SPIDERS Lesson Plans and Activities for October and Halloween

Our SPIDER UNIT is UPDATED and I can’t wait to show you everything included!!! This unit is print and go and includes EVERYTHING you need to engage your students as they learn about spiders. The unit is organized into four categories: Science, Reading, Writing, and Math. It was mainly to help myself with planning when using this resource in my own classroom. However, many of the science plans will also fit perfectly into your reading block or vise versa!

Some of my favorite books…

Here goes… we’re starting with Science!!!

First up, a fun read aloud to get students interested! I always read I’m Trying to Love Spiders on the first day! (If you’re interested in that mini literacy unit you can find it HERE!) We also begin with a can/have/are anchor chart.

Day 2 is all about structures and functions and I ALWAYS let my students observe a spider in a jar. We either go on a spider hunt or I bring one in. A few years ago we found a MASSIVE wolf spider right by our classroom door!

Day 3 – Structures and Functions Extended… Students learn about structures and functions with a presentation and then they complete this activity. As a literacy connection we talk about the text features in the story.

Day 4 – Spider Defenses with another informational book and activity…

Days 5 & 6 covers Life Cycle and Offspring – There is another informational book/presentation and students complete a life cycle diagram with a writing activity. While this is a science lesson, we also learn about the importance of diagram. Students learn that authors use diagrams to show the parts of something.

Day 7 is all about the WEB! There is another Google Slide/PowerPoint book to learn about the different types of webs. Students use the book to draw and describe each type of web.

On day 8 we complete spider habitat observations. Students make spider hats and list spider facts on the legs. Then, we go on a web hunt around the school building. Students use their recording sheet to record the different types of webs.

This unit is MASSIVE… we’ve include many reading response sheets that can be used during your reading block. We also have book companions for Diary of a Spider and Spiders by Gail Gibbons.

This unit also includes MANY writing and research activities. I always have my students write spider paragraphs.

We also always complete spider research… I usually let my students work with partners for the research.

There are also a few math activities…. The spider glyph is our favorite!

I really enjoy science and I LOVE teaching reading! I think it’s especially fun to incorporate science content into my daily reading plans while still teaching reading skills, strategies, and the standards. If you’re interested in this spider unit you can find it HERE!!!

If you’d like to try it out…. grab the SPIDER DEFENSES FREEBIE HERE.

Have the best day!!!

-Hollie