Spider Time!!

Warning: this post has lots of pictures...lots. You've been warned; hehe.

Last week we kicked off our spider unit!  It was a hit from the get go.  I don't know what it is about these creepy, crawly, hairy little creatures that fascinate kids so much.  I don't question it, I just roll with it!

We kicked off our unit by creating this graph.  As you can see, the majority of the kids like spiders!  I gave each student a piece of black construction paper that I cut into 3 x 3 inch squares (I may want to make them a smidge smaller next time).  They used a white crayon to write the word "yes" or "no" and then I let them come up to the board and glue their card on the chart.



Then, we made these fun spider hats.  If you've been reading this blog for a while, then you know that I love making hats. Thankfully, so do the kids!  I tried to convince them to keep the hats at school for the duration of the unit, but they weren't having it and voted to take them home that night. I love how some got creative with the legs.  So cute!



On day two, I read a book about spiders and then we started this anchor chart recording spider related nouns, verbs, and adjectives.  Of course, some of the words they suggested weren't from the text (scary, creepy, etc).

In case you're wondering, the weird looking blocked out section in the adjective column is blocking the word predator.  As we were brainstorming, I didn't catch that mishap fast enough.  Oops! We've also continued to add words to this chart.

Next up, we read/completed this interactive mini book about spiders.  It's a fairly challenging little book, so we completed it whole group so that I could guide them through each page.  They enjoyed drawing a spider diagram, creating an illustration with a caption, comparing and contrasting spiders and insects, and more.  I had the students refer back to the text repeatedly (still trying to drive home this important skill).


This week we continued learning about our lovely little arachnids.  On Monday and Tuesday, we gathered information about spiders, as a whole group.  First, I read a book and then lead the students in a brainstorming session where they shared facts that they recalled from the text.  During this process, I like to model the process of going back to the text to confirm that we are recalling the facts accurately (I don't do this for every fact during the brainstorm, just a few).


I record the facts on an anchor charts (sorry, I only managed to get a picture of one of them), and then I task the kids with using that information to complete a graphic organizer (see below). We ended up making one anchor chart each day.  All of this fact gathering is done to equip them with the knowledge they need to write an informative paragraph about spiders. 

I had the students use the "notes" from our fact charts and turn them into complete sentences with this activity.  So, not only did we participate in shared information gathering, but we practiced writing complete sentences using those facts.


Once we have gathered just about every spider fact imaginable, the students set out to write an informative piece about spiders.  Below is a picture of the prewriting organizer I decided to have them use for this assignment.  They will write their paragraphs tomorrow using spider themed writing paper.


We also spent some time sorting through various statements about spiders and determining whether the statement was true or false.  I always love sorts like this because they challenge the students to think in a different way.  Evaluating is a tough skill, but oh so necessary!


I have a few more activities planned for the next two days. First, we will practice using a number line to add and subtract. These little plastic spider rings are the perfect prop for this activity!  I cut the ring part off and the kids will use them to hop up and down the number line as they solve various addition and subtraction problems.  I realize that the spider prop is sheer novelty, but let's be honest, they need that sometimes!


Finally, we will wrap up our unit by playing my all time favorite game: Scoot!  As the students scoot from desk to desk, they will determine whether the statement written on the card at each desk is a fact or an opinion.  They love this game so, I already know that it will be a hit!  At the end of any Scoot game, I go over all the answers with students.


I'm sad to see our spider unit come to a close, but all good things must come to an end. 

These activities (and more) are from my Spiders! unit, which is available on TpT. (Note: the anchor charts and number line activity are not included).

Toodles!
Share It:

32 comments:

  1. I follow your blog :) LOVE the anchor charts.
    tania
    My Second Sense

    ReplyDelete
  2. Aimee could you not be anymore AMAZING!!! I LOVE this and I LOVE LOVE LOVE that you posted lots of pictures. This teacher is definitely a visual learner. :) Thanks for sharing! :)

    ((HUGS))
    Tiffany

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such fun!!! Getting ready to do spiders in a week!!! I follow your blog via IG! My email is hmyers4457@live.com

    Thanks for sharing!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Looks amazing!!! Starting spiders in a week!!! I follow you through IG! My email is hmyers4457@live.com

    Thanks for sharing!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow!! I'm an IG follower, now blog follower!!! This is fantastic!!

    I'm a first year teacher and it can be overwhelming building your 'teacher toolkit'. We started Charlotte's Web this week and starting a spider unit in a couple of weeks- this is perfect! I can't think of anything that would coinside more appropriately than this unit! (Not to mention we just finished up our addition unit and started the subtraction unit this week as well, even though the number line activity isn't included.)

