Handout
University of Michigan

University of Michigan Critter Catalog: Arachnids

For Students 9th - 10th
This informative site provides a general description of arachnids and then focuses on arachnids native to southeastern Michigan. Pictures and classification groupings are included.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Life Science: Arachnids

For Students 6th - 8th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Arachnids are a class of joint-legged invertebrates in the subphylum Chelicerata. They live mainly on land but are also found in freshwater and in all marine...
eBook
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Life Science: 9.13 Arachnids

For Students 9th - 10th
Understand the behaviors, characteristics, and classification of arachnids.
Handout
Other

Tarantula's Burrow: British Spiders What Is a Spider?

For Students 9th - 10th
A list of characteristics that a creature must satisfy to be considered a spider, as well as a list with pictures and descriptions of spiders commonly found in the UK.
Website
Other

Tarantula's Burrow: British Spiders What Is a Spider?

For Students 9th - 10th
A list of characteristics that a creature must satisfy to be considered a spider, as well as a list with pictures and descriptions of spiders commonly found in the UK.
Activity
Songs for Teaching

Songs for Teaching: Arachnids

For Students Pre-K - 1st
At this site from Songs for Teaching, Dennis Westphall sings a great song that tells the characteristics of a spider. It even points out traits of specific spiders such as the black widow.
Handout
Sheppard Software

Sheppard Software: Daddy Long Legs

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out the difference between harvestmen and spiders in the arachnid family. Read about the diet, characteristics, and status as an endangered species.
Handout
University of California

Ucmp: Scorpion Evolution

For Students 9th - 10th
A site from the University of California-Berkeley that details the process by which scorpions have evolved. Includes identifying characteristics of modern-day scorpions.
Handout
Other

Natural Perspective: Joint Legs (Arthropoda)

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief description of arthropoda and their population on the earth today. Som pictures of examples of the different classes of arthropods. (Includes insects, arachnids, crustacians, and malacostraca.)
Article
Curated OER

Kids Health: Hey! A Scorpion Bit Me

For Students 3rd - 5th
This site is provided for by Kids Health. Scorpions are nocturnal, which means they sleep mostly during the day and are active at night. Read about characteristics of scorpions, where they live, and what to do if you are stung by one.
Handout
PBS

Pbs Nature: Spider

For Students Pre-K - 1st
There are about 35,000 known species of spiders in the world and this research resource site surveys these animals in text and images.
Handout
University of Kentucky

University of Kentucky: Brown Recluse Spider

For Students 9th - 10th
Webpage reference on the brown recluse spider which is more poisonous than a black widow and is more often found infesting homes and businesses.
Handout
BiologyWise

Biology Wise: A Detailed Description of the Anatomy of Spiders

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes anatomical features of a spider, including its external structure, eyes, mouth parts, digestive system, circulatory system, respiratory system, nervous system, reproductive system, and its spinnerets.
Handout
Regents of the University of Michigan

Animal Diversity Web: Phylum Arthropoda

For Students 9th - 10th
This general overview of the arthropod phylum, which includes insects and arachnids, looks at such topics as body symmetry, appendages, movement, respiratory and nervous systems, and reproduction.
Handout
Canadian Museum of Nature

Canadian Museum of Nature: Natural History Notebooks

For Students Pre-K - 1st
This site from the Canadian Museum of Nature, a natural history museum, provides short information blurbs and fun facts on over 240 different common animals categorized by type (mammals, fish, reptiles, invertebrates, amphibians,...
Activity
Burke Museum

Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture: The Spider Myths Site

For Students 9th - 10th
Are spiders insects? Do you really swallow spiders while you're sleeping? Myths and questions related to spiders are addressed on this site. Links to additional information can also be found here.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Life Science: Importance of Arthropods

For Students 6th - 8th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Arthropods might seem a little scary, but they are actually performing important roles in the environment. Arthropods are important to the ecosystem and to humans in...
Lesson Plan
HotChalk

Hot Chalk: Lesson Plans Page: Spooky Spiders

For Teachers K - 1st
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.