2010 Nominee: Spiders
Facts and close up photography describe various spiders all around the world, their ecosystems and behavior patterns such as mating, eating, and reproducing.

Author/Photographer: Nic Bishop

• Biography and photo

Book Activities

• Discussion questions: How do you feel when you see the close up pictures of spiders? How did Nic Bishop get so interested in Spiders?  Did he ever get sick of  studying or taking photos of spiders? After an experience of living with all the different spiders that he did, would he do it again?
  
• Reading/oral language: Read the book aloud or individually then have a class discussion about it.
  
• Writing: Write about a time when someone you know was afraid of a spider. Re-write the story from the point of view of the spider.
  
• Math: Learn different statistics and numbers that involve spiders such as how far some jumping spiders can jump, largest, smallest, etc.
  
• Science: Differentiate between insects and spiders using a Venn diagram. Gather nonfiction books about spiders and have each student research spiders. Learn about poisonous spiders in your area.
  
• Social Studies: Use the Anansi stories from Africa to introduce folktales and trickster tales.
• Cooking/Snack: Make an edible spider. (below)
  
• Art/Drama: Draw a spider and or its web with detail. Use glue and glitter like in Aaaarrgh! Spider! Draw thumbprint spiders.
  
• Music/Movement:  Walk like spiders on all fours. Learn how spiders attract their mates with dancing. Sing the itsy bitsy spider song.
  
• Technology integration: Go online and find different pictures and information on different kinds of spiders. Make an electronic spider zoo.
  

Related Books

• By Nic Bishop:
• Frogs
• Butterflies and Moths
• Chameleon, Chameleon
• The Snake Scientist
• Forest Explorer
• Quest for the Tree Kangaroo
• Other related books:
• Spiders (Editors of Time)
• Outside and Inside Spiders by Sandra Markle
• Minibeasts by Tammy Schlepp
• Aaaarrgh! Spiders by Lydia Monks
• Diary of a Spider by Doreen Cronin
• Anansi tales
• Miss Spider stories by David Kirk

Websites

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2010 Nominee Resources