The Spider Makes a Web
on Goodreads (9)
What’s inside...
Traces the life cycle of a shamrock spider who spins her web under a blackberry bush. The book provides detailed insights into the spider's life, including how it creates its web, catches prey, and survives in its natural habitat. Detailed illustrations underscore the combination of form and function that characterizes the spider web, revealing each phase of its construction and emphasizing how the web shelters, defends, and nourishes.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
0-2
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think the spider enjoys most about making a web?
How do you think the spider feels when its web is complete?
Why is the web important for the spider?
Can you think of something you like to create? How does it make you feel?
What did you learn about spiders and webs from this book?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive tones when discussing the spider's actions to make the conversation more lively and engaging.
Relate the spider’s web-making to your child’s own experiences of creating or building something.
Encourage your child to imagine and describe what it would be like to be a spider crafting a web.
Ask your child to draw their version of the spider’s web after reading the story to foster creative expression.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Perseverance and patience
Explanation: The story shows the spider meticulously weaving its web, emphasizing the careful effort and time it takes to create something beautiful and functional.
Real-World Application: Children learn the value of sticking with a task even if it is difficult or time-consuming, teaching them that dedication can lead to rewarding outcomes.
Example Lesson: Importance of hard work
Explanation: The spider's consistent effort in spinning its web represents the importance of putting in hard work to achieve goals.
Real-World Application: Kids can relate this to doing their homework or practicing a sport, understanding that consistent effort is crucial to success.
Example Lesson: Creativity and problem-solving
Explanation: The story displays the spider facing challenges while making the web and finding creative solutions to overcome them.
Real-World Application: This can encourage children to think creatively when they face obstacles, understanding that there can be innovative ways to solve problems.
Example Lesson: Appreciation for nature and small creatures
Explanation: Through detailed descriptions and illustrations of the spider and its web, the book encourages a sense of wonder and appreciation for even the smallest creatures in nature.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to observe and respect all forms of life around them, fostering a lifelong appreciation for nature.
Example Lesson: Resilience in adversity
Explanation: The web sometimes gets damaged, yet the spider begins the task of repair or rebuilding without delay, exemplifying resilience.
Real-World Application: This teaches children that setbacks are a natural part of life, and that bouncing back is possible and important.