Parts of a Spider: Labeling a Spider

About this resource

What's inside this resource

Students will learn about the parts of a spider with these spider labeling activities. This activity is perfect to use during a fall theme. These worksheets are perfect for kindergartners and first graders to learn about the different parts of a spider.

What is Included:

There is a squirrel poster that labels the parts of a spider. There is a worksheet for labeling a squirrel where students trace the words to complete the worksheet. The other worksheet has students writing the labeling words.

How to Use:

Students will use the parts of a spider poster to learn the different parts of a spider, then they will complete one of the labeling the spider worksheets. The students can use the poster to help them fill in their worksheet.

When to Use:

The poster can be used in a science or writing center as a reference for learning the parts of a cat or to assist students in creative or informational writing activities.
The worksheets can be used as morning work, within a science center, for homework, or as an independent activity.

This labeling activity can be easily differentiated for students with different needs. Those who need more support can use the tracing pages or cards to assist them in completing the worksheets. This allows all students to succeed with this activity. The colorful poster will help keep students engaged with learning the parts of a spider.

The spider poster is a low prep activity for teachers to prepare for students. The poster just needs to be printed and laminated if desired. The labeling worksheets are no prep. They just need to be printed and given to students. The worksheets can also be laminated to create a write and wipe activity that can be used over and over by students, helping to conserve paper.

In the classroom

Teaching tips & learning objectives

Learning objectives

Name the four labelled parts of a spider: abdomen, cephalothorax, fangs and legs
Place each of those terms on the correct part of a spider diagram
Recall all four terms unaided when the diagram is given with no words on it

Teaching tips

The three diagram pages are a sequence rather than alternatives: read the labelled page together, work the second with the words still in place, then hand out the blank one.
Only four terms appear across the whole set, so it fits a single short lesson or a science station rather than a unit of work.
Cephalothorax is spelled two different ways across the first two pages, so it is worth writing the spelling you want on the board before the sheets go out.
The labelled page works as a wall reference while the other two are being completed, since it uses the same drawing at the same size.

Skills covered

Spider anatomy vocabulary - four terms are introduced and used consistently on the same drawing: abdomen, cephalothorax, fangs and legs.
Labelling a diagram - the third page removes every word, so students have to write each term against the right part themselves.
Reading a scientific diagram - the words sit beside the parts they name rather than in a list, so each label has to be traced back to the drawing.

Good to know

Questions teachers ask about this resource

How do the three spider pages differ?

By how much is given away. Page 1 names all four parts in position on the spider. Page 2 carries the same four words in the same positions on the same drawing. Page 3 keeps only the heading, leaving the diagram bare for students to label.

Which four parts are named, and how are they spelled?

Abdomen, cephalothorax, fangs and legs. Worth knowing before printing: the third of those appears as "cephalothorax" on the labelled page and as "cephelothorax" on the following page, so decide which spelling your class will use.