Curated OER
Insect or Spider?
Students compare and contrast the difference between insects and spiders. After a brief class discussion, students complete an activity matching the body parts of an insect and the body parts of a spider. Worksheet with answer key is...
Curated OER
Be an Artist: Backswimmer
In this science worksheet, 3rd graders will use visual clues in a grid to complete an exact image replica. Following the original line segments in each box, students will create the image of a backswimmer.
Curated OER
Let's Talk About Spiders And Bugs!
Second graders study the differences between spiders and insects. They observe four different specimens in the classroom.
Science Friday
Ugh, a Bug!
Young entomologists familiarize themselves with the physical characteristics of insects. Composed of two activities, each lesson involves your scientists tapping into their prior knowledge of bugs and making observations of real live...
University of Connecticut
More Than Just Dust Bunnies
Teenagers will never complain about cleaning their rooms after this activity. In the first instructional activity of a four-part series, budding scientists collect samples of dust, chalk, and other particulates from various areas of...
Curated OER
Number and Operations: Webbing Our Way Through Numbers
Second graders explore estimation and place value. In this place value lesson, 2nd graders estimate and construct numbers while working with spider activities. Students use addition and subtraction to compare estimates. Resources and...
Curated OER
Super-sized Accordion Pleat Spider
Middle schoolers create a super-sized creature in the round. They use the novel Charlotte's Web as a bounce off board to their creations. Students read the novel and brainstorm ideas with each other.
Curated OER
Create An Insect
Students create a new species of insect. They create a list of insect characteristics and use this as a springboard to draw an insect of their own. Students write a brief descriptive paragraphs about their insect, giving particular...
Desert Discoveries
Amazing Arthropods
Arthropods are the stars of a fine science lesson plan. Learners look at the diversity, characteristics, adaptations, and important roles that these insects play in the Sonoran Desert environment. A terrific document called "Amazing...
Curated OER
Hypothesis
Students study how to write several hypothesis. For this hypothesis lesson students divide into groups and complete several hypothesis.
Curated OER
The Listening Walk
Students play instruments that reflect sounds in the story: hoots, toots, creaking, shrieks, clacking, crunching, whooshing, etc. They make vocal sounds from the story: whispered, sniffled, sigh, giggled, croaked, laughed. The...
Curated OER
Bug Hunt
Students study the characteristics of an insect and use their newly discovered knowledge to invent their own insect. They go on a class bug hunt, using the tools and supplies that biologists use when they go out in the field.
Curated OER
The Hidden World
Students examine dust mites and other allergens. In this dust activity students complete a lab activity on dust mites.
Other
Harry's Big Adventure: Lesson Plans: Spider and Insect Detectives
Lesson plans that include group activities and handouts to introduce students to the differences between spiders and insects.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Scientific American: Spiders! Spider Canyon
Investigate funnel-web spiders and their ability to adapt in order to survive. Make a set of spider trading cards that will include information about a spider's behavior, habitat and adaptations.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Scientific American: Spiders! Amazon Tales
Explore several spider species and learn about their adaptations to the world around them. Design a new species of spider, with adaptations required to survive in a particular habitat.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Scientific American: Spider Web Making Stratagems
Investigate spiders in Panama that use UV-reflecting silk in their webs to attract their prey. Build a device that traps flying insects, experimenting with different light sources to choose the best lure.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Scientific American: Spiders! Spin, Spin, Spin
Investigate the use of computers to simulate spider behaviors to learn more about how and why spiders build webs. Build a model of a web to compare your eyesight and dexterity to a spider's, then compare the elasticity and strength of...
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Scientific American: Spiders! Song and Dance
Explore the diversity and prevalence of spiders around the world, and learn about jumping spiders, hunters that stalk their prey and pounce from a distance. Research the types and population density of spiders that live around you.
HotChalk
Hot Chalk: Lesson Plans Page: Spooky Spiders
This simple lesson plan is designed to introduce young young scholars to the characteristics of a spider and to classify whether a spider is an insect or an arachnid by analyzing its characteristics.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Scientific American: Calls of the Wild: Spider Sounds
Explore the communication rituals of insects and other arachnids by constructing a device capable of detecting minuscule impacts of cricket feet.