Spider Webs
Main Image
Main Image
Subjects
This is a great hands-on activity for large-scale community events or even in class visits. Students build spider webs out of toothpicks, thin, flexible wires, and beads. This can act as a supplement to other bug-related activities or even to discussing elements of mathematics in nature.
What You Need
Per spider web:
- 3 toothpicks
- 1 piece of flexible wire ~10cm long
- 1 piece of flexible wire ~20cm long or just use multiple pieces of 10cm wire
- Wire cutters - optional
Presentation:
- Spider Web - Guide PowerPoint (Step by step images)
Safety Notes
Ensure you are familiar with Let's Talk Science's precautions with respect to safe virtual outreach to youth.
What To Do
- Secure 3 toothpicks together at the centre using the shorter silver wire.
- Wrap the wire around only 3-4 times and be careful not to make it too tight.
- Fan out the toothpicks into an asterisk and wrap the rest of the wire between all of the toothpicks.
- It's okay if the toothpicks are a bit loose afterwards.
- Using a longer copper or gold wire, wrap one end 2-3 times around a toothpick to begin the "inner" web.
- Wrap the wire once around an adjacent toothpick to continue making the web.
- Continue wrapping the wire around the toothpicks. Randomly thread a bead on the wire whenever.
- If the wire runs out, simply tie on another.
- As the web is made, the toothpicks will become more secure.
- Extra wire at the end can be clipped and used for another web OR it can be used to make a hook.
Discovery
Associated lessons can focus on:
- Discussing how spiders make their webs - Spider webs are made out of silk that spiders themselves produce from spinneret glands in their abdomens. The silk is very flexible high elasticity and strong can be as strong as the same weight in steel!
- What their webs are used for - Originally, spider's used their silk to protect their bodies and their eggs, but now it's used for hunting purposes. The web may catch prey due to the stickiness of the silk, which is caused by little droplets of glue on the silk threads.
- Mathematics and physics in nature - Many spider webs are quite irregular in their geometry, but orb spider webs produce nearly perfectly circular webs by spinning a spiral of silk from the inside out. Different shapes and sizes may lead to different strengths and longevity for the webs. An interesting biological problem to discuss could be about how to balance the energy it takes the spider to build a long lasting web.
What's Happening?
Associated lessons can focus on:
- Discussing how spiders make their webs - Spider webs are made out of silk that spiders themselves produce from spinneret glands in their abdomens. The silk is very flexible high elasticity and strong can be as strong as the same weight in steel!
- What their webs are used for - Originally, spider's used their silk to protect their bodies and their eggs, but now it's used for hunting purposes. The web may catch prey due to the stickiness of the silk, which is caused by little droplets of glue on the silk threads.
- Mathematics and physics in nature - Many spider webs are quite irregular in their geometry, but orb spider webs produce nearly perfectly circular webs by spinning a spiral of silk from the inside out. Different shapes and sizes may lead to different strengths and longevity for the webs. An interesting biological problem to discuss could be about how to balance the energy it takes the spider to build a long lasting web.