Preschool Spiders Theme

Below you can find tons of fun and engaging Preschool spiders activities!
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Planning your Spiders Theme

Club Members can download all of our spider activities and theme guide for free.
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Download our Free Spiders Preschool Sample Lesson Plan

Featured Plan Activities

Below you’ll find activity ideas featured in our Dental Health sample plan.

Art & Creativity
Spooky Marble Spider Web
In this hands-on activity, preschool children will create spooky spider webs using marbles and paint. They will roll marbles dipped in white paint on a black paper to create various patterns resembling spider webs. The objective is to enhance their fine motor skills, creativity, and understanding of shapes. The expected outcome is a unique piece of artwork showcasing their individual spider web designs.

Dramatic Play
Set up a Arachnologist Lab
Preschoolers will become arachnologists in this hands-on activity. They will explore the world of spiders through observation and investigation. This activity aims to foster curiosity, develop scientific thinking skills, and increase knowledge about arachnids.

Building & Small World Play
Spider Small World Play
Preschool Spider Small World Play Activity: Let your little ones explore and engage in imaginative play as they create a spider-themed world. They can build spider webs with sticks and moss, and add pretend spiders for added excitement. This activity promotes creativity, fine motor skills, and sensory exploration.

Language and Literacy
Spider Web Alphabet Match
Children take turns flipping over the letter cards. Using a “marker” or the card, children mark the matching letter on the mat as it is found.

Spiders vs. Insects
Engage preschoolers in a Spider vs. Insects sorting activity with "Are You a Spider?" book companion. Children learn about spiders, practice sorting skills, and increase knowledge through hands-on learning and discussion. An interactive way to explore and categorize with educational benefits in understanding spiders.

Mathematics
Spider Web Counting Mat
Children choose a number card then add the matching number of “spiders” to the mat.
Measure with Spiders
Use plastic spiders to measure different objects. Estimate how many spiders it will take before measuring.

Science & Discovery
Spider Oobleck
The Spider Oobleck activity combines sensory play and a fun spider theme for preschoolers. Adding plastic spiders to the oobleck creates a tactile experience that promotes fine motor skills and imaginative play. This spooky activity is sure to delight and engage young learners.

Physical Fine Motor
Spider Shape Clip Cards
Children “mark” the shape of the spider shown in the picture to the matching shape on the bottom of the card.

Physical Gross Motor
Spider Web Walking Game 
The Spider Web Walking Game is a fun and engaging gross motor activity for preschool children. Using tape on the floor, children can create and walk on a spiderweb. This activity promotes balance, coordination, and spatial awareness while providing a playful and enjoyable experience.

Other
Spider Race Rolling Game
Children roll the cube and move the matching color spider up one space. Play continues until a spider reaches the top. Can be played as a game in turns or as a solo activity.

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Spider Stamping

I love easy crafts where you can use recycled items. For this you will use a toilet paper roll, cut four slits on each side of the bottom, it will make eight legs. Invite the child to dip it in black paint and stamp onto paper. Add googly eyes to your spiders!
View Member Instructions

Spider Web String Painting

Explore the process of painting with strings to create fun spider webs. This invitation is fun and simple, be sure to provide plenty of materials for children to repeat and create a variety of designs. 

Spooky Marble Spider Web

In this hands-on activity, preschool children will create spooky spider webs using marbles and paint. They will roll marbles dipped in white paint on a black paper to create various patterns resembling spider webs. The objective is to enhance their fine motor skills, creativity, and understanding of shapes. The expected outcome is a unique piece of artwork showcasing their individual spider web designs. View Member Instructions

Fingerprint Spiders

Preschool Fingerprint Spiders Activity allows children to explore creativity and fine motor skills. By making colorful prints of their fingers, children will have fun designing unique spiders with legs and eyes. They will love the tactile experience of the ink pads and feel proud of their one-of-a-kind creations. 
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                                  Sweet Spider Treat

Have children stick pretzel stick legs into a double stuff oreo and add 8 mini chocolate chips eyes using white frosting for the spider's eyes. 
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Paper Plate Spider Web lacing craft

Cut the center out of a paper plate, punch holes all the way around the center hole. Children run string through the holes until all holes have been filled and there is a nice web in the middle. Complete by creating a spider out of an egg carton (use one well from the carton) or black construction paper to place on top. 
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Spider Web Tape Resist