    Thanks for this opportunity! At the very least, super excited to add your blog to my teacher inspiration blog list!! WOO! Thanks Aimee!

    mrs.kchristiansen@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow!! I'm an IG follower, now blog follower!!! This is fantastic!!

    I'm a first year teacher and it can be overwhelming building your 'teacher toolkit'. We started Charlotte's Web this week and starting a spider unit in a couple of weeks- this is perfect! I can't think of anything that would coinside more appropriately than this unit! (Not to mention we just finished up our addition unit and started the subtraction unit this week as well, even though the number line activity isn't included.)

    Thanks for this opportunity! At the very least, super excited to add your blog to my teacher inspiration blog list!! WOO! Thanks Aimee!

    mrs.kchristiansen@gmail.com
    (although this blogger Google account is under a different address of brekkendra@gmail.com)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love your blog! I follow you on Blog Lovin, but also have you bookmarked! Loved all the spider pictures. I like your graphic organizer for writing. We just started studying spiders. Thanks for all of the pictures!!

    Christa
    sweetlifeofsecondgrade

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oops forgot my email address: smiley@sbcglobal.net

    Christa
    sweetlifeofsecondgrade

    ReplyDelete
  9. The activities in this unit look fabulous! I love the 8 eyes on the spider hats! Too cute! I am going to have to try Scoot with my kids. I think they will love it.
    -Jaime
    Bright Concepts 4 Teachers

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a great unit!! I'm a BlogLovin follower :)
    rrm444@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. We are getting ready to investigate spiders, too. I love your graphic organizers...so cute AND useful. My fingers are crossed so tightly they might fall off!!

    tokyoshoes at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I started following you on Instagram this summer, I traced you back to a pic of gold born flats! Ha! I love your ideas and this spider unit is adorable!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Forgot my email. Smteach08@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love this! My first graders would enjoy :) neillkk@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I LOVE this! My first graders would enjoy so much! I follow via BlogLovin'
    neillkk@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I follow your blog through email. I L.O.V.E. your blog....so many wonderful ideas! Your spider unit is so cute. Fingers are crossed for this one!
    Michelle
    mjaquillard@oregoncs.org

    ReplyDelete
  17. I follow your blog through email. I L.O.V.E. your blog...so many wonderful ideas! Your spider unit is very cute! Fingers are crossed for this one!
    Michelle
    mjaquillard@oregoncs.org

    ReplyDelete
  18. Love these activities! I follow through Bloglovin'. :)
    davis.ashleyb@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Love these activities! I follow through Bloglovin'. :)

    davis.ashleyb@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Love this unit! I follow by email.

    Cindy (cindy.calenti@comcast.net)
    Granny Goes to School

    ReplyDelete
  21. I follow you on Google and you are on my blog roll:)
    theresourcefulapple@gmail.com

    Tammy
    The Resourceful Apple

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'd love to win, thanks for sharing!
    Sheri

    sherii at cfl dot rr dot com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Opps... I follow you by email :)
    Sheri
    sherii at cfl dot rr dot com

    ReplyDelete
  24. I follow your blog and love that you post pictures for me to see your activities. I love your charts and have put this spider unit on my wish list. I love teaching science and this would be perfect.
    THYordan@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. I follow you on TPT, e-mail. google friend and Blog lovin :-) I could soooo use this!!! Thanks for the chance to win :-)
    Karen
    tommysmom0206@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. I follow your blog through Blog Lovin'. You have great ideas! :)
    Donna
    donna@vccubed.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. This is great and everything I LOVE to do! It integrates math, science, reading & writing. The kids are always engaged when learning this way and the creepier the topic the better! I would LOVE this unit. I follow by email and Bloglovin. jimkar1088@comcast.net Have a great Friday.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hi - this is everything I LOVE - it integrates math, science, reading and writing. The kids are always engaged when learning this way and the creepier the topic the better!! I follow by email and Bloglovin' and email. jimkar1088@comcast.net. I would LOVE this unit! Have a great Friday!

    ReplyDelete
  29. I follow on bloglovin. Stephb38429@gmail.com. I do a spider unit every year too, I love it! This would be a great addition!

    ReplyDelete
  30. We are doing spiders next week. I need this unit!!!
    whitakertd@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  31. I follow by Google Friend and email.
    lraines78@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. Please note that this opportunity closed on 10-10-2013 at 9:00 p.m. Thank you to all of you who participated within that time frame.

    ReplyDelete

I'd love to hear what you have to say!