Spiders, members of the
arachnid class, can evoke both awe and fear. There is a reason that movies such as
Arachnophobia are created – people relate to that fear of spiders. Had the producer tried to pitch
Lepidoptera phobia (fear of butterflies and moths), I doubt it would have gone very far. The closest I can think of is
Mothra, the low-budget sci-fi movie from 1961featuring a giant moth.
For the past week, an industrious spider has maintained an
elaborate orb web right outside our front door. My son first noticed it one morning
as the web seemed to be floating in midair, easily visible with droplets of dew. As expected, he had a mixed reaction to seeing the spider - he did not want to get to close to it, but watched in amazement as it gingerly walked up and down the web. Seeing it outside was certainly preferable to finding one in the bathtub, which has also occurred recently.
Some studies suggest that you are never more than ten feet away from one, so whether you want to see spiders or want to avoid them, they are always nearby! Maybe that reminds you of some of your neighbors.
If you want to know more about spiders to demystify them, here are two
suggestions. For intermediate students,
Sandra Markle’s Sneaky, spinning baby spiders (2008) vividly depicts many aspects of these incredible arthropods. This book has been recognized as an NSTA/CBC
Outstanding Science Trade Book and has earned other awards as well. Segments
entitled “Starting life in an egg” and “Mom on guard” describe the life cycle
of spiders, supported by large, up-close photos of various species. The end pages
include a habitat map for each spider species depicted in the text, a “Be nice
to spiders” segment that provides an overview of their importance in the
ecosystem, and a combined glossary/index. Markle also includes a brief endnote
about her inspiration for writing the book.
For younger students, it’s certainly easy to find books
about the butterfly’s life cycle. Perhaps that’s
because of its interesting stages and beautiful adult species. While many of us are
familiar with Charlotte’s egg sack gallantly protected by Wilbur in E.B. White's
Charlotte's web, there are limited options for informational texts about arachnid life cycles. One choice is
Up, up, and away by
Ginger Wadsworth
(2009).
Also recognized by NSTA/CBC as an
Outstanding Science Trade Book, this book depicts a spider’s life cycle with
simple text appropriate for primary students. The life cycle of a spider is described through the four seasons, beginning with a spider forming an egg sack in the fall. Predatory/prey relationships are incorporated as the spiders encounter lizards, snakes, and birds. The illustrations are more
accurate than cartoon depictions, but are not quite technical reproductions. An endnote entitled "The spin on garden spiders" describes the species from the book (
Argiope aurantia) in greater detail.
As a final note, you can participate in a citizen scientist
documentation of wildlife in your area, including spiders, through
Project Noah. Supported by National Geographic, this site contains photographs of local organisms taken by students and others who are interested in documenting plants and animals in their environment. Strategies to help teachers incorporate science investigations in schoolyards and
backyards can be found under the
Education link.
The more students know about spiders, the more likely they will be to recognize their importance in the ecosystem. As stated so beautifully by
Marie Curie: "Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less."
