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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tarantulas!

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Pupils research on the internet and study about the mysterious eight-legged arthropod, tarantulas. They apply what they've discovered to create a three-dimensional tarantula model with an imaginary, colorful and descriptive name given to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tarantula Girl

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
In this reading comprehension worksheet, students read a two page true story about a girl who loves tarantulas. Students complete a 12 question multiple choice quiz on the story. There are four additional reading comprehension stories...
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Study Guide
Curated OER

Meet the Tarantula

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students study tarantulas. In this tarantula lesson, students discover the general description of the arachnid as well pointers regarding its behavior, reproduction, habitat, food schedule, and handling tips.
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Activity
Sheppard Software

Sheppard Software: Tarantulas

For Students 9th - 10th
This site gives an in-depth description of a tarantula, including its behavior, appearance, reproduction, and classification. The site includes photos and illustrations and an interactive quiz to test your understanding.
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Handout
Oakland Zoo

Oakland Zoo: Brazilian Black Tarantula

For Students 9th - 10th
Meet the Brazilian black tarantula and discover fascinating facts and statistics. Learn about its physical characteristics, habitat, diet, behavior, breeding patterns, and more.
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Unit Plan
Extreme Science

Extreme Science: Biggest Spider

For Students 9th - 10th
The Goliath tarantula is the largest known spider in the world, with the biggest recorded width being eleven inches. While people may fear it, the tarantula is in most cases harmless to humans. Read more facts about the Goliath here and...
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Website
Other

The Tarantula's Burrow: Arachnids

For Students 9th - 10th
The title says it all. An exhaustingly extensive site on everything about scorpions and tarantulas. Includes links to related sites.
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Handout
National Health Museum

Access Excellence: Terrific Tarantulas

For Students 9th - 10th
A detailed site about tarantulas, including topics suchs as molting, structure, urticating hairs, and how to handle them.
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Handout
A-Z Animals

A Z Animals: Animal Facts: Red Knee Tarantula (Brachypelma Smithi)

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides photographs and a fact card about the red knee tarantula. Discusses where they are found, their popularity as a pet, physical characteristics, lifespan, diet, predators, and life cycle.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Calling All Spiders!

For Teachers 5th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about different types of spiders found in North America. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Article
Akron Children's Hospital

Akron Children's Hospital: Kidshealth: Hey! A Tarantula Bit Me!

For Students 3rd - 8th
A tarantula is a black, hairy spider that is about two to three inches long. Learn all about spiders and tarantulas in this article for kids.
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Handout
San Diego Zoo Global

San Diego Zoo: Kids: Tarantula

For Students K - 1st
Colorful resource for learning fun facts about tarantulas with photographs as well as information regarding their physical characteristics and unique features.
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Handout
Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Australian Broadcasting Corporation: News in Science: Tarantula Feet Spin Sticky Silk

For Students 9th - 10th
From ABC News in Science, this article discusses the two methods the spiders use to walk upside down or vertically. In addition, it discusses the use of a silk-like mechanism as a third method.
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Article
Scholastic

Scholastic News: Week of 5 6 13: A Spider as Big as Your Head

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn about the recent discovery in Sri Lanka of a tarantula almost the size of a person's head!
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Scientific American: Spiders! Amazon Tales

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Explore several spider species and learn about their adaptations to the world around them. Design a new species of spider, with adaptations required to survive in a particular habitat.
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Handout
Other

Desert Gold: Desert Animals, Plants, and Rock Formation

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides information about desert animals, plants, and rock formations.
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Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Animals for Kids: Tarantula

For Students 1st - 9th
Investigate the arachnid Tarantula which is a large harry eight-legged poisonous spider.
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Handout
Other

Arizona Sonora Desert Museum : Animal Fact Sheet: Tarantula

For Students 9th - 10th
This fact sheet on tarantulas provides details on physical characteristics, range, habitat, conservation, diet, reproduction, and other quick facts.