During Halloween everywhere we look we see
spiders! Everything from plastic spider rings to those
messy spider webs for under a dollar. Why not take
advantage of this to have some educational fun with
your kids and grandkids? Go to the library and ask the
librarian for a book that will show what spiders are in
your area. Read it together then go on a search in your
yard for spiders. I'm sure you won't have a problem
finding at least a couple of them. Look them up in the
books from the library or other nature guides. (You can also find new and used books on spiders
at Powell's Online Bookshop)
Talk about how the spiders eat the "bad bugs" that
chew on our plants and flowers. That's why you'll
find them in the garden. Discuss how we shouldn't
be afraid of them, but should admire the details of
their webs and leave them alone. If you have poisonous
spiders in your area be sure to talk about this too.
Buy a bag of spider rings, which are very inexpensive,
and a bag of plastic spiders for the craft below. You
can also buy one the inexpensive webs and string it up
on the porch together, discussing how intricate the
spider's is compared to yours! Your
kids will learn some new things about the nature that
lives around them and you'll also make a neat Halloween
craft too!
Spider Web Posters
You'll need for each poster:
8x10 or larger piece of black construction paper
non toxic glue that dries clear
glitter (silver is fine)
small orange plastic spider (usually these come in packs)
Practice making a simple spider web on regular
paper with a pen or pencil. Help the little ones
do this. After practicing, use the glue to make a
web on the black paper. When finished, but while
it's still wet, sprinkle quite heavily with glitter. Allow
it to dry, then shake off the excess into a bag or
large bowl to collect it and reuse. Glue on the plastic
spider and hang your poster! Notes. If you have a
large piece of black poster board you can make a
fun Happy Halloween sign by doing this same thing
and writing the words under the spider web in the
glue. Glue on several orange spiders and hang!
You can also make a homemade card by folding
the piece of construction paper in half.
Below are two easy treats to make. Let the kids do
the decorating after the craft activity or before.
Spider Cookies
You will need:
Oreo or other sandwich cookies
Black string Licorice
Small tube of white icing, or homemade icing
tiny cinnamon candies
Cut the licorice into 2 inch pieces. Open up each
cookie carefully so it doesn't break. Place the "legs"
on the frosting so they will be sticking out past the
cookie. Replace the cookie top and press gently.
Put two drops of frosting on the cookie, and place
a cinnamon candy on top of that. You can also
draw a face if you wish! I just make my own icing
with confectioners' sugar and a little milk. It doesn't
harden completely, but the cookies don't last long
anyways!
Spider Web Cupcakes
Ingredients:
1 box cake mix, prepared
Frosting:
8 ounces cold cream cheese
6 tablespoons butter (3/4 stick), room temperature
2 tablespoons orange juice concentrate
1/2 teaspoon orange extract
16 ounces confectioners' sugar
Webs-2 ounces chocolate chips
Small plastic spiders
Prepare a box cake mix. Divide the cake batter among
two regular sized muffin pans (dozen) to make 24 cupcakes.
Line with Halloween themed papers. Bake according to the
box directions. Meanwhile, prepare frosting. Beat cheese and
butter in bowl until smooth. Add juice concentrate and extract.
On low speed, beat in sugar until smooth. When cupcakes are
cooled frost each one with about 2 tablespoons of frosting.
To make webs: Melt 2 ounces semisweet chocolate chips in
a double boiler over simmering water until smooth. You can
also carefully melt them in microwave by heating one minute
and stirring, continuing 10-20 seconds more until melted.
Spoon chocolate into a plastic bag. Cut off small piece from
the corner to make 1/16-inch hole. Starting in the center of
each cupcake, draw a spiral with chocolate. Using knife tip,
draw 6 lines from middle to edge, making a web. Place one
plastic spider on each cupcake. I found a bag of small black
spiders in the toy department. Be sure to wash in soap and
hot water and rinse before using. Also make sure the kids know they
are plastic.
About the Author:
Brenda is a wife and
mom to three kids living in the Midwest United States. She's
also a freelance writer and editor of Old Fashioned Living.
