Activity

Spider web shapes

Summary
Make different spider web shapes with elastic bands and discover the different ways that spiders catch prey.
Science content
Biology: Features, Adaptations of Living Things (K, 1, 3, 7)
Materials
  • math geoboards or wooden boards about 20cm x 20cm with finishing nails banged in, spaced about 1cm apart
  • elastic bands of different lengths
  • images of different kinds of spider webs - see attachment
Procedure

Spiders make many different web shapes:
The orb web has sticky threads, catching insects that fly into it (top left in the spider web image and attachment).
A net-casting spider dangles a tiny web from its legs. It drops the net onto passing insects top right in the spider web image and attachment).
Sheet webs have dense mats of fine threads. Insects get trapped in them (bottom left in image and attachment).
The angling spider makes a line of thread with a sticky drop on the end. It swings the silk line to catch insects, then pulls them in (bottom right in image and attachment).

Loop the elastic bands over the nails to build spider webs.
Make the same shapes as a real spider web, or design your own.

Attached documents
Grades taught
Gr K
Gr 1
Gr 2
Gr 3
Gr 4
Gr 5
Gr 6
Gr 7