Provide your students with a small canvas, or a paper plate, paint (tempera, or acrylics if using a canvas), and fine line masking tape. Allow students to gently add tape strips to their paper plate or canvas, in any random pattern. After the tape has been added have you students fill in the white space, with paint. After your piece has completely dried, have your student gently remove the tape from their paper plate /canvas.
Teacher tip: Sticking the tape to your pants, and removing it, before applying it to the piece will make it less sticky and easier to remove. 
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Spider Hats

Use black construction paper, to make a headband. Cut out 8 strips (vertically) from black craft paper! Have your students practice accordion folding the legs (back an forth). Secure each of the legs to the head band, along with a black circle spider "face", googly eyes, and 2 white triangle fangs. View Member Instructions

*Spider Exhibit

*Turn the  dramatic play into a spider exhibit this week, with this
Spider exhibit dramatic play pack from Pre-K Printable Fun!

Spider Hunting 

Turn your dramatic play area into a spider hunt, create spider webs in the dramatic play area and place spiders throughout the web. Encourage the students to catch the spider. View Member Instructions

Set up a Arachnologist Lab

Preschoolers will become arachnologists in this hands-on activity. They will explore the world of spiders through observation and investigation. This activity aims to foster curiosity, develop scientific thinking skills, and increase knowledge about arachnids. View Member Instructions

Spider Dress Up

The Spider Dress Up Activity in our Preschool Activity Library is sure to spark the imagination of your little ones! Children will have a blast dressing up like spiders using costumes or by creating their own with black cloth and stuffed leggings. This activity promotes creativity, imaginative play, and fine motor skills. 
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Spider Puppets

Have spider and other puppets for children to act out popular nursery rhymes such as
The Itsy Bitsy Spider or Little Miss Muffet. View Member Instructions

Spider Small World Play

Add pretend spiders, and webs to your building space. You can also include other outdoor items such as moss, black beans (or dirt), sticks. View Member Instructions

Make Yarn Webs in Block & Building Space

In the Make Yarn Webs in your Block & Building Space Activity, preschoolers can add yarn to their structures to create spider webs. This activity encourages creativity, fine motor skills, and imaginative play. Children will love seeing their buildings transformed into intricate webs, adding a spooky and fun twist to their playtime! 
View Member Instructions

Language & Literacy  Activities from the Spider Activity Pack

*Spider Web Alphabet Match*

Flip and Find Letter Matching: Practice matching letters by flipping a spider letter card and marking the matching letter on the web.

Pre-Writing Practice*

Work on pre-writing practice with this activity. Use a marker or try lining up spiders from left to right. ​

Spider 3-Part Cards*

Learn the names of all kinds of fascinating spiders with these 3-part cards!

Spider Patterning*

Learning to identify and extend a pattern are important skills for children to learn before they learn to read. Add this spider patterning activity from the Spiders Activity Pack for hands on practice. 

Spider Names

Write or print out a child's name on a piece of paper, give them plastic spiders to place the spiders on the letters in their name for a spelling activity. 

Spiders vs. Insects

In this hands-on activity, preschoolers will compare and contrast spiders and insects to create a class chart. With a focus on observation and critical thinking, students will explore the similarities and differences between these fascinating creatures. This activity encourages curiosity, scientific inquiry, and promotes a deeper understanding of the natural world. View Member Instructions

Sophies Masterpiece A Spiders Tale by Eileen Spinelli
Walters Wonderful Web by Joe Hopgood
Are you a Spider? by Judy Allen
The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle
Anansi the Spider: A tale from the Ashanti

Spider Web Counting Mat*

This spider mat is a fun way to work on counting skills and number recognition, older children can also practice addition and subtraction. Try using this mat with fake spiders, black pom poms, or play dough!
This mat is included in my Spiders Activity Pack, download this activity as a free sample in my shop.

Free Spider Web 2D Shape Puzzles*

Try this spider shape matching activity for free! Practice matching the 2D shape spider (and shape word) to the 2D shape web!

Spider Ten Frame*

Provide students with plastic spiders or spider rings, along with these mats from the Spiders Activity Pack ​ and have the child place the correct amount of spiders in the ten frame based on the number card.

Spider Counting Sensory Bin

Create a sensory bin of cooked spaghetti noodles, place spiders into the sensory bin and invite the child to use tongs to remove the spiders placing them into an empty ice cube tray, this will work on one to one correspondence. View Member Instructions

Measure with Spiders

Use plastic Spiders to Measure different objects. Estimate how many spiders it will take before measuring. View Member Instructions

Spider Egg Sac Patterning and Color Sorting

Have your students create patterns, using color pom pom spider "egg sacs".
Developing students can practice sorting them by color. View Member Instructions

Are You a Spider?

