselves with the parts of a spider and the differences between spiders and insects.  They participated in lessons such as categorizing spider based phrases into what spiders "do", "have", and "are".  We also read a few fables from different cultures about the spider and why it has two parts to it's body.  

At the ned of our unit we created a life cycle.  The students were asked to choose a piece of paper and cut out a circle.  They were then given all of the items necessary to create the life cycle and told to put it in order.  I gave them a few minutes to work independently.  They did great!  

 We then glued them to the circle and they labeled each step.

 This was soooo fun!!  My students are still talking about this next activity.
 Each student sat in a circle on the ground.  I handed one student a ball of yarn.  They were to say a fact they learned about spiders and then toss the yarn to another student to say a fact, while still holding a pinch of the yarn.  As they continued they noticed it was making a web.

                                      
We then discussed how spiders may have many eyes but they still have very poor eyesight.  We talked about what we learned in regards to how they know an insect has landed on their web....... THE VIBRATIONS!!  They got it!!

I then had them close their eyes as I threw plastic insects into the web.  If they felt a vibration they needed to raise their hand.  They had a lot of fun and a lot of giggles with this activity.  See all those bugs in that web?