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Spiders have 8 legs and they lurk in corners of rooms spinning
webs that have to be swept away using cobweb brooms.
Many people are afraid of spiders, and have phobias
about spiders. Alfred Hitchcock, the 'Master of Suspense' created a movie about 'Spiders' that was so horrific that I kept
well away from basements and cellars for years after watching this movie.
Yet Spiders are amongst the most diligent and hardworking
of all the animal kingdom, and so very clever, in not only spinning these glorious webs, but also unravelling them and
packing them away after they have finished food gathering.
They belong to the family, Arachnid, and there is a wonderful legend about
the Goddess Arachne who challenged a spinner to a spinning contest, and changed her into a spider when Arachne lost the contest.
Have you watched a spider spinning a web?
Glossary about words/terminology used when discussing spiders
Online Tasks
Research the web and find 6 sources of poetry, writings or Literature related to Spiders.
Spiders have been the base of folk stories, as well as sources of Inspiration for Men of Valor.
(See Bruce and The Spider)
View 'Spider Man' Movie short through Yahoo..How is Spider Man like a spider?
Create your slide show or Power Point about some aspect of Spiders.
Throughout time, the spider has been associated with many myths and superstitions. In mythology worldwide,
the spider is prominently featured. Throughout Africa, Spider is either a trickster or a great god. Japanese believe that
Spider Woman can ensnare careless travelers. In contrast, the Pueblo Nations of America believe that Spider Woman created
the Universe. The Greeks and Norse looked upon Spiders as the Weavers of people’s fates and connecting the Past with
the Future.
 Christians see Spider Webs as traps. Like Flies, people become ensnared by vain works and become stuck fast in the webs.
Spiders represent human fragility and the enticement of evil. However in Germany, Spider Webs are a part of Christmas tree
decorations. According to folklore, Spider realized what glorious day was Christ’s birth. So She spun silver and gold
webs on trees to show her faith and to glorify the Birth of the Lord. Many superstitions instruct people to never kill a Spider
found in a house. The “house” spider is there to bring good luck and good fortune to the inhabitants.
http://www.spiderzrule.com/legends.htm
This extract is from this fantastic site...please click link to see original.....
Visit this site call 'Spiderzrule' and see many different spiders...this page opens to the spiders from Australia. You can
talk about spiders in your country...
- Vocabulary: Create a list of words from the writings.
- Write a story about spiders
- Talk about spiders in your own language. Have someone translate your words into English
- Go to Webshots and make a picture collection of different spiders. Write a sentence for each in a Power
Point Presentation. Share it with the class
- Draw, make or write about a spider
Link to 'Spiderzrule'...a site all about spiders. Great photos for discussion
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