Instructional Video

20 Million Year Old Spider! Unweaving Spider Silk

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

Talk about a sticky situation! What is spider silk, anyway? Scholars scope out the science behind one of the world's strongest substances through a video from an intriguing science series. A leading spider scientist discusses the types of silk, examines ancient spiders trapped in amber, and tests the tensile strength of a single strand.

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CCSS: Adaptable
NGSS: Adaptable
Additional Tags
Instructional Ideas
  • Show the video to highlight an interesting adaptation or to begin a study of spiders
  • Curious about spider goats? Check them out in a quick video
Classroom Considerations
  • Brush up on protein synthesis before watching; try a fun interactive game for pupils with less experience 
  • This video is hosted on YouTube
Pros
  • Engaging from start to finish, the video is full of facts and amazing images
  • The narrator explains protein structure through diagrams and analogy, perfect for younger biologists
Cons
  • None
Common Core
NGSS