This non-fiction book is about the white-tailed spider. It includes written descriptions of white-tailed spiders supported by enlarged photographs, one of which is labelled, as well as life size drawings.
Adapting the resource
After reading and discussing the book, turn to the centre page. Discuss what features would help students identify a white-tailed spider. Include:
- features of spiders in general [8 legs, 2 body parts.]
- features of white-tailed spiders specifically. [Shape, size, length of legs, covering, colour, markings.]
Provide the following sets of cards describing features of some small animals.
8 legs
2 body parts
Fangs
6 legs
3 body parts
Brown and grey
8 legs
Fangs
Very hairy
Round body
8 legs
White stripe
40 mm long
Long body
Fangs
8 legs
Long body
Grey colour
Orange bands on legs
White patch at end of body
15 mm long
White patch at end of body
Long legs
Ask students to sort into two piles, those that could not be a white-tail spider and those that could.
For the first group (not white-tails) ask:
- What evidence do you have that makes you think this isn't a white-tail?
For the second group (possibly white-tails) ask:
- What evidence do you have that makes you think this could be a white-tail?
Ask:
- Do you have enough evidence to be sure that any of these descriptions are white-tails?
- What else could you find out about this spider to be surer that it is a white-tail? (Prompt if necessary to use information from the book.)