Spiders and Their Webs
Animal homes Series
on Goodreads (13)
What’s inside...
This series of colorful, easy-to-read books focuses on the homes of various animals, including those made from grass and twigs and burrows in the soil. It features simple text and photographs that specifically describe rabbits and the burrows they inhabit. Additional resources include a solar system diagram, a note to parents and teachers, and FactHound Internet sites for further exploration.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-5
Length
24 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What did you find most fascinating about how spiders create their webs?
Can you think of any ways spiders and their webs help other animals or the environment?
If you were a spider, what kind of web would you build, and why?
How do you think the world would be different if there were no spiders?
Tip: Role play these questions
Before reading, ask your child what they already know about spiders and webs to activate their prior knowledge.
While reading, pause to admire the illustrations and ask your child to describe what they see.
Relate the spider's web-building to activities your child enjoys, such as drawing or building, to create a personal connection.
Encourage your child to express their feelings about spiders—whether fascination or fear—and discuss those feelings openly.
After reading, engage in a creative activity like drawing a spider web together, discussing the shapes and patterns in the book.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding Nature's Ecosystems
Explanation: Through detailed descriptions of various spiders and their web-building techniques, the book educates children on the role spiders play in the ecosystem and how they contribute to controlling insect populations.
Real-World Application: Children learn to appreciate the balance of nature and understand the importance of every creature in maintaining the ecological equilibrium.
Example Lesson: Patience and Perseverance
Explanation: The book demonstrates how spiders meticulously weave their webs, which teaches the values of patience and perseverance through the spider's dedication to completing its web.
Real-World Application: Kids can apply the lesson of perseverance in their personal goals and activities, understanding that dedication and patience can lead to beautiful results.
Example Lesson: Overcoming Fear
Explanation: By providing factual information about spiders, the book helps to demystify these often-feared creatures, showing their importance rather than portraying them as frightening.
Real-World Application: This can help children approach other aspects of life with curiosity and courage, reducing fear and promoting understanding.
Example Lesson: Observation Skills
Explanation: The book encourages detailed observation of spiders' diverse web patterns and behaviors, suggesting activities like watching spiders at work.
Real-World Application: This enhances children's observational skills and encourages them to discover and engage more deeply with the natural world around them.