There Are Two Main Characters in This Story: the Boy and the Spider. Each Showed Admirable

Dream Weaver

By

Jonathan London

There are two main characters in this story: the boy and the spider. Each showed admirable character traits.

The boy modeled respect for the environment as he walked carefully along the path, and with his fascination for the spider and his care in not disturbing the web. He is kind as he reassures the little spider not to be afraid and as he places the spider back in his web after the hiker wrecks it.

The spider is courageous as the wind blows the web. After the hiker wrecks her web, she is patient as she waits to things to settle down and then she shows initiative, motivation, flexibility, perseverance, and flexibility as she works to reweave the web.

Activity website: http://www.arachnology.org/Arachnology/Pages/Kids.html

Activity:

Spiders are readily available, small, and easy to maintain. Spiders are common, but few people stop to observe their beauty or watch their behavior. The activities suggested here provide guidelines for both, as well as some suggestions as to how spider behavior might be used as a context for discussions of diversity, speciation, behavioral patterns, and evolution.

Prior to beginning this activity, collect small plastic containers for spider collection, and larger plastic and glass containers for long term maintenance. Save nylon "knee highs" or pantyhose for covering tops of jars. Damp cotton balls or wadded paper serve as a water reservoir. Squeeze excess water from the cotton and put the cotton into an inverted lid or tape it to the wall of the terrarium.

SPIDER AND STUDENT HEALTH AND SAFETY: All spiders are predators which inject a venom into their prey. This venom contains digestive enzymes which allow the spider to suck the digested prey. Some spiders have venom harmful to humans; however, most produce venom harmful only to their natural prey. During this project, you are to treat all spiders as if they are capable of biting and to avoid situations where this might happen. All suspected spider bites are to be reported to your teacher immediately. If at all possible, you are to save the spider responsible for the bite and take it to your teacher. (Knowing the kind of spider will help experts to determine the appropriate treatment, in case treatment is required.)

Spiders kept more than 12 hours need water, and those kept more than two or three days should be fed. (See details below.) Too much moisture in the spider enclosure is dangerous to the health of spiders because high humidity may lead to fungal growth which clogs the respiratory structures of the spider.

COLLECTION AND RELEASE: Collection vessels can be small covered plastic containers such as pill bottles, transparent film canisters or plastic storage boxes. Students should record the location from which the spider was collected. And, upon completion of these activities, the spiders should be released in the place from which they were collected.

WATER: Spiders kept 12 hours or more should be given water. In nature, spiders usually get their water in very small doses from the surfaces around them. Depending upon the size of the container, you should provide water on a damp (not dripping wet) paper towel or on moistened cotton in an inverted lid.

FOOD: A spider will usually eat any creature smaller than or equal to its own body size. (Size is body size not including spread of legs.) Small crickets, flies, and wax worms all make good spider food. Most spiders will do well if they are fed once a week.

HOUSING: Quart jars, plastic shoe boxes or small aquaria work well as long term homes for spiders. Remember, spiders are predators, so you need a separate container for each spider. Jars should be covered with part of a knee-high or pantyhose held on by a rubber band. Do not use metal lids with holes in them to cover your spider container.

Ground dwelling spiders need to have soil or leaf litter, and bush or tree dwellers will need twigs or other rigid material from which to hang a web.

OBSERVATION VESSELS: Food storage containers covered with plastic wrap work well for individual observations.

Have students observe the spiders with magnifying classes. Have them list the character traits and behavior they feel the spiders exhibit.