Spiders! Engaging Activities, Projects, Oreo Spiders and Teaching Resources for Your Classroom

 

Halloween season is a fantastic time to infuse some excitement and creativity into your elementary classroom. Engaging educational activities, along with fun and spooky projects, can make this time of year a memorable experience for your students. In this blog post, I'll share  a few favorite resources and ideas to help you create an unforgettable spider-themed learning environment for your class.

Learning Activities:

One of the best ways to integrate Halloween fun into your lessons is by incorporating thematic reading passages. A "Spiders Close Reading Passage" is a great resource to explore the world of these fascinating arachnids. It's not only fun but also educational!

 This resource includes:

• A close reading informational passage about spiders
• Comprehension and Text Dependent questions
• Spider vocabulary and facts
• Written response prompts
• A culminating drawing activity
• Scoring rubric

Here's how you can use it:

• Start by reading the passage together as a class.
• Encourage students to use close read annotation symbols to mark key information and unfamiliar words.
• Discuss the comprehension questions to check understanding.
• Work on vocabulary activities to expand their word knowledge.
• Finally, have your students write a response to the provided prompts.

Spider Web Projects:

This is a great project students just LOVE to make because it involves glitter. When the glue dries it makes a sparkly bulletin board display. 

Here's what you'll need:

Materials:

• Black construction paper
• White glue
• Silver, purple or clear glitter
• Plastic spider rings
• A pencil or white crayon
• Scissors

Instructions:

1. Have your students or a volunteer draw connecting lines in white crayon to make a spider web pattern.
2. They can use craft sticks or the tip of the bottle to trace the pattern on the paper using white glue.
3. While the glue is still wet, sprinkle glitter over it to create a sparkly spider web effect.
4. Allow the glue to dry, and you'll have a beautiful, spooky spider web!

**As a bonus, you can attach plastic spider rings to the webs to add an extra spooky touch. Just cut off the ring so the spider lies flat.

Oreo Spiders:

Halloween isn't complete without some delicious, spooky treats! Here's how you can make Oreo spiders with your students:

Ingredients:

• Oreo cookies
• Pretzel sticks or Chinese noodles
• Sunflower seeds
• Small candy sprinkles
• Licorice string (for the legs)
• Frosting (as "glue")

Instructions:

1. Carefully twist apart an Oreo cookie.
2. Attach four licorice strings through the center to create eight legs.
3. Place the other half of the Oreo cookie on top.
4. Dab frosting on two mini chocolate chips and attach them as the spider's eyes or make it realistic by adding more candy sprinkles.
5. Add sunflower seed out the back to represent spinnerets.

This hands-on activity is a fun way to work on following directions, fine motor skills, and cooperation as students create their own edible spiders.

For a free printable script to use as a lesson as your students build their edible spider, you can download one at Creative Lesson Cafe at TPT.

Conclusion:

Whether you're working on a spider-themed reading lesson, creating glittery spider webs, or crafting delicious Oreo spiders, your students are sure to have a creepy good time while learning and celebrating Halloween themes in October.

Do you have any other spider activities or resources you'd like to share? Feel free to leave a comment and let's make this Halloween season in the classroom truly unforgettable!

Happy teaching!