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Artsy Tarantula

Though tarantulas might evoke fear, they are actually not so dangerous to humans. Students will learn about these large spiders and create a fanciful sculpture of one.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Chenille Sticks
  • Paper

Steps

  • Step 1

    People often shudder at the thought of tarantulas. These spiders are often used to evoke fear in horror movies such as "Eight-Legged Freaks" or "Arachnophobia." Actually, tarantulas are fairly harmless to humans and are misunderstood. Have students research tarantulas and learn some interesting facts about them. For example, their venom, which has a low toxicity (similar to that of a bee sting), has been shown to have healing properties and can help control chronic pain. And though they spin elaborate webs, they don't use these webs to catch prey as other spiders do. Rather, they serve as insulation and cushioning for their home burrow.

  • Step 2

    Ask students to create a unique and artsy version of a tarantula. They can cut circles out of paper to serve as the body and head, and they can use chenille sticks to make the legs. 

  • Step 3

    When their art is complete, have students present it to the class and talk about some of the amazing facts they learned about this eight-legged creature.

Standards

SCI: Ask questions about the features of phenomena observed and conclusions drawn from investigations or models. 

SCI: Describe what living organisms have in common (eating, breathing, growing, and reproducing) and distinguish them from non-living things. 

Adaptations

The tarantella is a traditional Italian folk dance that was believed to cure the bite of a tarantula. Have students watch video clips of this lively dance that is accompanied by music in an upbeat tempo. Have them also listen to examples of tarantella music, such as the last movement of Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony.

Have students research other types of spiders and note how they compare to and differ from tarantulas.