Spider Craft

This week my students and I are spending some time learning about spiders. Yesterday we learned a lot of facts, and tomorrow one of the free choice options will be this pool noodle spider art project. I like exploring with art at free choice because it gives children a chance to create on their own time. There is no wrong way to do this art. If my students just want to make pool noodle prints, that’s cool, draw spiders ( or anything they want) cool, but these tools will be out for them to use with the general idea to create some spiders. Do not miss the book suggestions after the spider craft tutorial because these spider books are too good to miss!

Spider Craft Tutorial

Gather your materials. I used some orange construction paper, black and purple paint, googly eyes, crayons, and glue to make this spider craft. Oh, and of course a pool noodle, serrated knife, and tray.

Start by cutting your pool noodle into slices. A serrated knife has been the easiest way to cut pool noodles in my experience.

Now pour some paint on the tray and pop your pool noodle slices in the paint.

Time to make prints! One of the art goals in my classroom is to think creatively, and using out-of-the-box items as art tools is one way I like to encourage this thinking.

Now it’s time for glue.

Googly eyes.

And eight legs!

If you want to keep it even simpler, skip the glue and just draw on eyes and legs.

Let dry and display where your proud artists can see their work!

Books About Spiders

I am very picky about which books I use for my circle time lessons, and I like books that are engaging but also filled with facts if it’s a subject we are learning about, like spiders. Both these books are amazing and fit my picky must-have checklist.

This post contains affiliate links.

I’m Trying to Like Spiders by Bethany Barton was a massive hit with my students. It’s packed with facts but is told from the point of view of a narrator who keeps squishing spiders! Page after page, I’d ask my students if they think the narrator should squish the spider, and they’d chant “NO!” but that darn narrator couldn’t stop themselves. I love how it teaches children all the positive things about spiders and encourages them to tell people to stop squishing them because they are important for pest control. I think this is an excellent read-aloud for ages four and up, but younger preschoolers could enjoy it one on one at home too.

Walter’s Wonderful Web by Tim Hopgood is the cutest spider book ever! It’s a sweet little story that follows a young spider named Walter who is trying to make a strong but also beautiful web, but it’s not as easy as it looks. He keeps making webs that are in amazing shapes, but they just aren’t strong enough. This book is a cute spider book that is a book about shapes. It’s such a cute spider book even your most squeamish students will love it.

Aaaarrgghh Spider! by Lydia Monks is a hilarious book that will have your students laughing out loud but also has some really awesome messaging. A spider really wants to be a family pet, but she is freaking out the family who she wants to adopt her. Hijinks ensue, and while she never becomes the beloved pet she wants to be, she and the family better understand each other in the end! This is a great book that uses humor to help kids face their fear of spiders.

LOOKING FOR MORE GREAT PRESCHOOL ACTIVITIES AT HOME? CHECK OUT MY NEW BOOK, EVERYDAY PRESCHOOL!

HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO FIND INSIDE EVERYDAY PRESCHOOL:

Over 170 simple preschool activities that use everyday materials. You don’t need to invest a lot of money to teach your child at home.
Activities are short, with minimal prep so that you can fit some learning into your busy day.
The book is organized into nine categories of learning; literacy, math, science, sensory, art, fine motor, gross motor, social-emotional, and bedtime reading tips.
Everyday Preschool activity book was created using various state standards for PreK and has tips for making activities easier or harder to fit your child.
An Appendix filled with an extensive booklist, links to free printables, song lyrics, nursery rhymes, my favorite playdough recipe, and more.