Nature Steps : Exploring the World of Spiders

“We Love Spiders!”

Nature Steps immerses children in the natural world, this week was are focusing on spiders. This initiative fosters a deeper appreciation for wildlife and the vital roles creatures like spiders play in our ecosystems.

Understanding Spiders

Spiders are often misunderstood as creepy or frightening. The Nature Steps program helps demystify these fascinating arachnids through activities like spider hunts, where children learn about various species found in Cornwall, such as the common garden spider and the orb-weaver.

Story of the Week: Spider by Alison Steadman

This week, the featured story is Spider by Alison Steadman. The narrative captures children’s imaginations, reinforcing their understanding of spiders in a fun and relatable way. The story encourages curiosity and helps create a positive association with these creatures.

This book has great fun facts in that the children have really enjoyed learning about, here are just a few:-

• Spiders have 48 knees and 8 legs.
• House spiders don’t bite they, don’t even have the ability to chew.
• Engineers are studying how spider silk is so strong.
• Spiders have 8 eyes.
• Spiders love flies.
• Spiders spin web through their bottoms.

Spider and Flies Game

The Spider and Flies game is an exciting, nature-based activity that blends fun with learning. A twine spider’s web is set up between two trees, and children must carefully navigate through it. If they get stuck in the web, they become a “fly,” while those who make it through successfully become “spiders.” This playful twist encourages imaginative role-play while developing gross motor skills, balance, and coordination. The game also promotes problem-solving and strategic thinking, as well as social skills like teamwork and communication, making it a fantastic outdoor learning experience.

Creating a Large Web Out of Sticks and Branches

In addition to the twine web, the children work together to create a large spider web using sticks and branches found in their surroundings. This activity encourages problem-solving and teamwork as they work together to construct the web. It also introduces early math skills, such as measuring and categorising sticks by length, size, or shape to ensure the web is strong and well-balanced. Handling the sticks enhances fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, while the process of gathering and sorting develops critical thinking. This creative and hands-on task allows children to connect with nature while learning essential skills through play.

Clay Spiders

The clay spiders activity at the woods offers children a fun, hands-on experience with added developmental benefits. Molding the clay enhances fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, while incorporating sticks and other natural resources this promotes problem-solving and creativity as they create their very own interpretations of a spider. This activity encourages imaginative play and helps strengthen finger muscles, essential for writing. Working in groups also fosters communication and social skills, making it a well-rounded learning experience.

Mark Making at the Beach: Creating a Spider and Talking About Shapes

Mark Making at the Beach provides children with a unique opportunity to combine creativity and learning in a natural setting. Using sticks or their fingers, children can draw spiders in the sand, enhancing their fine motor skills and coordination. While creating the spider, discussions about different shapes—such as circles for the body and straight lines for the legs—help children develop early math and geometry concepts. This activity encourages imaginative thinking, sensory exploration, and communication as children describe their drawings and share ideas, making learning fun and interactive.

Conclusion: Fostering a Love for Nature

Through the Nature Steps program, First Steps Cornwall nurtures a lifelong love for nature in children. By learning about spiders, they gain knowledge and develop awareness of life’s interconnectedness in ecosystems, preparing them to become environmentally conscious individuals.