What makes a spider a spider? Learn more about spider characteristics with the book Are You a Spider? by Judy Allen. Follow up with our Are You a Spider? Pre-K Book Companion that includes this hands on sorting activity along with language and literacy activities!

Get this in our shop!

Sticky Web

Give children double-sided tape and sticks. Challenge them to create a sticky web and then test what it can hold.
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Parts of a Spider and the Spider Life Cycle*

Learn more about the spider life cycle & label spider parts with these activities found in my Spiders Activity Pack ​

Spider Sensory Bin

Scoop spiders from a Spider Themed Sensory Bin, add webs, and crevices for the spiders to hide in.
View Member Instructions

Spider Oobleck

The Spider Oobleck activity combines sensory play and a fun spider theme for preschoolers. Adding plastic spiders to the oobleck creates a tactile experience that promotes fine motor skills and imaginative play. This spooky activity is sure to delight and engage young learners. View Member Instructions

Counting Spiders on the Light Table

Member Erica printed these counting mats on vellum to use with the light table! What fun!

Collect a spider web

Check out how Homeschool Life Journal went outside and collected some real spider webs!

Create a Spider Model

After learning about the parts of a spider, invite your students to build their own spider model using play dough, and various materials such as googly eyes, pipe cleaners, straws.

Spider Hunt

Walk around your yard or neighborhood keeping an eye out for spiders and webs. Describe what you find.
View Member Instructions

Activities to help preschoolers work on their Fine Motor and Gross Motor Development through play

Wiki Stix Web

Have children use wiki stix to make a spider web.
You can give them a pattern to follow or have them create their own. View Member Instructions

Spider Shape Clip Cards* - Fine Motor

Shape clip cards are a fun way to practice shape matching while developing fine motor skills, you can find these clip cards in my Spiders Activity Pack ​

Spider Ring Stacking

This is a great activity for building those fine motor skills. You will need black play dough for the base, add a pipe cleaner and provide the children with spider rings. Have them stack the rings onto the pipe cleaner, see how many they can fit. View Member Instructions

Spider Web Weaving

Cut slits around a paper plate and invite children to weave with black yarn to create a spider web for fine motor fun!
Extend the fun by adding tweezers and small spiders for kids to move around on the plate. 
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Spider Web Cut

Provide preschooler with white straws, have them cut the draws into smaller pieces and glue onto paper to construct their very own spider web. Cutting practice is a great way to work on fine motor skills. 
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Make Spiders from Dough

Make your own Black Play dough with this recipe and then get to creating spiders!

Members log in to get an exclusive printable of this recipe. 

Giant Web Crawl

Create your own web in the classroom as an obstacle course for preschoolers to climb through. Encourage them to crawl through the web to pretend they are spiders. View Member Instructions

Spider Web Walking Game

Just love this Spider Web Walking Game from No Time for Flashcards

Spider Tag

Play a variation of tag where one child is the spider and tries to catch as many "flies" (other children) as possible. Once a child has been tagged, they are "stuck" in the spider's web and cannot move. 
View Member Instructions

Feed the Spider

Set up a velcro spider web and have children throw black pom pom "flies"
and try to get them stuck in the web so that they spider can eat. View Member Instructions

Spider Web Parachute

Add some fun to parachute play by adding plastic spiders instead of balls. 
View Member Instructions

Why Spiders are Important

Most people think spiders are scary and don't think twice about squishing them. Share all of the good that spiders do with your students and make them seem less scary. You can talk about their food chain, pest control, etc. View Member Instructions

Spider Emotions

Use play dough and other items to create different emotions by creating the spider's face.
​This mat and related cards are included in our Spiders Activity Pack

Play a Game Together: Spider Color Race Game

Spider Race Rolling Game: For this collaborative spider race rolling game, children take turns rolling to cube to see which colored spider will make it to the top first! ​

Untangle the Web

Have each child take part of a rope or string purposefully making them tangled up. Have the children work together to get the "web" untangled. View Member Instructions

Collaborative Spider Drawing- Make Something Together

Have children do collaboration drawings with partners. The first partner draws the body, the second the legs, and so on and so forth until they have created one picture of a spider.

Group Activities, Family Engagement, and other ideas for Educators

Spider Theme Sign-in Activity

​Welcome your students to class with this engaging name recognition activity. 
Includes a variety of themes and available in the shop!

Spider Web Counting Mat Free

$0.00

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Spider Preschool Activity Pack

$7.00

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Walter's Wonderful Web Pre-K Book Companion

$0.00

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Spider Exhibit-Mini Dramtic Play set

$3.00

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