Study The Spider's Web

Argiope aurantia

       Spiders  are  distinguished  from  all  other  animals  by  their  habit  of  spinning webs.  Many  insects  spin  for  themselves  cocoons,  in  which  they  pass  from  the larval  to  the  complete  (winged)  stage ;  and  some  mites  spin  webs  or  cocoons for  their  eggs ;  but  the  spinning  organs  of  the  spider  are  much  more  complete and  are  used  for  a  much  greater  variety  of  purposes.  They  are  used  to  form the  silken  bag  in  which  the  female  spider  places  her  eggs ;  for  producing  the silk  with  which  she  lines  her  nest ;  and  more  especially  for  forming  the  webs by  means  of  which  she  catches  her  prey.  The  thread  of  the  spider  differs  from that  of  insects  in  being  composed  of  an  immense  number  of  very  fine  threads brought  together  while  soft  enough  to  unite  into  one.  They  use  their  threads also  to  form  bridges,  by  which  they  may  pass  from  one  elevated  position  to another;  to  prevent  themselves  from  falling  when  prowling  about,  and  even as  a  means  of  transporting  themselves  through  the  air. 

Required for Web Observation: Diagram  of  a  garden  spider's  web,  and  an illustration  showing  the  nature  of  the  spinnerets.  Bird-lime. The  children  should  examine  the  web  of  the  garden  spider;  and, if  possible,  watch  the  spider  while  in  the  act  of  constructing  it.

Method of Student Web Observation:

• Call  attention  to  the  regular  geometric  pattern  of  the  web,  noting that  the  outer  threads,  which  form the  foundation  of  the  web,  are  necessarily  irregular,  on  account  of  the disposition  of  the  convenient  points of  support.
• Exhibit  a  diagram  of  the  spinnerets  of  the  garden  spider,  showing the  manner  in  which  the  fibers  unite to  form  a  single  thread.  Give  examples  of  other  sticky  substances, such  as  bird-lime  and  thick  molasses. Show  that  bird-lime  can  be  drawn out  into  very  fine  fibres,  and  that these  fibers  may  be  made  to  unite into  one.  
• The  children  should  watch  the construction  of  the  web  if  possible. If  this  cannot  be  done,  the  teacher should  build  up  a  diagram  of  the  web on  a  black-board,  making  the  various threads  in  their  proper  order.
• The  sticky  nature  of  the  spiral thread  should  be  demonstrated.
  

 How to Grade Study Notes For Student Journals: Every student will need a journal to write in weekly for this online nature study series. Teacher will assign the weekly content in advance.

• Make sure the facts are: written in complete sentences, the first word of each sentence capitalized, and a period should be included at the end of each sentence.
• Spell check your vocabulary and write the words correctly.
• Dress up your journal entries with student clip art, drawings of your own in color or in black and white.
• Student may also include photographs of their own taking for extra credit.

Look for the following three facts about webs inside of student journals. Assign a point value to the quality of the content:

• The  Web. - The  web  is  attached  to bushes,  palings,  or  other  objects  by several  outer  threads  more  or  less  irregularly  disposed.  Radiating  threads pass  from  the  center  of  the  web  to the  above.  Lastly,  a  spiral  thread connects  all  the  radiating  ones.
• The  Spinning  Organs. - The  spinning  organs  of  the  garden  spider  are termed  spinnerets.  They  are  situated  at  the  tip  of  the  abdomen,  and are  six  in  number.  Each  consists  of a  little  cell  of  sticky  fluid,  and  the under  surface  of  the  cell  is  perforated with  numerous  small  holes.  When the  spider  applies  its  spinnerets  to any  object  the  sticky  fluid  adheres
  to  that  object ;  and,  as  the  abdomen is  withdrawn,  a  very  thin  semi-fluid fiber  is  produced  from  each  perforation  of  the  spinneret.  All  the  fibers formed  by  each  spinneret  unite,  while still  fluid,  to  form  one.  Thus  six threads  are  formed,  one  for  each spinneret,  and  these  again  unite  into one.  The  sticky  fluid  then  hardens, forming  a  single  thread  of  silk.
• Building  the  Web. - Various  foundation  threads  are  first  made.  These connect  the  convenient  points  of  support.  The  radiating  threads  are  next formed.  The  spiral  thread  is  next formed,  beginning  at  the  center.  The spider  makes  use  of  its  comb-like hind-claws  in  adjusting  and  uniting the  various  threads.  Both  the  outer and  the  radiating  threads  are  for
  support  only  ;  and  the  spiral  thread, which  has  numerous  little  globules  of a  sticky  fluid  that  does  not  readily solidify  on  exposure  to  air,  forms  the snare  proper.

Video at Youtube for Students to Watch:

1. Animal for Kids: the spider by All Things Animal
2. Is a spider's web a part of its mind? by Deep Look
3. Why spider silk is stronger than steel
4. Spider web research yields...a new musical instrument by Oregon Public Broadcasting
5. 15 cool spider webs by Top Fives
   

Hold a group discussion after viewing a film or on the second day of study. Prompt the students to mention/remember the following information about webs.

•  The  Web. - The  outer  threads  support  the  web. Other  threads  meet  in  the  center  and  are  joined  by  a  spiral  thread. 
• Spinnerets. - The  spinnerets  are  cells  containing  a  sticky  fluid. This  fluid  passes  out  through  small  holes. All  the  fibers  unite  into  one  thread. 
• Building  the  Web. -  The  outer  threads  are  spun  first. Then  those  which  meet  at  the  center. The  spiral  thread  is  formed  last. The  spiral  thread  has  sticky  drops  on  it. 
  

The student art assignments available on this blog for webs: 1rst-6th Grades

• Draw a shaded white spider web design - 5th and 6th grades
• Draw a design from a spider's web using glue and pastels - 3rd and 4th grade
• Craft a Ruote pasta web - 1rst and 2nd grade
• Weave a spider's web for a spooky Fall craft... - 3rd and 4th grade
  

Extended Learning Content:

• How to cut paper spider webs...
• Craft a ''Boo'' spider web wreath for your dollhouse 
• Decorate a fall pumpkin with a spider web vine
• The Cobweb Poem 
  

Free Student Clip Art: Clip art may be printed from a home computer, a classroom computer or from a computer at a library and/or a local printing service provider. This may be done from multiple locations as needed because our education blog is online and available to the general public.

Above are illustrations of: spinnerets, spider's web, end of spider's foot,
comb-like claws, thread covered with sticky drops, attached end of thread.